8 inch disc brake kit for Cheetah - COMPLETED

[Turbo]

hey all,

Thought i would start a new thread for this - the kit has landed, and instead of brining in just the brake kit, i wanted to get a new set of 8inch wheels with it - i ordered new wheel bearings and hubs, along with two new axles (3 quarter inch in diameter), so a little work to be done, but nothing too difficult. All components made from Aluminium are billet machined, and anodized black.

the only steel parts are the discs themselves and the axles - i also ordered a hand brake valve, which is a small valve you close to apply the hand brake (goodbuy little plastic knob thingy) which is also made of steel with a nice wingnut type valve handle.

Well here it is, a few pics of the kit - top notch stuff, for a great price. Landed here for R8500.00 not bad consdering all the extra (unnecessary??) parts.

[CHARLIE WHISKEY]

Hi Turbo.

With this system. Can the spats stay?

If so. Do you take orders.

Cheers

[bobthebuilder]

Wow .... nice stuff!
Did you import directly from aircraft spruce?

[Turbo]

guys -- im the agents for the Honeywell product ranges -- not this stuff, however i do have regular shipments, so if anyone wants anything im happy to help -- ill provide all invoices, im not in it to make money, ill help out where ever possible.

Im obviously doing the ground work and the installation, aswell as testing -- so ill know exactly how to install and setup the product, ill publish all information for all to see aswell.

Regards the spats -- absolutely they stay, i also have spats, and its a pre-requisite --- however with the new wheels (which seem VERY wide) i might have to get new ones made.... we will see. Keep in mind i chose the 8inch spun wheels, as an extra, you dont have to - the kit works with 6inch rims and obviously 8 inch upwards. the kit i purchased is compatible with planes with a weight up to 1500lbs, which is once again an overkill, but if i want to stop - i want to STOP!

The manufacturer did say that with additional orders he will discount the product for us - ill find out what pricing is available and let you know.

[CHARLIE WHISKEY]

Thanks Turbo.

I'm away for 2 weeks.
Very interested. Will make contact once back.

Cheers

[Turbo]

no problem charlie whiskey -- install will be complete over the weekend if time allows.

[Rachet]

I don't know if I'm missing something here but why would you need these powerful stoppers on a cheetah. I land mine always with full flap at about 35 mph on the stall and never use the brakes until I'm at walking pace. Just can't see the point but as I said maybe I'm missing something.

[Turbo]

hi Rachet -- i hear what you are saying, but in that case why do you have brakes in the first place..? They dont work anything near how brakes should, and recently i had an exprience where i had to actually use them to avoid 30 guinea fowl running across the runway, and ... well..... two of them are dead and luckily my prop isnt!

If i want to stop - that little black lever must ... STOP, to prevent possible damage to the prop, plane, person, car -- who knows. I believe if your vehicle (plane, car, bike, boat whatever) was designed with brakes, surely they must work ... and work well, otherwise why are they there? It just seems that the brakes were an afterthought on the cheetah (im not the only one who believe so, in fact i havent met anyone who believes the brakes are even acceptable) no disrespect to the designer, i just want mine working thats all.

[John Boucher]

Hope to see your progress Turbo.

Had to "skim" the drums this weekend. Why the hell they were oval, only they will know. Damn frustrating to say the least!!!

As for having lekker brakes, just be careful for overkill as you may just rip the wheels off

[Turbo]

hey john,

the reason they were oval was because with drums you often get one shoe mating more than the other, (another reason i hate those brakes) -- re the heavy braking - i hear you, i know that the new brakes are ALOT better than the drums, i just want them in case of emergencies ( i use up most of the runway with taxiing after landing at FASI anyways) and for those landing on short runways like Microland etc...

[John Boucher]

Turbo

Either way, I am seriously gatvol for the drums. Here at the coast, once the aircraft has stood overnight, the brakes "bind" and it does become rather cumbersome to get her out of the hangar. Hopefully when we fit everything again today, it will be better. This however in no way will stop my intention of fitting decent brakes. My opinion that a factory approved bolt on mod would really have gone a long way in cementing relations with the "new" factory (even though Rainbow does not exist in essence anymore) and obviously the directors would much rather from a financial point of view develop the "Bushcat".

To me as devout Cheetah owner, this is really a sad turn of events!

[Sideslip]

To me as devout Cheetah owner, this is really a sad turn of events!

Hi John.

I am sorry that you feel we are neglecting Cheetah owners - I can assure you it is not our intention.

Yes the BushCat has taken up a lot of our time over the last while but we have not forgotten our Cheetah operators at all.

We are essentially a micro company trying to do a major juggling act in an attempt to stay afloat in today’s struggling economy and coming out with revised products was absolutely critical to our survival and it is starting to show dividend.

There are now 3 people that make up our R&D team since we employed a full time aeronautical designer in February but being the small company we are, every one of those 3 have several other hats to wear and can probably devote 20% of their day to this task. It is not enough ... but they are putting in the hours to make as big an impact as possible.

I realise we cannot keep all the people happy all of the time (who can?) but I can assure you we are doing our damndest.

We are going to address the brake issue as soon as we can..... we just have our plates a bit full at the moment and by saying this I am not asking for sympathy - we all love our jobs and we do our best.

[Jean Crous]

That is a very fair comment Mike, I certainly hope you can keep your juggling act up. I am in a situation where I am trying to revive a once good company (in the aviation line), and can therefore appreciate what you are saying.
Regards
Jean.

[Turbo]

John,

the best thing about these planes is they are (here we go again with that lovely frase) 'home built' - 'experimental' aircraft, anything goes (well almost anything) do it yourself -- here is progress on what i have done to the brake system so far -- let me explain so all who are interested are up to date. (keep in mind, i am using non-standard wheels, which requires alot more work in terms of fitment of the kit - as below)

1) i purchased the left and right knuckles from Mike and they guys -- (expensive frikking thingS!!!!
2) i decided to make new shafts for the knuckles, as the stock shaft was too thin to fit my 3/4 inch bearings (ID size)
3) i cut the stock shafts off the knuckles and left about 30mm for adaption to the new shafts i turned on the lathe.
4) the new shafts are a single piece shaft which will assemble onto the remaining stubs - the first piece is 30mm diameter tapering down to the final 3/4 inch dimater and threaded inside to turn onto the remaining stubs (which i threaded to accept the new shaft) then welded onto the knuckles backing plate.
5) polishing of the shaft will be done before sending for welding
6) lastly this will be sent to a coded welder tomorrow for 'frying up' and inspected thereafter for cracks etc
7) i will probably send the entire unit in for plating (did you know plating can be done in colours, im thinking orange mmmhhh)

Sounds like a hassle, but im doing the job properly and to my liking, luckily i have contacts in the field, so zero cost for the welding and materials used (these are not pieces of off-cuts bought at builders warehouse or the local hardware store!!) for the manufacture thereof.

Mike a comment from an outsider -- it is percieved that you guys dont care -- "perception is reality im afraid" i too run a business, and was faced with the same issue a while back, and there is a solution, listen to your customer and deliver according to their expectations -- simple. Without your customer you have nothing, and its often the smallest customer who makes the biggest noize, be it positive or negative.... I draw your attention to my recent disappointment, which after much bickering Walter came to the party, for which i am thankful -the result -- "problem solved"

Finally, you need to take this one on the chin -- "the message is clear, all of us agree - your brakes suck -- do something about it" a bit harsh i know (apologies)

[AWACS]

Cheetah -fantastic little aircraft & excellent value for money.
Quality of the brakes -eish, we have been complaining about it for years

Turbo,
We are following closely - thanks for addressing the issue.....at last!