REDLINE SIDEWINDER POWER DRIVER

[ArtVandelay]

I think that tug is rated for 2600 pounds max.  Might be marginal for his Mooney.

You usually tug a plane when it’s mostly empty, so not a problem.

[larrynimmo]

If what you say is true…limit of 2,600 pounds….

factory rated gross is 2740….and that includes pilot and passengers

So the “towed” plane will always be under 2,600 lbs.

[DonMuncy]

I have always worried about any manufacturer saying their product will tow a particular number. What surface, tire pressure, and most importantly, slope are probably much more important factors.

[PT20J]

One thing I noticed about the Sidewinder is that it works much better if you keep the nose wheel tire pressure correct.

[Rick Junkin]

1 hour ago, PT20J said:

One thing I noticed about the Sidewinder is that it works much better if you keep the nose wheel tire pressure correct.

Couldn't have said it better myself, Skip! Oh wait...  Not better, but different:

On 5/6/2022 at 7:56 PM, Junkman said:

Is your nose tire inflated to full pressure? My Sidewinder becomes less capable when my nose tire is down a few PSI. Just something to check if you haven't already.

Cheers,
Rick

Cool, two votes for proper nose tire pressure to get best performance from the Sidewinder.

Cheers,
Rick

[Fly Boomer]

6 hours ago, larrynimmo said:

So the “towed” plane will always be under 2,600 lbs.

In that case, easy peasy no problemo!

[gmonnig]

On 5/7/2022 at 12:20 PM, Fly Boomer said:

I think that tug is rated for 2600 pounds max.  Might be marginal for his Mooney.

It definitely is. That was the understanding when he bought it. But when do you pull a fully fueled plane with people sitting in it? Its never going to be at 2575lbs when hooked to the tug. But yeah, the A2 is certainly the better option if choosing Best Tug.

[PT20J]

 

[Ulysse]

On 5/7/2022 at 1:56 AM, Junkman said:

Is your nose tire inflated to full pressure?

It did help thank you. I still need to push to get the plane up the incline with full tanks though

[carusoam]

On 5/8/2022 at 4:28 PM, gmonnig said:

when do you pull a fully fueled plane with people sitting in it?

Crummy weather, and you are a family man… 
 

Plane filled, all you have to do is move it to its starting location….

Are you going to have the misses and kids traipse all that mess into the cockpit?

or escort them in style with your fancy tug….?

 

Extra points if you ask your wife if she can help you find the windshield wiper control before you start the engine…  
 

Best regards,

-a-

[Mac80]

I just the Mooney type Sidewinder. I have had recent surgery on my shoulder so I got the sidewinder to help.

Did not see any mounting instructions and the apparatus seems intuitive. 

I am having problems putting the bar in the yoke as it fits very tight. I have to struggle to get into the female tow bar mount. I have moved the lever counterclockwise which should loosen it still have to pound on it to get on and off. 

My tow bar fits so loose it will fall out if do not have some tape on it to hold it better.

Am I missing something ?

 

[carusoam]

27 minutes ago, Mac80 said:

I just the Mooney type Sidewinder. I have had recent surgery on my shoulder so I got the sidewinder to help.

Did not see any mounting instructions and the apparatus seems intuitive. 

I am having problems putting the bar in the yoke as it fits very tight. I have to struggle to get into the female tow bar mount. I have moved the lever counterclockwise which should loosen it still have to pound on it to get on and off. 

My tow bar fits so loose it will fall out if do not have some tape on it to hold it better.

Am I missing something ?

 

Yesss…!

Fortunately you are missing something!   
 

Look closely at how the expander works…

It is a simple screw mechanism…

you have to hold the nut, while turning the screw…for the distance to grow, that allows the space to increase…. That allows the wedge shapes to slide against each other and get narrower overall…

narrow wedges = easy fit into the nose gear tube…

Expanding it by turning the screw/nut in the opposite direction allows for a snug fit… it doesn’t need to be tight….

Or…

You have this all wrong… nobody can figure this out… I can help you out by taking this off your hands at a super lowball price….  
 

How is that?

