Steve, this is not Mark, but I will tell you what I know, as long as you realize that "your results will vary"!
I started looking into using spacers because of all the discussion about W&B on the net, and because Jim Faughn told me that he was advised to put spacers on his. He did, and it worked out very well. Also, because my first KR did not use spacers, and, from all the discussion, I deduced that the CG must have been too far aft on that plane. So, I did a W & B with the engine off the plane, and with the engine on the plane to determine the actual moment arm of the engine. Then I ran the calculations and determined that if I moved the engine forward 2", I would have a better GC. If I am remembering correctly, I calculated that I could have moved it farther, but my personal limit for spacers was 2". I installed the spacers, and this plane is very solid, and, I have calculated, that it will stay that way throughout the range of people weight and header tank fuel weight. Another very valuable thing that the spacers gave me was much needed room between the firewall and the engine. Remember that these planes are being built as though they are going to weigh what the specs say they should weigh, and they don't. So, since they are always heavier, it makes sense that you would need to move the engine farther forward, or add more weight up front, as maybe in "nose wheel". When I rebuild my motor mount to take my new Vair engine, I will definitely take all this into consideration and be sure to get the engine in the right place as it makes a LOT of difference. The spacers are easy to make. Just buy round aluminum rod and have a machine shop cut and drill them. Your real problem is going to be finding motor mount bolts long enough, for a price that won't send you into shock. My best advise to you, is do some W&B checks on your own. You are going to have to do it anyway. The nose wheel is going to make a difference, but then moving the mains back will offset it a little. If anything, your CG will be too far forward. You can always add the spacers later, it is no big thing other than adding the inches to the cowling. If you MUST mess up a nice KR, just convert it and check the W&B and do whatever you have to, to get it right. Don't mess with the cowling until you have to. You may find that everything is just right after the conversion. Spacing the engine and changing the cowling, is the LAST thing that you should be doing. See N64KR at http://KRBuilder.org - Then click on the pics See you at the 2007 - KR Gathering There is a time for building and a time for FLYING and the time for Flying has begun. Daniel R. Heath - Lexington, SC -------Original Message------- I've been trying to research the nose gear converson / CG / engine spacer deal and haven't gotten any solid facts. It appears that a KR-2 with a VW needs the 2 inch spacers between the Diehl engine mount and the engine with the nose gear. I couldn't get a " you need them " answer
