mountainmatt wrote:
Conditions:
8.00x6.00 tires
All seats installed including rear bench seat.
Required oil and hydraulic fluid
Fuel drained (zero fuel)

So, what will the scales read under those conditions!? Planning to put it on the scales on Sunday afternoon.

Little wheels, no 3 blade, utilitarian interior ... hoping for 1585#'s but never weighed one that had all the closed cell insulation before.

Ill go with 1615lbs.

1595!

1627lbs

1618

1565.

1621 lbs

A couple of questions:

Is the insulating rubber durable enough to just have it exposed or is it going to be covered? I am guessing just just going to be exposed.

MountainMatt - did you have painting experience before?

There could be another 55 180 that needs an interior update coming to the list.

29singlespeed wrote:A couple of questions:

Is the insulating rubber durable enough to just have it exposed or is it going to be covered? I am guessing just just going to be exposed.

MountainMatt - did you have painting experience before?

There could be another 55 180 that needs an interior update coming to the list.

The Selkirk foam is actually more durable than I had anticipated. It will show wear, but you really have to abuse it. This is why I went with 1/2" foam in the lower baggage areas as those will see more rubbing and wear. The 1/2" is very thick stuff and will hold up far better than the 1/4" imo, but time will tell.

I have limited experience in painting, but I was pleased by the ease and durability of the Imron paint. I'm sure a professional painter would not be impressed by my work, but I feel it came out great and am happy with the results.

MM

Cool thanks, I was showing my wife that we could put some sweat equity into a 55 thats all there, just not the interior. Oh and it has 3x's the hrs yours does (4500hrs)... just saw yours only has 1700 hrs.. thats pretty wild.

The weight is in!

I have to say, putting it on the scales for the first time in many decades bought on a nervous anxiety. I kept going though all the numbers in my head, adding things up again and again, but I had no number as a starting point (and I knew the calculated numbers were useless).

I know no one is really ever happy with the reality of the scales, so you hope for the best and expect the worst. I was hoping to keep my 1000 lb useful load. With a family, the loads will increase. I have watched Cory (GSS) and his family grow, and the once roomy 182 became nearly unusable with 3 little ones. This will perhaps be me in a few more years....

I kept the focus on making it light but yet functional, and whatever the scales read, I was ecstatic with the results.


In the end, I'm very happy! I don't have the lightest 180 out there, but it is sure lighter now than a few months ago. I would guess I nailed my mark of 125lbs removed. I weighed most of the big stuff on a fish scale and I stopped weighing the little things when I neared that mark.

So, here's the result, Tom wins with the closest guess of 1565. (beers on me buddy!)

The number with zero fuel, undrainalbe oil, 8.00s and all seats is 1572!

1594 - 22lbs for the oil.


And with the back seat out, the weight came down to 1547 (1569-22lbs).


Today was a great day and I'm very excited! Now I can't wait to get her into the backcountry for a little camping.

Legal empty weights:
8.00 and all seats: 1632
8.00 and no rear seat: 1607
31's and all seats: 1665
31's and no rear seat: 1640
(I am right at the forward CG limits, so a good survival pack will be added to the back of the extended baggage.)

Didn't hit sub 1600 on the legal empty weight, but got darn close! Perhaps a paint stripping party is in the future?

This isn't the end of the project, only a break. A Sportsman STOL kit is the next item on the list.....

Cheers and thanks for following along!

MM

Dang!! So close!!

Right on Matt!

Lose that copilot seat and you've got it!
Excellent piece of work. Thanks for sharing.
-DP

Matt-

Excellent! Thanks for keeping us posted! Could you by chance share your CG calculation as well?

Thanks,
gunny

That's awesome Matt!

mountainmatt wrote:The weight is in!

I have to say, putting it on the scales for the first time in many decades bought on a nervous anxiety. I kept going though all the numbers in my head, adding things up again and again, but I had no number as a starting point (and I knew the calculated numbers were useless).

I know no one is really ever happy with the reality of the scales, so you hope for the best and expect the worst. I was hoping to keep my 1000 lb useful load. With a family, the loads will increase. I have watched Cory (GSS) and his family grow, and the once roomy 182 became nearly unusable with 3 little ones. This will perhaps be me in a few more years....

I kept the focus on making it light but yet functional, and whatever the scales read, I was ecstatic with the results.


In the end, I'm very happy! I don't have the lightest 180 out there, but it is sure lighter now than a few months ago. I would guess I nailed my mark of 125lbs removed. I weighed most of the big stuff on a fish scale and I stopped weighing the little things when I neared that mark.

So, here's the result, Tom wins with the closest guess of 1565. (beers on me buddy!)

The number with zero fuel, undrainalbe oil, 8.00s and all seats is 1572!

1594 - 22lbs for the oil.


And with the back seat out, the weight came down to 1547 (1569-22lbs).


Today was a great day and I'm very excited! Now I can't wait to get her into the backcountry for a little camping.

Legal empty weights:
8.00 and all seats: 1632
8.00 and no rear seat: 1607
31's and all seats: 1665
31's and no rear seat: 1640
(I am right at the forward CG limits, so a good survival pack will be added to the back of the extended baggage.)

Didn't hit sub 1600 on the legal empty weight, but got darn close! Perhaps a paint stripping party is in the future?

This isn't the end of the project, only a break. A Sportsman STOL kit is the next item on the list.....

Cheers and thanks for following along!

MM

So with 31's and your rear seat (they way you will fly her most often) I win...

Good job on the weight! Your fired up!

AKT

Awesome Matt! Congratulations!

Why is she 40lbs heavier on one side?

Gunny wrote:Matt-

Excellent! Thanks for keeping us posted! Could you by chance share your CG calculation as well?

Thanks,
gunny

I don't remember the exact number off the top of my head, but I know it's pretty much right at the forward limit.

soyAnarchisto wrote:Why is she 40lbs heavier on one side?

Firewall battery, generator, instruments, baggage door, etc.