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Airplane Stand - Brake Pad Change/Tire Service

jmiller007

jmiller007

Well Known Member
Patron
Hey folks - what are y'all using to support your RV when you are doing brake and wheel service?

If you have a recommendation, can you also provide where you bought it from?

Thanks!
 
I try to keep it off the wing jack if it is going to be a while. I'm paranoid about the jack punching a hole in the wing. I really like to jack up using the Flyboys peg that fits in behind the assembly with a floor jack or a scissor jack. This website omits the RV14A peg, but they sell it:
flyboyaccessories.com

RV Jack Points

Flyboy Accessories
flyboyaccessories.com flyboyaccessories.com

The leg can rest on wood blocks if it is going to be a while. Or a stack of tires. Or ..... something not moving.
 
I have a lift I built to jack from the center section. I also have two Jack Stands that sit under the center section. Photo
I have two 4x4 blocks bored the diameter of the gear shaft if the airplane needs to be on the ground.
20230509_153105.jpg
 
Wing jacks. They're cheap, quick to apply, and very effective.

www.kitplanes.com

Do-It -Yourself Aircraft Jacks

Having completed two basic welding courses, I was a solution looking for a problem. By Dave Smith.
www.kitplanes.com www.kitplanes.com

For not-in-hangar use, like a flat at a remote airport, I keep a set of FlyBoy Accessories jack points in my tiedown bag..
flyboyaccessories.com

RV Jack Points (Round Gear Models)

Add a convenient and simple way to jack up your landing gear for conditional inspections or tire and brake maintenance.Please note: This model fits only the round gear Van's RVs (RV-3, RV-4, RV-6, RV-6A, RV-7, RV-7A, RV-8A, RV-9, RV-9A). Installation is simple. A small and light base plate...
flyboyaccessories.com flyboyaccessories.com

2CEB8E1A-FAF3-451C-8746-BB98921B5DFF_1_105_c.jpeg
 
Sure love these little mechanical jacks.
They are light, safe (nipple on top goes into jack point hole), and simple.
Probably cheap too (I just borrowed them), and basically maintenance free. And leak free :)

IMG_6133.jpeg
 
JDA_BTR said:
I try to keep it off the wing jack if it is going to be a while. I'm paranoid about the jack punching a hole in the wing. I really like to jack up using the Flyboys peg that fits in behind the assembly with a floor jack or a scissor jack. This website omits the RV14A peg, but they sell it:
flyboyaccessories.com

RV Jack Points

Flyboy Accessories
flyboyaccessories.com flyboyaccessories.com

The leg can rest on wood blocks if it is going to be a while. Or a stack of tires. Or ..... something not moving.
Click to expand...
The RV jack points are awesome. Specially if you get a flat somewhere, any car screw jack will work
 
JDA_BTR said:
I try to keep it off the wing jack if it is going to be a while. I'm paranoid about the jack punching a hole in the wing. I really like to jack up using the Flyboys peg that fits in behind the assembly with a floor jack or a scissor jack. This website omits the RV14A peg, but they sell it:
flyboyaccessories.com

RV Jack Points

Flyboy Accessories
flyboyaccessories.com flyboyaccessories.com

The leg can rest on wood blocks if it is going to be a while. Or a stack of tires. Or ..... something not moving.
Click to expand...
I use the Flyboys peg and love it. My left wing has scratches on the bottom due to a near-miss with a wing jack and a well-meaning individual from a few years ago, I much prefer the lower lift point with the Flyboys peg.
 
Having lifted several airplanes with wing jacks, always leery of them falling out of their cups, I designed a set of positive-locking jack points/cups which double as compact tie down rings.

Original shown on the left, new “Ti-Down” shown in the middle, and full assembly shown on the right. (Minus of course the wing jack of your choice which the cup fastens to).

Look out for a full product release coming this week, but figured I’d throw a sneak peak out while the topic was being discussed.

