At the recommendation
of Bill Harrelson, a frequent contributor to this forum, I added a parking brake
to Jim White's and my IV-Ps. We're at about 90%
and haven't flown, but I'd gotten several similar recommendations, and had
occasion to use one when flying in Colorado recently--the ramp was sloped and
the airplane wanted to roll after shutdown, no matter how I turned it to try to
parallel the slope. I couldn't remember ever needing this in several years of
flying, but I really wanted it that day...
Lancair sells a kit consisting of the important "two
line" valve that accommodates both left and right brake systems and maintains
their isolation, along with the needed extra tubing and fittings. The included
instruction sheet simply taps the valve into the brake lines between the left
pedals and the wheel brakes. I didn't even try to price compare on cost with
ACS, other sources, but considered what I got a good deal, and
complete.
I mounted the valve on the left upper web that connects
the firewall stiffener to the side of the fuselage--just in front of the left
forward aileron torque tube mount. It then requires only a short piece of
flexible control wire (not provided in the above kit) to run to the left side of
the instrument panel. I also rerouted the plumbing to feed from the reservoir to
the right side pedals, then to the left side, then to the parking brake,
and then to the wheel brakes. This was a more "logical" routing with this valve
location. Other locations might be better serviced as the assembly manual
proscribes. Probably wouldn't have redone the completed system just for the
benefits, but since I had to re-do the plumbing anyway, I decided to incorporate
this change as well. previous LML postings for the rational for
this.
I could send pictures to you directly if these would be
of help?
Bob Pastusek
-----Original Message-----
From:
Lancair Mailing List [mailto:lml@lancaironline.net]On Behalf Of
YancyDee@aol.com
Sent: Sunday, June 08, 2003 9:05 PM
To:
Lancair Mailing List
Subject: [LML] IV-P Parking
brake
Hi
I'm interested in installing a parking brake in
my IV-P. Can anyone give me any pro's or con's.
Thanks
Mark