Hi folks, first post, though I have been lurking for a couple years. I am looking for advice on the need for a "heavy duty" axle for straight ski use (M2000 Aero Ski) on my '03 7GCBC. I always assumed that Scout axles were the answer....ACA says they are the same alloy as mine and not really any stronger. Troy at Aero ski does sell steel axles for their retractable ski install, and I don't have a problem with using them if required, just wondering what most folks in the Citabria world are doing on their installs. Thanks for any input....

Rob

I have the R2800s. The steel axles were much heavier than the stock on my '72 GCBC. Curious if you have the taller aluminum gear legs on your newer GCBC that allows the 76" prop? If so, I think there was something about a minimum of 8x6 tires - is there any paperwork hassle going on skis with the clearance requirement?

No, sad to say I have the stock steel gear, the aluminum gear started a year or two later. To my knowledge it was the High Country Explorer that had longer prop thus 8.00 tire minimum. Also, I assume the aluminum gear is the same length as steel, but I don't know...

Rob and Matt,

Where are you attaching the brackets for the bungees? I have the aluminum gear on a scout. It is thicker then the steel gear, hence the gear clamps and bolts require a longer bolt. (The longest bolt made). There is no room for the ski tab now.

Does anyone out there use skis with the new gear?? If so, what are you doing? John

Matt 7GCBC wrote:........... Curious if you have the taller aluminum gear legs on your newer GCBC that allows the 76" prop? .........

I'm curious about that prop. I just googled the Explorer specs: std explorer is 160-horse with 73" Sensenich 74DM6 prop, "High Country" package is 180-horse with full-length Sensenich 76EM8 prop. Izzat what yer talking about? Or is there an STC or approval for a longer prop on the 160-horse?
I have a 150-horse C150 taildragger-- the approved prop is a Sens 74DM6 which works OK, but it'd sure be nice to have something with a little more length to it. An 82" Cub borer prop might be too much of a good thing, ground clearance wise, but something about 78" or so would be just right. I'm running the approved 74" Sens with 56" of pitch, probably 55 might be a bit better all-around but any flatter than that makes it too inefficientIMHO. I did have a 74" x 52 pitch, and it turned up good (a little too good,in fact) but didn't seem to pull like it oughta. Ya need more lengthif you're gonna flatten them out like that.

Eric

John: I don't have my ski stuff on hand yet, but the info I have from talking to Troy is the tab install under the bolts that you are talking about.....but I have steel gear and have not yet checked the bolt length as to whether it will require longer bolts. This install is different than the "U" bolt install on their drawing and thus requires separate approval. None of this answers your question though......and I assume you have talked to Troy at Aero Ski.....or ACA?