Power Kite Forum

Simple Mod' for Ivanpah axle

Bladerunner - 18-6-2012 at 05:17 PM

Even if I could transport my Ivanpah in one peice I need to break it down for storage in the kite shed.

One big problem with this was taking off the back axle. Pounding spreaders in to open up the gap was a PITA and the axle was getting scraped up by the tight fit.

BigKid Either has too much time or very good med's . He came up with a super simple, very cheap answer to the problem !

He has simply drilled a hole in the centre of the bottom side and welded on a nut. Open the gap with a bolt. Slide in the axle. Remove the bolt and continue as usual. The nut remains but is hidden under the flange. Simple yet brilliant !

I have to wonder why Kent isn't installing something like this stock ?

SUNP0027.JPG - 85kB

WELDNGOD - 18-6-2012 at 05:24 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner


BigKid Either has too much time or very good med's . He came up with a super simple, very cheap answer to the problem !


I'm thinkin' both! Good job Jeff! Sometimes the obvious is the hardest to see.

popeyethewelder - 18-6-2012 at 10:34 PM

This is the easiest way to spread the clamp, I used this method on my Dominators for the swan neck clamp (instead of welding a nut, I just drilled and tapped the spreading hole), and as mentioned....problem solved

Bladerunner - 19-6-2012 at 06:23 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by popeyethewelder
(instead of welding a nut, I just drilled and tapped the spreading hole), and as mentioned....problem solved



SMART ! :thumbup:

bigkid - 19-6-2012 at 06:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by popeyethewelder
This is the easiest way to spread the clamp, I used this method on my Dominators for the swan neck clamp (instead of welding a nut, I just drilled and tapped the spreading hole), and as mentioned....problem solved

That was my first thought, but the nut was a preventative step to make sure the idea worked. A simple idea for sure, but not all minds think alike as with people.
Your idea works well if the bolt is fine thread, not coarse thread. And only spread it enough to remove the axle, to much and it will tip the bolt in the hole and mess up the threads.:thumbup:

awindofchange - 19-6-2012 at 12:35 PM

I am actually in the process of re-designing the Ivanpah buggy, making some improvements and changes. This is the reason I have not done anything with the current clamp system. Originally the Ivanpah was designed for people that didn't need to break the buggy down with strength and security the primary focus over portability. This works great for people who have trailers or trucks, but limits the amount of people who can enjoy this great buggy. The new design will be easier to break down and have some other added features that I am not yet ready to disclose. The prototypes are being built so we can have extensive stress testing done before they are released. Some of the new features can be added to the existing Ivanpah buggies, some will not be interchangeable.

Hopefully we will have an Ivanpah II production model ready for people to demo at NABX '13.