Disk Brakes for Trikes

[Cloud Warrior]

I have toyed with the idea of fitting brakes to my trike as well in the past but for the life of me I cannot actually come up with a reason for doing the mod?

Where and why would you want to have that much braking power available? Only time where I have felt the standard braking system was inadequate is when I run up my engine during ground checks. And how do you actuate the brakes without taking your hand off the bar? (or would it be linked to the foot pedal as well?) Fine if you are flying 3 axis with the brake handle on the stick but I would prefer both hands on the bar whilst ground handling. The current set up of having a brake on the front wheel is probably not ideal but to me makes most sense.

Please don't get me wrong - I love doing doodah projects on my trike during bad weather and I think it is one of the great things about trike flying - that you can make all those little mods that makes your trike "special" but this is a low priority mod for me.

I just don't think the additional weight and cost is worth it.

[Morph]

One of the biggest weaknesses of drum brake systems is actually the cable. There is usually too much flexing between the actual cable and the outer sheath. In some cases the sheath flexes as well. This results in a very spungy feel.

Replace the cable with a high quality non-flexible sheath and this could solve your problem.

[Carel]

The mod is to stop "creeping" under power before take off and accurate braking (no spongy, locking, etc) when landing on very short strip.

[Henni]

Hi all,

I think what makes the Mizer's drum brakes so effective is the fact that the shoes fit around the outside of the "drum" (a simple ring welded to the wheel).

Maybe an option wothwhile considering.

Henni

[Cloud Warrior]

Yip I agree with that one - the normal front brake can't hold my trike when I run her up on the ground.

Will the rear brakes be operated by the usual foot pedal?

Here are some photos of the Airborne rear braeks - only A$3000 per kit

I can hire a beeeeg bulldozer for that and just lengthen the strip!

[Andre]

Funny thing, with my Airborne I land at 50 knots and come to a dead stop in less than 100 m by just pulling the wing in (acts like a big airbrake) and the normal front wheel drum brake and this is on a down hill dirt runway with 2 up and if I have to I can stop in less than that (if I want to burn the brakes)

So why would I want to spend that kind off moola on a nice to have
That's almost R 15 000 in our funny money

For run-ups use normal wheel chocks with a rope attached so that you can pull them out when you want to go, much cheeper

[Morph]

Speak to Boet, he sources a local setup as used on the Bushbaby for about R5K. (2 mastercylinders, 2 Calipers and 2 disks). They use 1 mastercylinder per caliper but there is no reason why one mastercylinder can't feed 2 calipers, alternatively mount the masters on the frame, use hydraulics from Masters to Calipers and then use the normal cable between the foot pedal and the two masters.

Boet used cables to drive mastercylinders in his dual brake installation for RV4Kers animal viewtopic.php?t=1573&start=180

[John Boucher]

With part 24 breathing down our necks, what are the implications of doing this mod on an aircraft that has past the certification process?

Would the mod have to be approved or fitted by an AP?
Does the mod meet specification as per weight category etc?
Will mod be approved by CAA?

Just asking "stupid-questions" which might deter you from doing mods as opposed to buying an aircraft with the process already approved...

[Cloud Warrior]

This is a guy in the US that refurbishes old trikes / builds new ones under the brand name Trick Trikes.

You can see that he uses a lot of Aquilla parts on his own trikes (Solo Wings originals or copies - wonder if that is legal?)

The trike at the bottom is fitted with rear disc brakes.

http://www.tricktrikes.org/listings02.htm

Might be good for ideas when designing your own system.

P.S. Note the throttle located on the bar!