IMG_8563.jpeg
 
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made this to safely change a RV10 tire out in the strong wind on the ramp in the middle of nowhere
 

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As another whom doesn't trust tiedown ring supporting; I went the ATV jack route and built a box to bridge the distance up to the fuselage. Positioning side to side determines whether just the left or right gear is lifted or centering it lifts the entire plane no problem.20240904_082051.jpg
 
bwagner said:
As another whom doesn't trust tiedown ring supporting; I went the ATV jack route and built a box to bridge the distance up to the fuselage. Positioning side to side determines whether just the left or right gear is lifted or centering it lifts the entire plane no problem.
Click to expand...
That's clever. Doubles as storage too? Love tools with multiple functions.
 
The only approved method, and as designed, is wing jacks. This isn’t just RV’s, but almost all GA and other aircraft. Google aircraft on jacks and good luck finding one that doesn’t jack from the wing.
On my 6, lifting with the fuselage means “pushing” on the rib and spar flanges, not the spar directly. I’m not willing to do that, even if it can take it.
Proper use of jacks and good jack points and you couldn’t push the aircraft off of them if you tried.
This is the end of this public service announcement…….
 
I bought an underhoist safety stand from Harbor Freight, cut it down with a grinder, and drilled new holes for the bottom braces. Then I use a short carriage bolt in the tie down. Not using the part on the very top. Instead I ground it out the top of the threaded part so it accepts the head of the carriage bolt. Works perfect and the best part is the instructions specifically said not for aircraft use :p
 

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I have a gadget that fits into the hollow axle. The tube is long enough to get the wheel far enough out to place a jack stand under the axle. This gadget isn't homebrew but I don't know who makes it. It is a little flexy but it works. Put my fourth set of new tires and brakes on, Dressler Monsters.
 
swjohnsey said:
I have a gadget that fits into the hollow axle. The tube is long enough to get the wheel far enough out to place a jack stand under the axle. This gadget isn't homebrew but I don't know who makes it. It is a little flexy but it works. Put my fourth set of new tires and brakes on, Dressler Monsters.
Click to expand...
www.aircraftspruce.ca

RV Jack Stand Kit | Aircraft Spruce Canada

RV Jack Stand Kit Someday youll need to jack up your aircraft for install new tires, clean & grease wheel bearings, or fix a flat. This nifty jack
www.aircraftspruce.ca www.aircraftspruce.ca
 
Tdeman said:
Having lifted several airplanes with wing jacks, always leery of them falling out of their cups, I designed a set of positive-locking jack points/cups which double as compact tie down rings.

Original shown on the left, new “Ti-Down” shown in the middle, and full assembly shown on the right. (Minus of course the wing jack of your choice which the cup fastens to).

Look out for a full product release coming this week, but figured I’d throw a sneak peak out while the topic was being discussed.

View attachment 82495
Click to expand...
I would love to get a pair of the middle one. much nicer than the original bulky eye bolt. I will be watching the website for the release.
 
RicoB said:
I would love to get a pair of the middle one. much nicer than the original bulky eye bolt. I will be watching the website for the release.
Click to expand...
Thanks Rico, I will share their own post once they're on the site.
 
Harbor Freight - 500 lb hydraulic capacity lift table in my hangar has worked well for me for decades. I place an approximate 3” square rigid foam on the lift table right under the spar, pump the lift table with my foot and lower it with the hand hydraulic release. The lift table has many other uses in the hangar.

Jake Thiessen
 
Jaknjoan said:
Harbor Freight - 500 lb hydraulic capacity lift table in my hangar has worked well for me for decades. I place an approximate 3” square rigid foam on the lift table right under the spar, pump the lift table with my foot and lower it with the hand hydraulic release. The lift table has many other uses in the hangar.

Jake Thiessen
Click to expand...
Do you have a pic of it setup?
 
JonJay said:
The only approved method, and as designed, is wing jacks. This isn’t just RV’s, but almost all GA and other aircraft. Google aircraft on jacks and good luck finding one that doesn’t jack from the wing.
On my 6, lifting with the fuselage means “pushing” on the rib and spar flanges, not the spar directly. I’m not willing to do that, even if it can take it.
Proper use of jacks and good jack points and you couldn’t push the aircraft off of them if you tried.
This is the end of this public service announcement…….
Click to expand...
I'd challenge the idea that there is one and only one approved jacking method. There are several that work and several that are bad ideas.