 

Keep in mind, my description isn’t very clear… the folks at sidewinder explained this to me about a decade ago…

If this isn’T clear enough… you can call them for a much better explanation… 

I spoke to the big cheese, he promised the device would work in my Mooney…  when I got it, his hand written instructions were very clear…

No issues… Ever arose…   
 

PP thoughts only, not a mechanical engineer…

Best regards,

-a-

[Pinecone]

You just have to be careful aligning it.  It is a close fit, but when you get it aligned, it slips right in.

I will say, be careful and apply a good bit of down force on the handle, or you may just grid a flat spot in your tire.

[Danb]

Mine was and is a snug fit I to have physical issues, I sprayed silicon spray on the fitting and inside the nose gear it now slides in ok

[Mac80]

On 9/4/2022 at 9:33 PM, carusoam said:

Yesss…!

Fortunately you are missing something!   
 

Look closely at how the expander works…

It is a simple screw mechanism…

you have to hold the nut, while turning the screw…for the distance to grow, that allows the space to increase…. That allows the wedge shapes to slide against each other and get narrower overall…

narrow wedges = easy fit into the nose gear tube…

Expanding it by turning the screw/nut in the opposite direction allows for a snug fit… it doesn’t need to be tight….

Or…

You have this all wrong… nobody can figure this out… I can help you out by taking this off your hands at a super lowball price….  
 

How is that?

 

Keep in mind, my description isn’t very clear… the folks at sidewinder explained this to me about a decade ago…

If this isn’T clear enough… you can call them for a much better explanation… 

I spoke to the big cheese, he promised the device would work in my Mooney…  when I got it, his hand written instructions were very clear…

No issues… Ever arose…   
 

PP thoughts only, not a mechanical engineer…

Best regards,

-a-

 

[Mac80]

Ok 

I noticed the nut so I will try to get the tow insert a smaller diameter. 

I did not see a phone number on web site to call.

So other part of my question is then lever attached to mechanism that slides into the yoke appears to adjust diameter. So if in range it would be easy in then tighten. Unless it is just set to tight which I believe may be the case making it difficult to put on or take off.

Going to give the screw nut adjustment a try after I pound it off again.

Only instructions had to do with connecting or disconnecting battery until on plane.

 

 

[Mac80]

My new Sidewinder does not have an adjustment screw. It does have a lever that expands and contracts the tow insert to the plane.

The adjustment lever was not expanding and contracting the bar insert like it should have.

I took a 9/16 inch wrench and took apart lever mechanism lubricated and put back and experimented with different distances for the lever adjustment. Found it does not take much turning the lever to hold yoke firmly when fairly tight.

The sidewinder now goes into yoke hole easily now tightens completely all with just usual clockwise to tighten and counterclockwise to loosen.

Not sure why the lever did not move correctly. I had to hold inside part of insert to get the two piece part to expand and contract. Lubricating inside may have helped. Not an issue when inserted to yoke as the plane yoke put enough friction on it to allow expand or contract.

Getting the drill inserted into sidewinder is tight. If not in fully it can be tested by lifting off the tire to see if chain moves.

Doing all this after rotator cuff surgery was difficult as it does take some pushing and lifting the first couple times but a few weeks later  I am able to hold up the sidewinder which makes it much easier. One handed insertion required some extra props, broom handle, to help hold up the sidewinder. 

 

[carusoam]

Mac,

That’s the lever…

Lefty loosy….

Should allow the gap between the wedge shapes to open, thus making the diameter smaller…

 

Somebody reported an issue above… about a manufacturing flaw(?) where the diameter would not get small enough…

I have this device on their manual tow bar… and it works really well, super easy to use…

Finger tight is all it takes…. And finger loose for removal…

Best regards,

-a-

[carusoam]

For phone number…

They put it in two strange places….

They make a really good device…

They are nice people…

They don’t know web development….  

https://redlineaviation.com/contact-registration/

Somewhere at the bottom of the first paragraph or so…

The phone number is high lighted…

The second strange place…. Top left corner… first piece of info…

They also give office hours with that… that didn’t copy here very well…

You may also contact us by calling (619) 449-1970 - Monday thru Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM PST.

-a-

[Mac80]

Now that the yoke insertion issue seems resolved looking for an easy way to insert the drill to sidewinder attachment. Seems to fit very snug would helped if had an alignment key.  Am I missing something here too?

[Pinecone]

Why are you taking the drill out?