Lsa strut material

[bigrockcandymountain]

Can anyone tell me the options for getting wing strut material for the lsa. I remember hearing the 4 place used cessna struts cut shorter. I just thought it would be good to know what to look out for.

I got my plans and they look great. I wish i could just start right away.

[BTAZ]

On Bob's recommendation, I bought mine(the heavy duty ones) from Carlson http://carlsonaircraft.com/struts.html

[davzLSA]

I got my lift struts from Mark. You might also check with him.

[Craig Van Sickle]

On Bob's recommendation, I bought mine(the heavy duty ones) from Carlson http://carlsonaircraft.com/struts.html

I got my lift struts from Mark. You might also check with him.

BTAZ do you recall the profile thickness? Looking at Carlson's website the HD strut is 1.38" and the plans call for 1.5". Was there any conversation about the differing specs?

davzLSA did your strut/end dimensions line up with the plans? Just curious if the Bearhawk and Carlson struts are different.

[Craig Van Sickle]

Thanks dav, roughly how much additional clearance do you need to get the strut ends in? More than 1/16"?

[davzLSA]

I have not actually fitted my strut end fittings into my struts yet but the guy I read about said he machined off about 1/8 of an inch off of the thickness of his strut end fittings. I would not take that as gospel you would need to check you own dimensions before doing anything like machining. To get the real dope on this give Bob a call and discuss it with him before you do anything to your strut end fittings. I'd hate to be the one who told you something and you mess up some expensive aluminum.

[Craig Van Sickle]

Sounds good. I’d check with Bob for sure before purchase or fabrication, just trying to get a sense of what other builders are doing.

[BTAZ]

It has been a few years so wouldn't hurt to call Bob but IIRC they were the "Heavy Duty" struts from Carlson and the strut brackets were machined to fit(I.E. nominally 1" thick instead of 1.125")

[Craig Van Sickle]

It has been a few years so wouldn't hurt to call Bob but IIRC they were the "Heavy Duty" struts from Carlson and the strut brackets were machined to fit(I.E. nominally 1" thick instead of 1.125")

Thanks BTAZ, appreciate that info.

[Mark Goldberg]

Once Bob ran some numbers about making the end fittings thinner so they would just fit into the heavy duty Carlson struts. He didn't like the numbers and felt reducing the end fittings size was not a good idea. He still recommends squeezing open the strut ends so the end fitting will fit in as drawn on the plans. Mark

[Craig Van Sickle]

Mark Goldberg are the struts you supply the full 1-1/2" profile depth shown on the plans or similar to the Carlson struts at 1.38"?

[Mark Goldberg]

They are the heaviest duty struts Carlson's makes. MG

[Craig Van Sickle]

Thanks Mark Goldberg, appreciate that info.