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-   -   EAA Tie-Down Stakes - Wow!! (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=17190)

Ironflight 04-22-2007 07:17 PM

EAA Tie-Down Stakes - Wow!!
 
Last year, in anticipation of going to Oshkosh (which didn't happen because of work schedules), I made a set of those EAA tie-down stakes - the ones with a triangular plate and three straight spikes that you drive in at angles. I couldn't really believe that three skinny stakes could provide much holding power, but I built them per plans, and they've sat on my hangar shelf ever since.

I had a chance to use them last week to tie down a friend's -6 at the end of our hangar row, and after she left for home today, I went to pull the things out of the ground. Holy Cow!! I'm convinced that if we'd had a big windstorm last week, we'd have gone out and found a pair of wings and a tail wheel still tied down with everything else gone! :D

I finally got them out with two crowbars and a large block of wood used as a fulcrum. (I was close to going to get my friend's tractor to pull them out with the front blade...) I now have no doubt these things will hold - even though I'm not sure how they do it!

Paul

Kyle Boatright 04-22-2007 07:25 PM

Got a picture or a link?

Are these lighter than the ones where the auger is made from a big split washer?

John Clark 04-22-2007 07:52 PM

Tiedown instructions
 
http://www.vintageaircraft.org/magaz...ft_tiedown.pdf

Aircraft Spruce also has a similar kit available.

John Clark
RV8 N18U
KSBA

cjensen 04-22-2007 07:55 PM

I've used my set at Oshkosh the last four times we've flown in, and they ARE unbelievable. I was the same as Paul when trying to get them out of the ground!

:cool:

Ironflight 04-22-2007 08:09 PM

Yup, John's link is to the ones I'm talking about! I just hope I can figure out how to get them out without carrying a 20 lb. crowbar to every fly-in....;)

4kilo 04-22-2007 08:34 PM

Paul,

Put a vice grip on the end of the pin so that you can apply some torque to the pin as you pull it. Even re-bar usually slides right out if you twist while you are pulling.

Pat

John Clark 04-22-2007 08:54 PM

Pat is right, the answer is to put in some rotation while pulling. I made a "puller" that engages a hex head on the stake so that it can be twisted while pulliing. Weighs less than the a crowbar. :D

John Clark
RV8 N18U
KSBA

tcrv7 04-22-2007 09:14 PM

A box end wrench also works as long as it fits over the end.

robertahegy 04-23-2007 04:11 PM

I made them too and I'm glad I have Rich to pull them back out for me. They do work well.

Roberta

glider4 04-23-2007 08:38 PM

Pulling out the stakes
 
I have a similar tie-down set and had a large single chain link welded to the side of the top bolt of each rod. I could then attach a rope or chain to get a good grip for pulling the rods out. If you can rotate the rods before trying to pull them out it sure helps! I've actually needed to pull them out with my 4X4 a couple of times....I think the failure point would be with the tie down bracket in the wings using this set-up!

Al Thomas
N880AT
RV-8A (Finishing kit)

Flyrod 04-23-2007 09:41 PM

Get the Claw
 
The Claw kit is well worth the money. Everything you need is there incuding tie down line. The stakes come out with almost no effort. Together they hold better than most anything out there. Living in the land of thunderstorms where roll clouds can pack a powerful punch, I want the best hanging on to my investment.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/claw.php

SteinAir 04-23-2007 09:56 PM

Ditto...I tried out a set of the "claws" and bought a couple more sets for friends. I'm to lazy to build my own, and their little kit of tie downs is just great! I can wholeheartedly recommend them (even if you can build a set of your own cheaper).

Cheers,
Stein

RV6, Minneapolis

caryr 04-24-2007 07:15 AM

tie downs
 
I made some very slick ones a couple years ago. I can't claim credit for the design. I copied a vintage plane anchor contraption at SNF a few years ago.

Stop by the junk yard, ( where all good projects commence), and pick up a chunk of a plastic roller. They are used on conveyor systems in industry. They are about 3 inches in diameter.

Slice up in 1" thick 'hockey pucks".

Drill and countersink a rope sized hole in the center.

Drill 3 angled holes for the pins around the top of the disc.

The angle is not critical. You just want to grab as big a hunk of soil as possible.

I used alum tubes for the pins to keep it light.

Installation:

set the disk on the ground with the rope fimly attached under the wing or tail.

Drive the 3 pins.

Tie rope to plane.

complete.

I cross drilled the tops of the pins and put small clipon pins so I could pull the pins w/ a claw hammer.

Its all very light and rolls up into a skinny bag.


cary rhodes

Maybe Someday 03-17-2008 04:49 PM

Thread Revival

Can anyone reference the EAA Sport Aviation month and year that the tie-down article appeared in?

robertahegy 03-17-2008 05:09 PM

Try this link:


http://www.vintageaircraft.org/magaz...ft_tiedown.pdf


If it doesn't work, go to EAA AirVenture, look under pilot info and you will see a tying down link and a link in the article to the tiedowns.

They work Great as I made a set, too.

Roberta

Maybe Someday 03-21-2008 01:05 PM

Thanks for the reply, but that is not the article I was looking for. Edit: Now that I look at my first post, it was pretty poorly worded.

Two calls to EAA later, and I have my answer. (The people at EAA are very helpful.)
Sport Aviation, April 2004, "Building a Better Tie Down," page 110

The advantage of the tie-down described there is that no metal cutting is required, and it's straight simplicity.

