Wanted to buy: One Man Rigger

[jaredg...@yahoo.com]

I recently purchased a glider and need a One Man Rig.

Let me know what you have.

Email stuff721-pp(at)yahoo.com

[Dan Marotta]

http://www.mmfabrication.com/SPRC.htm

Mark builds good stuff.

--
Dan Marotta

[Steve Koerner]

Mark Mocho builds good stuff for sure. But what he's currently building isn't what Dan linked to.

As was reported on this forum a few months ago, Mark bought the Wing Rigger business and product design. I think the situation is that he's been so busy building and shipping product lately that he's not had time yet to get all the web stuff updated. For now at least, the link to the Wing Rigger product description is www.wingrigger.com.

I suppose I'm biased, but I'd want to advise that the original poster give Wing Rigger good consideration.

[drguya...@gmail.com]

I have two gliders and use the Cobra one man rigger for both. I have tried at least two other designs and watch other pilots using other systems.
I have a mature back and knees. I rig my planes by myself all the time.
The Cobra has a wide wheelbase and large wheels that make it very stable.
The height adjustment is with a crank that takes very little effort.
There is a lateral adjustment feature that makes the slight fore and aft movements of the wing needed to align pins very easy. It all breaks down into sizes that fit very easily into the front compartment of the Cobra trailer, or better yet, into the under-trailer drawer.
Wind is your enemy when solo rigging or de-rigging.
A second person whos sole job is to provide lateral bracing against the wind should be used when there is significant wind.
I have never had a wing get blown over using this system.
I have lost two wings to the wind with other systems.

[Charlie M. (UH & 002 owner/pilot)]

I guess one question should be asked...... what kind of surface/ground are you typically going to use the rigger on?
Some set-ups work great, but only on smooth/flat/hard surfaces.
Other riggers are "so-so" on smooth/hard, but work on soft/rutted surfaces.

Maybe users of riggers can explain what surface they are normally on to help you with your selection.

Just a thought. ;-)

[Dan Marotta]

My home-built rigger (built by a friend, not me) uses large pneumatic tires.  It works very well on dirt, gravel, grass, and pavement.  I removed the height adjustment jack to make it smaller and lighter and simply drilled and bolted the height to where the wings slide into each other.  Minor vertical adjustments can be made with the trailer's cradle jack.

--
Dan Marotta

[Peter von Tresckow]

Dan Marotta <dcma...@earthlink.net> wrote:
> My home-built rigger (built by a friend, not me) uses large pneumatic
> tires. It works very well on dirt, gravel, grass, and pavement. I
> removed the height adjustment jack to make it smaller and lighter and
> simply drilled and bolted the height to where the wings slide into each
> other. Minor vertical adjustments can be made with the trailer's cradle jack.
>

> On 3/3/2015 8:27 AM, Charlie M. (UH &amp; 002 owner/pilot) wrote:
> On Monday, March 2, 2015 at 9:25:45 AM UTC-5, jaredg...@yahoo.com wrote:
> I recently purchased a glider and need a One Man Rig.
>
> Let me know what you have.
>
> Email stuff721-pp(at)yahoo.com
> I guess one question should be asked...... what kind of surface/ground
> are you typically going to use the rigger on? Some set-ups work great,
> but only on smooth/flat/hard surfaces. Other riggers are "so-so" on
> smooth/hard, but work on soft/rutted surfaces.
>
> Maybe users of riggers can explain what surface they are normally on to
> help you with your selection.
>
> Just a thought. ;-)
>
> --
> Dan Marotta

I picked up an old Udo Rumpf rigger. Works great on the grass. Also uses
the crank for adjustment.

Peter

[Andrzej Kobus]

I also have a rigger made by Udo. It is really solid with a wide base. Sadly Udo is no longer with us. Wing Rigger is really nice as well.

[Mike the Strike]

I've owned three one-man riggers, each one better than the previous one. My current (and probably last one) is one of Steve Koerner's (now manufactured by MM). It is very similar to the Udo version, but uses a gas shock for support rather than a screw and crank. I was always bashing my knuckles with the crank and find the gas shock to be easier and quicker. It's the only US-manufactured one worth looking it, IMHO.

Mike

[Soartech]

Why not just build your own? I built one that has a powered height adjustment with wireless remote control and it cost me about $70 for the whole thing. I am going to write an Instructable how to do this in a few weeks.

