The Murphy Builders Site

I have just completed installing my just completed 1800 amphibs on REBEL
554....a sight to behold! But all attempts to weigh the plane are giving me
erratic readings. I am using the twin bathroom scale method,but if I could
find two single scales that have 500lb. capacity, life might be simpler.The
plane is sitting in the field beside Mill Lake,and with no official float
time, I cant get it to an airport. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Bernie DeSantis
REBEL 554 Parry Sound ON




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Hey, Bernie, congratulations. If you've been reading this list for a while,
you will know how much us Rebel 1800 drivers love this plane. I have said it
many times before, and will say it again, that the Rebel is a better flying
airplane and easier to land on amphib floats than on wheels, with plenty of
power to spare if you have the 0320. Good luck and enjoy.

With the weighing, I have done this several times with mine as I was making
adjustments. Not sure exactly how you are doing it, but here is what I did
and some things to watch out for.

I borrowed a set of aircraft scales. Unfortunately, there were only 3 so had
to use a bathroom scale for 1 of the front wheels. For each weighing, I
always calibrated the scales using a known weight close to what the reading
at the wheels would be. Then be sure the plane is in flight level attitude
(bottom of cabin floor or bottom of top window sill), fore and aft, and be
absolutely consistent with this with each weighing. Of course, your wings
should be in flight level attitude as well, but that is less important if
one side is slightly heavier than the other. You might find pretty
significant variances between the two front wheels, depending on your floor,
but again, their total weight is what matters. Don't forget to subtract all
tare weights. I used a plumb bob down from the plane to set my datum point
for the floats to do the cog calculation.

What didn't work for me, was trying to use the same scale for more than one
position. I found it impossible to keep the flight attitude, side to side,
exactly the same with each weighing, especially the front wheels, which is
why I went to a fourth scale.

Again, best of luck and hope this helps.

Walter

-----Original Message-----
From: murphy-rebel@dcsol.com [mailto:murphy-rebel@dcsol.com]On Behalf Of
rebel@dcsol.com
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2002 5:37 AM
To: murphy-rebel@dcsol.com
Subject: 1800 amphibs weight&balance


I have just completed installing my just completed 1800 amphibs on
REBEL
554....a sight to behold! But all attempts to weigh the plane are giving me
erratic readings. I am using the twin bathroom scale method,but if I could
find two single scales that have 500lb. capacity, life might be simpler.The
plane is sitting in the field beside Mill Lake,and with no official float
time, I cant get it to an airport. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Bernie DeSantis
REBEL 554 Parry Sound ON


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Hey Bernie congradulations You're about a month ahead of me at the rate I'm
going. If you're weighing the plane outside you have to do it with an
absolute calm wind. I tried to weigh my plane outside and it was impossible
to get a reading in a breeze that didn't even move the windsock. I had no
problem once we moved inside and closed the door. I'm going to Parry Sound
tommorow weather permiting for the weekend. would you like me to see if I
can rent the scales one of the local mechanics uses? They're an electronic
set with 4 scales designed for weighing race cars.
Drew Dalgleish

At 04:37 AM 7/25/2002 -0800, you wrote:

I have just completed installing my just completed 1800 amphibs on

REBEL

554....a sight to behold! But all attempts to weigh the plane are giving me
erratic readings. I am using the twin bathroom scale method,but if I could
find two single scales that have 500lb. capacity, life might be simpler.The
plane is sitting in the field beside Mill Lake,and with no official float
time, I cant get it to an airport. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Bernie DeSantis
REBEL 554 Parry Sound ON


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On 7/25/02 11:40 AM, DREWJAN@CABLETV.ON.CA wrote to MURPHY-REBEL:
Hi Drew,
Thanks for your response(yours too Walter).
Your suggestion to rent those scales is like a breath of fresh air in a
sandstorm. Please phone me at (705)746-8913.
Thanks in advance.......
Bernie
-> Hey Bernie congradulations You're about a month ahead of me at the rate I'm
-> going. If you're weighing the plane outside you have to do it with an
-> absolute calm wind. I tried to weigh my plane outside and it was impossible
-> to get a reading in a breeze that didn't even move the windsock. I had no
-> problem once we moved inside and closed the door. I'm going to Parry Sound
-> tommorow weather permiting for the weekend. would you like me to see if I
-> can rent the scales one of the local mechanics uses? They're an electronic
-> set with 4 scales designed for weighing race cars.
-> Drew Dalgleish
->
-> At 04:37 AM 7/25/2002 -0800, you wrote:
-> > I have just completed installing my just completed 1800 amphibs on
-> REBEL
-> >554....a sight to behold! But all attempts to weigh the plane are giving
me
-> >erratic readings. I am using the twin bathroom scale method,but if I could
-> >find two single scales that have 500lb. capacity, life might be
simpler.The
-> >plane is sitting in the field beside Mill Lake,and with no official float
-> >time, I cant get it to an airport. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
-> > Bernie DeSantis
-> > REBEL 554 Parry Sound ON
-> >
-> >
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-> > To unsubscribe go to http://www.dcsol.com:81/public/listserv.htm
-> > Archives located at http://rebel:builder@www.dcsol.com:81/default.htm
-> > To contact the list admin, e-mail mike.davis@dcsol.com
-> >*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
-> >
-> >
-> -----------------------------------------------------
->
->





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