PM me if you would like a copy of the article.

N941WR 04-04-2008 12:45 PM

16" Super STake
 
I just returned from Lowe's Aviation Supply and Feed Store where I bought three of these 16" Super Stakes for $3.97 each.


These stakes tend to hold well in sand but can be a pain to stick in the ground where there are rocks or hard pack dirt.

MacNab 04-04-2008 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caryr (Post 121165)
...Stop by the junk yard, ( where all good projects commence), and pick up a chunk of a plastic roller. They are used on conveyor systems in industry. They are about 3 inches in diameter.

Slice up in 1" thick 'hockey pucks"...

cary rhodes

Funny you should mention this. I've seen actual hockey pucks also used for this application. Simply drill three holes at an angle through the puck for the retention rods and a hole through the center for an eye bolt to attach your tie down rope (or just a hole for the rope). It eliminates the need for any welding.

Bruce Roberts 12-20-2012 01:29 PM

Tiedown easy removal
 
Be careful when choosing a tiedown. All systems have their pro?s and con?s. Things to consider. 1. Ease of removal - Flyties have special pull device that slips under the steak head to allow removal with minimum effort. 2. Tiedowns must be used as instructed. The Claw system works, but any side loading can result in failure. See video produced by Storm Force (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2UC5...eature=related ).

rv7boy 12-20-2012 02:49 PM

Old topic with some recent postings
 
Do a search on "tie-downs" in these forums and you'll find several, more recent discussions of "tie-downs."

A moderator :rolleyes: should probably spend time to merge these threads as they show up in "General Discussion," "Safety" and "Reviews" forums.

wltrmtty 12-20-2012 05:10 PM

I've been looking for these. I first made a set of these back in the 1990's when I believe I found them in Kitplanes Magazine.

Yes, they work great!

William Slaughter 12-21-2012 07:17 AM

Go Ti
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Ironflight (Post 120793)
Yup, John's link is to the ones I'm talking about! I just hope I can figure out how to get them out without carrying a 20 lb. crowbar to every fly-in....;)

I have a titanium crowbar that I could loan you!

Oops. Just realized I'm replying to something from 5 years ago, but the offer still stands. :o

777Dave 12-21-2012 07:40 AM

Tie downs
 
I went to S & F after the big blow 2 years ago and was disheartened at the carnage.... I had EAA style tiedowns with me and used them. As I was driving in the 18 inch pins I could feel that there was not much resistance until I got to about 10 inches! Then it was nice to feel them bite.
I came away thinking that depending on soil conditions, sometimes you don't have much "hold" unless you go deep. Some systems don't go very far down :(.
Granted rocks can be an issue, and pulling then out is tough sometimes ( like the twisting suggestion!) but let's face it, the whole idea is to get the best hold possible!!
I love my home made EAA tiedowns.

CharlieWaffles 12-21-2012 08:01 AM

You guys referring to these?

http://www.eaa.org/sportaviationmag/...10_BuildIt.pdf

bkthomps 12-21-2012 08:28 AM

i think the problem is when the ground is soaked, do they still hold then?

flyboy1963 12-21-2012 09:26 AM

safety first! know where you are pounding!
 
Even if you are at your home field, you are in danger of puncturing an irrigation line, phone cable, gas line, or power cable when you start pounding in 18" stakes!!!
These things are seldom marked, and even the locals probably don't know where they all are.
Not really a nice thing to get electrocuted....or even have to pay to fix something you stabbed!
At least ask the airport manager if it's ok, or where to tie-down; then you have a little butt-coverage should things go badly.

David-aviator 12-21-2012 10:53 AM

These tie downs work, I built a set before the last trip to OSH.

EAA ought to have a roving Bob Cat to assist getting the pins out of the ground when its time to leave. :)

boom3 12-21-2012 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David-aviator (Post 727194)
EAA ought to have a roving Bob Cat to assist getting the pins out of the ground when its time to leave. :)

Ya I wasn't too successfull with the rope around the washer to pull them straight out. Mine didn't budge. A 6 inch claw hammer works great, once you get them started, they pull out easily.

rzbill 03-10-2013 07:49 PM

My version of the EAA Tiedowns
 
Here's a few pics of my recently completed EAA tiedowns.

For convenience sake, the original plans are here:
EAA Tie Down Plans
I made a few changes. Yes, untested but I promise to report if my mods don't pan out.

Basic change was to make the stakes out of tubing rather than rod.
The numbers say they are bit lighter and a lot stiffer. This with the increased surface area for loamy soil should be positive. The negative should be high driving force into hard soils.

Used 3/8" OD by .035 wall SS tubing. I was prepared to lathe turn some ends for the tubing but I found some SS carriage bolts in the bin so they became the ends. I threaded the tubing, cut the bolts (they were too long) and used the scrap for the pointed end. My son (a professional welder) TIG welded the parts together and then I sharpened the pointy ends with a bench grinder.

I got the rope from West Marine while I was in Key West (trip report elsewhere).

Here is the lot, prior to me sharpening the tips.


Brackets from 1/8" 6061. TLAR design. Did not run the numbers but should not be weak link in system.


Closeup of the stakes with carriage bolt head and before and after of tip sharpening.


Now I have to cajole SWMBO into sewing me a bag for this stuff...:eek:


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