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  #11  
Old 07-30-2019, 03:33 PM
rockwoodrv9 rockwoodrv9 is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Meridian ID, Aspen CO, Okemos MI
Posts: 2,645
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The answer to if the new gear is worth it or not was answered to me in the photo of the 14 A that just caught on fire and the pilot had to land in a field - quick. The photo of the plane with the burned cockpit was scary to see. The answer to if it was worth it is the plane did not flip over. He was able to pop the canopy off and escape a burning plane. would he have remained upright with the standard A nose wheel? Who knows. What we do know is he did and is alive now.

I will be ordering a new mount and nose gear.
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  #12  
Old 07-30-2019, 04:45 PM
ssturges ssturges is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 53
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My experience with Vans welded items so far is that there is large variation from item to item, another poster also mentioned this. It would seem that were would be a very high risk that your cowl would no longer fit.

You might be able to retro but more likely your going to need to build a new cowl. The cost is one thing but time is something else, it takes hundreds of hours at least for me to build, prep and paint to a high standard. I know I am not not alone here as see so many planes(like 50%) where people have struggled with cowl workmanship. I find both the cowl and the canopy on the RV9A to be soul crushing experiences. People put in hundreds of hour only to have it come out poorly. One of the worst cases of manufacturability I have every seen in my life.
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  #13  
Old 07-30-2019, 06:29 PM
Captain Avgas Captain Avgas is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 1,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dwranda View Post
As far as resale goes I don't plan on selling my plane so that doesn't even enter my mind right now.
I?ve been reading posts from RV builders since I first frequented Matt Dralle?s RV-List back in the 1990s. If I had a dollar for every RV builder who said he was never going to sell his plane (but ended up selling anyway) I?d probably have enough today for a nice Caribbean cruise.
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  #14  
Old 07-30-2019, 06:45 PM
Carr Carr is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Langley BC
Posts: 97
Default Go for it

Andy C

You are going to have $80,000 or more invested in the plane before it's finished.

Adding $4,000 to the total is not that much more for the peace of mind and will also add to the resale value.

I would recommend you go for the up grade as you haven't mounted the original one yet.

My opinion only.

Bryan Carr
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  #15  
Old 07-30-2019, 07:01 PM
YellowJacket RV9 YellowJacket RV9 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL KCLW
Posts: 1,281
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I think the answer to the OPs question depends on what type of builder you are:

There are two types - those to whom $3900 is relatively minor in the grand scheme of things and will glady pony up for just about every option - and those who have to (or choose to) make careful judgements about where to spend their limited resources. There is nothing wrong with being either type of builder, but these sorts of questions invariably result in responses from both types.

If it were me and I were still building, I would consider where else I could use that $3900 - upgraded avionics, paint, engine upgrades, etc, and would probably defer. But then I very rarely fly on grass, and when I do it's good grass (think Triple Tree), and I have a light airplane with not too much weight on the nosewheel. I did transition training in an RV6A that has spent its whole, tough life, on a rough grass strip, so I know the design is reasonably sufficient when handled appropriately. That being said, if I were based on a grass strip, or planned a lot of rough-field operations, I would spring for the upgrade (or more likely build a tailwheel), otherwise I'd pass and spend the money elsewhere. My nosewheel pops up almost immediately on takeoff roll, and stays up on landing until almost walking speed.

There may be a slight resale hit far in the future, but that's future money vs money in your pocket now. Invest the $3900 and sell in 10 years and I bet you come out on top. Or put the money towards OTHER things in your airplane that also improve resale (interior, paint, avionics, etc). Or if you can spend $3900 without much worry, go for it and enjoy the improved piece of mind.

Chris
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Last edited by YellowJacket RV9 : 07-30-2019 at 07:06 PM.
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  #16  
Old 07-30-2019, 07:42 PM
rapid_ascent rapid_ascent is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Dublin, CA
Posts: 1,261
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Just to comment on the cost. For a new builder the cost is less since the original mount is $1200. So the delta is more around $2700. Retrofits would see the full cost though.

For better or worse I pulled the trigger on the new mount. For me now was the time to make that decision. I should hopefully have mine in a week or so.
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  #17  
Old 07-31-2019, 12:11 AM
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jcarne jcarne is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Worland, Wyoming
Posts: 1,365
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I'm not sure where some of these costs are coming from. After talking to Van's to finalize my order on the list the cost of the new mount and leg is $2985 (although there are a few variations including various small parts like fuel lines etc. so this number will not be the same for everyone but I haven't heard anywhere close to 4k). I was also told that I will get a $750 dollar credit when I send my old mount and leg back (there is a time limit on when you received your old one).

Another perspective is what Anti-Splat parts you aren't going to buy now that you planned on. If you planned on the nose job $339 and the front wheel mod $235 and lipskid $89 but no longer do any of those your total cost now is down to $1572. I for one am still going to the nose wheel mod (just sent my nosewheel off today) because I think it is a superior method to the taper bearings with little rolling resistance, not to mention they will true the tire as well.

Anyways, just wanted to offer another perspective.
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  #18  
Old 07-31-2019, 06:53 AM
TS Flightlines TS Flightlines is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Ridgeland, SC
Posts: 2,589
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Just to add----I took a look at the mount on Sunday and again on Monday---because I too will need to do something when I get back to working on my 7--changing to 7A. (yeah I know). For right now my focus was on the plumbing side of things. In talking to Eric prior to Osh, I really wasnt sure if the firewall bulkhead fitting was going to be re-configured, or left in the OE position. The SB said use the VA136 hose from OP32 which allows the original install of the bulkhead fitting AND the cabin plumbing from the boost pump to the firewall to remain unchanged, As a note---the mount resembles the RV14A mount, but the bulkhead fitting is configured opposite---with the 90* side at the engine, and not in the cabin as the 7A configuration is. The VA136 uses a 90* hose end, and this will connect to the bulkhead fitting to turn the hose away from the gear portion of the mount.

WE would love to hear from someone that actually has the new mount.

Tom and Steve
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  #19  
Old 07-31-2019, 08:33 AM
LeonardWestermeyer LeonardWestermeyer is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Spokane, Washington
Posts: 23
Default Just received it

I just received the new gear so if you have any questions I can answer I will be glad to help.

Leonard Westermeyer
RV-7A Slider
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  #20  
Old 07-31-2019, 03:53 PM
dreed dreed is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Camas, WA
Posts: 370
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Hey Leonard- I assume you hadn't drilled your FW yet? Would you mind sharing some pics for those of us on the list?

Thanks!
dan
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