It's been cold. I mounted my skis last week at 20 below, but the bungees were too stiff to stretch to the boot cowl bracket. Then it went to 40 below and they didn't even want to flex. Today was only about 15 below, so I thought I'd have another go. Still way too stiff. I was thinking about putting hot water bottles next to them and wrapping them in insulation, but then I hit on a simpler solution: An old scrap of 6" insulated flexible duct, and a Little Buddy electric heater. Heater is inserted in one end, blowing hot air. Bungee, along with check cable and crust-cutter cable is all inserted in the other end. After 20 minutes per side, they were good to go.
-DP

great idea thanks...

Bungee or spring stretcher. Can be made out of any extendable jack that has the span. Helps to lift the tail or jack the wing or gear up first to shorten the distance from gear to ski tip but you know that.

http://www.airglas.com/FixedWing/Produc ... fault.aspx

GAP

Lift the tail way up


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Speaking of an easy way to attach ski bungees...

I just happened to have a 15' gantry crane to lift the tail:


When tail is up, put on the tail-ski too:

They don't make bungees like they used to, that's for sure.

If they are that stiff when you put them on they probably won't function as they should when you start flying in the cold.

I plan to get springs.

NunavutPA-12 wrote:They don't make bungees like they used to, that's for sure.

If they are that stiff when you put them on they probably won't function as they should when you start flying in the cold.

I plan to get springs.

Plus 1 here...springs are the only way to go. Bungees don't work as advertised when very cold or wet then froze.........

DonC wrote:

NunavutPA-12 wrote:They don't make bungees like they used to, that's for sure.

If they are that stiff when you put them on they probably won't function as they should when you start flying in the cold.

I plan to get springs.

Plus 1 here...springs are the only way to go. Bungees don't work as advertised when very cold or wet then froze.........

Same here. And don't forget to check your gear bungees in very cold temps. I've had old ones stretch out, and not rebound.....safety cables saved that day.

MTV

8GCBC wrote:Speaking of an easy way to attach ski bungees...

I just happened to have a 15' gantry crane to lift the tail:


When tail is up, put on the tail-ski too:

Who makes the tail ski? I like it.


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Tom wrote:
Who makes the tail ski? I like it.


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Hi Tom,

The tailwheel ski is definitely excellent! It's a Wipaire CT3000...

Please see http://www.wipaire.com/skis/ct3000.php