On using wing jacks... That approach isn't without risk. My home field has a repair station that concentrates on composite structures. Anything from 7XX pieces and parts to Cirri and Icon's. You'd be surprised at how many Cirri I've seen there for repairs after being dropped off a jack or jacks and had holes punched all the way through the wing(s). Presumably by professional shops. On a couple of 'em, the jack missed the spar by a gnat's whisker. Damage the spar and you're looking for a new wing.

Anyway, to avoid that, I jack both of my airplanes by the gear. The RV-6 uses the device that inserts into the hollow axle and the RV-10 uses the bolt-on bracket that attaches to the brake caliper. Both jacking methods are rock solid. I rest the axles on wooden blocks once I've jacked the airplane.. I know that even if I screw something up badly (which is never the plan, but...), the only damage is likely to be a crushed brake line or maybe a scraped steel fitting. Something I can fix relatively easily. A hole punched in the wing, 'cause a jack slipped? Worse..spar damage? Big repair. I'm gonna avoid that risk if I can.
 
jmiller007 said:
Hey folks - what are y'all using to support your RV when you are doing brake and wheel service?

If you have a recommendation, can you also provide where you bought it from?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
The best RV-12 method is placing the aircraft on the heavy stands as described in the Maintenance Manual. Of course that option is only valid if you are at your home field hangar. Another option might be to use the Bogert Aviation Jack pad which works on flat spring steel gear legs like on the 12:

CTT_3178.jpeg IMG_4058.jpeg IMG_4057.jpeg

The jack pad can be adjusted for angle, and width of the gear leg.
The part number is 30M-FPP and costs about $150. One nice aspect is you can carry this in the plane on a trip, without the heavy bottle jack which can be found anywhere.

The Bogert website also has a video of how to use this jack pad.
 
Kyle Boatright said:
I'd challenge the idea that there is one and only one approved jacking method. There are several that work and several that are bad ideas.

On using wing jacks... That approach isn't without risk. My home field has a repair station that concentrates on composite structures. Anything from 7XX pieces and parts to Cirri and Icon's. You'd be surprised at how many Cirri I've seen there for repairs after being dropped off a jack or jacks and had holes punched all the way through the wing(s). Presumably by professional shops. On a couple of 'em, the jack missed the spar by a gnat's whisker. Damage the spar and you're looking for a new wing.

Anyway, to avoid that, I jack both of my airplanes by the gear. The RV-6 uses the device that inserts into the hollow axle and the RV-10 uses the bolt-on bracket that attaches to the brake caliper. Both jacking methods are rock solid. I rest the axles on wooden blocks once I've jacked the airplane.. I know that even if I screw something up badly (which is never the plan, but...), the only damage is likely to be a crushed brake line or maybe a scraped steel fitting. Something I can fix relatively easily. A hole punched in the wing, 'cause a jack slipped? Worse..spar damage? Big repair. I'm gonna avoid that risk if I can.
Click to expand...
I understand. This has all been beat up before. Unless Vans has changed their position, with all things considered, who knows, it is/was the only approved method according Vans.
Poking holes in the wings has happened but it takes an extremely incompetent person doing something extremely stupid.
Theres no way I’m lifting my 6 on the rib flanges regardless but we all justify what we do, good, bad, or indifferent.
 
bwagner said:
As another whom doesn't trust tiedown ring supporting; I went the ATV jack route and built a box to bridge the distance up to the fuselage. Positioning side to side determines whether just the left or right gear is lifted or centering it lifts the entire plane no problem.View attachment 82543
Click to expand...

This is what I did. Mine is a motorcycle lift and it works fine. It is at it's limit at 1500 pounds and you dont want to get in the plane while it is in the air but can easily get all 3 wheels off the ground after you figure out exactly where to place the box. I used a piece of pink foam rigid insulation on top of the box for a little cushion but the carpet might even be better! Nice work.
 
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