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04-22-2007, 07:17 PM
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VAF Moderator / Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dayton, NV
Posts: 12,256
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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!
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
__________________
Paul F. Dye
Editor at Large - KITPLANES Magazine
RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
RV-6 (By Marriage) - N164MS - "Mikey"
RV-3B - N13PL - "Tsamsiyu"
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)
http://Ironflight.com
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04-22-2007, 07:25 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 4,219
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Got a picture or a link?
Are these lighter than the ones where the auger is made from a big split washer?
__________________
Kyle Boatright
Marietta, GA
2001 RV-6 N46KB
2019(?) RV-10
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04-22-2007, 07:55 PM
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI area
Posts: 2,967
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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!

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Chad Jensen
Astronics AES, Vertical Power
RV-7, 5 yr build, flew it 68 hours, sold it, miss it.
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04-22-2007, 08:09 PM
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VAF Moderator / Line Boy
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dayton, NV
Posts: 12,256
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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.... 
__________________
Paul F. Dye
Editor at Large - KITPLANES Magazine
RV-8 - N188PD - "Valkyrie"
RV-6 (By Marriage) - N164MS - "Mikey"
RV-3B - N13PL - "Tsamsiyu"
A&P, EAA Tech Counselor/Flight Advisor
Dayton Valley Airpark (A34)
http://Ironflight.com
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04-22-2007, 08:34 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 154
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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
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Pat Tuckey
RV-8
Superior IO-360, Hartzell blended airfoil, GRT dual screen EFIS
Flying 1400 hours
Formation Acro SAC Card
FFI flight lead
25XS (Waxahachie, TX)
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04-22-2007, 08:54 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 1,324
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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.
John Clark
RV8 N18U
KSBA
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04-22-2007, 09:14 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: jacksonville il
Posts: 97
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A box end wrench also works as long as it fits over the end.
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Tom CassonN806TC{resv} [] tcrv7@yahoo.comCessna 120 N76137
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04-23-2007, 04:11 PM
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Moderator/Tech Counselor
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: East Troy, WI
Posts: 1,983
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I made them too and I'm glad I have Rich to pull them back out for me. They do work well.
Roberta
__________________
Roberta Hegy
Built/Flew an RV-7A
Air Troy Estates, East Troy, WI
Ford Expedition and TRICE "Q"
Built Glen L "ZIP" Classic Outboard Runabout and Super Spartan Hydroplane
Glen L Torpedo
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04-23-2007, 08:38 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 136
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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)
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