[herbk...@gmail.com]

On Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 8:54:28 PM UTC-6, Soartech wrote:
> Why not just build your own? I built one that has a powered height adjustment with wireless remote control and it cost me about $70 for the whole thing. I am going to write an Instructable how to do this in a few weeks.

Did the same as Soartech, motorized vertical axis with remote control on a home-built rigger. You should see the envy from the poor guys who have to run to the rigger to adjust the height. I just stand by the fuselage and run the wing up and down until the pin bushings line up. Found the linear actuator on ebay, same for the remote and relais box. Price for the parts is around $180 (not $70) and that's just for the height adjustment.

Herb

[jfitch]

I have the Cobra with the wireless remote and motorized vertical and horizontal axis. I occasionally use the horizontal, and never the vertical. It is far easier to leave it at the right height at move the fuselage with the jack. One problem with motors and batteries is they weigh a lot - pretty soon the dolly weighs as much as the wing and you might as well lift one as the other.

[Dan Marotta]

Be sure to post that!  Many folks will thank you.

On 3/3/2015 7:54 PM, Soartech wrote:

Why not just build your own? I built one that has a powered height adjustment with wireless remote control and it cost me about $70 for the whole thing. I am going to write an Instructable how to do this in a few weeks.

--
Dan Marotta

[johnba...@gmail.com]

On Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at 6:54:28 PM UTC-8, Soartech wrote:
> Why not just build your own? I built one that has a powered height adjustment with wireless remote control and it cost me about $70 for the whole thing. I am going to write an Instructable how to do this in a few weeks.

Let me know when you post the instructions I will build....

[Soartech]

Nice going, Herb. To raise and lower the telescoping post I used a 12V ATV winch from Harbor Freight. It comes with a wireless controller and is often on sale for $50.It has way more power than needed. I promise to post the details in a week or two. Need to take some pictures of it.

[jaredg...@yahoo.com]

On Monday, March 2, 2015 at 9:25:45 AM UTC-5, jaredg...@yahoo.com wrote:

Thanks for all the reply's and offers. I found one to buy.

[JS]

I am also looking for a used one-man rigger for my club.
So if there were replies to the original post too late for his purchase, I could be interested.
Jim

[Paul Villinski]

Soartech -- please do post details or instructable when you have a chance; would love to see how you've worked this out! Thanks in advance --

[lynn]

I have a used one-man rigger located in the Dallas, TX area. Lynn 206-818-1852

[JS]

Thanks. PM sent.
Jim

[daver...@gmail.com]

My daughter went away to college and I confiscated her razor scooter to make a rigger for my libelle! She's begging Soartech to post a picture so don't destroy her scooter.

Regards, Dave

[Soartech]

As promised I have completed an Instructable on how I built my powered wing rigging tool. It doesn't look pretty but it works well. Others could make it look nicer, I am sure.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Sailplane-Wing-Installer-with-electric-lifting/

[busha...@gmail.com]

That is one "Mad Max" looking rigger. Probably works great but don't enter it in any design competitions.

Lane

[herbk...@gmail.com]

On Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 1:38:01 PM UTC-5, Soartech wrote:
> As promised I have completed an Instructable on how I built my powered wing rigging tool. It doesn't look pretty but it works well. Others could make it look nicer, I am sure.
>
> http://www.instructables.com/id/Sailplane-Wing-Installer-with-electric-lifting/

Dear Soartech,

Have a look at my rigger:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Wing-Rigger-w-Power-Axis/

The Instructables website is really neat. I published my design because my wife let me know after I was finished that I will NOT start building these for sale in our basement. So go ahead, roll your own! I will be glad to entertain any questions.

Herb, J7

[JS]

I am still looking for a used rigger to donate to my club.
If you have one available, please contact me offline at staniforthjim?yahoo?com
Remove the question marks and replace with the usual.
Jim

[ifee...@hotmail.com]

I have an Udo and it works beautifully. I think the key is how closely the saddle matches the wing contour.

The ground I assemble on is rough, lumpy and grass covered but the rigger handles it well. A fore/aft adjustment is good to have. It was an option on mine but I didn't go for it. On the grass of my home field it's easy to just tug the rigger forward or back to line the wing up but it's a little more difficult to do so on pavement.