Do you own an IMI Power Rigger?

[William Kautter]

I'm considering the purchase of an IMI Power Rigger. If you own one I would very much appreciate information about your experience with it.

Bill

[Mike Clarke[_3_]]

At 10:35 26 May 2020, William Kautter wrote:
>I'm considering the purchase of an IMI Power Rigger. If you own
one I would
>very much appreciate information about your experience with it.
>
>Bill
I have owned a manual Cobra rigger and two different electric
Cobra riggers. I now have an IMI Power Rigger which is very good
indeed, reflecting the fact that it’s design is 20 years or so later
than the Cobras.

Mike

[6PK]

Just purchased one recently, only used it once but the experience was very nice, outstanding quality.
It is considerably heavier than my old Udo Rumph self rigger but than it's to be expected given the extra hardware.
I absolutely love the larger balloon tires on rough surface I have to rig on.
I also like the extent of the saddle travel in the up and down movement, much better than the Udo self rig.

[2G]

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 3:35:13 AM UTC-7, William Kautter wrote:
> I'm considering the purchase of an IMI Power Rigger. If you own one I would very much appreciate information about your experience with it.
>
> Bill

Wings & Wheels has a video that shows how it works. I have one and it works great except for ONE thing: if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water, most likely at the time you REALLY want to use it. You fix this by:
1. Buying a 2nd battery.
2. Buying a mating battery connector so you can power it from another battery (someone posted a link where you can buy the connector).
It's rated to lift something like 250 lbs (IF the battery is good and charged). I had no problem with my ASH31Mi inner wing panels. The quality of construction is absolutely excellent (CNC machined parts, for example). The tires are solid rubber, so no flat tires at the start of the season (been there, done that). Being able to tweak the wing position remotely while searching for the exact alignment position is a major plus. I need to come up with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed out by the second wing, but this is no fault of the rigger.

My only complaint is it is a bit on the pricey side, but I think you get what you pay for.

Tom

[6PK]

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 6:47:45 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 3:35:13 AM UTC-7, William Kautter wrote:
> > I'm considering the purchase of an IMI Power Rigger. If you own one I would very much appreciate information about your experience with it.
> >
> > Bill
>
> Wings & Wheels has a video that shows how it works. I have one and it works great except for ONE thing: if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water, most likely at the time you REALLY want to use it. You fix this by:
> 1. Buying a 2nd battery.
> 2. Buying a mating battery connector so you can power it from another battery (someone posted a link where you can buy the connector).
> It's rated to lift something like 250 lbs (IF the battery is good and charged). I had no problem with my ASH31Mi inner wing panels. The quality of construction is absolutely excellent (CNC machined parts, for example). The tires are solid rubber, so no flat tires at the start of the season (been there, done that). Being able to tweak the wing position remotely while searching for the exact alignment position is a major plus. I need to come up with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed out by the second wing, but this is no fault of the rigger.
>
> My only complaint is it is a bit on the pricey side, but I think you get what you pay for.
>
> Tom

"" if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water""
These are NiCad batteries. Playing with model airplanes a long while ago, the rule was to always charge the batteries before and after and also cycle them to prevent a memory built up. Although I don't have a battery cycler any longer the next best thing is to run them down to "almost" all the way time to time and charge them back up. I kind of whish they offered these units with the newer lithium ion stuff through...

[2G]

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 7:12:20 PM UTC-7, 6PK wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 6:47:45 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
> > On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 3:35:13 AM UTC-7, William Kautter wrote:
> > > I'm considering the purchase of an IMI Power Rigger. If you own one I would very much appreciate information about your experience with it.
> > >
> > > Bill
> >
> > Wings & Wheels has a video that shows how it works. I have one and it works great except for ONE thing: if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water, most likely at the time you REALLY want to use it. You fix this by:
> > 1. Buying a 2nd battery.
> > 2. Buying a mating battery connector so you can power it from another battery (someone posted a link where you can buy the connector).
> > It's rated to lift something like 250 lbs (IF the battery is good and charged). I had no problem with my ASH31Mi inner wing panels. The quality of construction is absolutely excellent (CNC machined parts, for example). The tires are solid rubber, so no flat tires at the start of the season (been there, done that). Being able to tweak the wing position remotely while searching for the exact alignment position is a major plus. I need to come up with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed out by the second wing, but this is no fault of the rigger.
> >
> > My only complaint is it is a bit on the pricey side, but I think you get what you pay for.
> >
> > Tom
>
> "" if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water""
> These are NiCad batteries. Playing with model airplanes a long while ago, the rule was to always charge the batteries before and after and also cycle them to prevent a memory built up. Although I don't have a battery cycler any longer the next best thing is to run them down to "almost" all the way time to time and charge them back up. I kind of whish they offered these units with the newer lithium ion stuff through...

No, they aren't NICADs - the IMI uses a 2.9 AHr SLA battery which self-discharge over a number of months.

Tom

[Mike Clarke[_3_]]

At 03:30 27 May 2020, 2G wrote:
>On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 7:12:20 PM UTC-7, 6PK wrote:
>> On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 6:47:45 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
>> > On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 3:35:13 AM UTC-7, William
Kautter wrote:
>> > > I'm considering the purchase of an IMI Power Rigger. If
you own one
>I=
> would very much appreciate information about your experience
with it.
>> > >=20
>> > > Bill
>> >=20
>> > Wings & Wheels has a video that shows how it works. I have
one and it
>w=
>orks great except for ONE thing: if you leave it on, or you don't
use it
>ov=
>er the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water,
most
>lik=
>ely at the time you REALLY want to use it. You fix this by:
>> > 1. Buying a 2nd battery.
>> > 2. Buying a mating battery connector so you can power it
from another
>b=
>attery (someone posted a link where you can buy the
connector).
>> > It's rated to lift something like 250 lbs (IF the battery is
good and
>c=
>harged). I had no problem with my ASH31Mi inner wing panels.
The quality
>of=
> construction is absolutely excellent (CNC machined parts, for
example).
>Th=
>e tires are solid rubber, so no flat tires at the start of the season
>(been=
> there, done that). Being able to tweak the wing position
remotely while
>se=
>arching for the exact alignment position is a major plus. I need
to come
>up=
> with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed
out by the
>se=
>cond wing, but this is no fault of the rigger.
>> >=20
>> > My only complaint is it is a bit on the pricey side, but I think
you
>ge=
>t what you pay for.
>> >=20
>> > Tom
>>=20
>> "" if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the
battery
>w=
>ill die and you are dead in the water""
>> These are NiCad batteries. Playing with model airplanes a long
while
>ago,=
> the rule was to always charge the batteries before and after and
also
>cycl=
>e them to prevent a memory built up. Although I don't have a
battery
>cycler=
> any longer the next best thing is to run them down to "almost"
all the
>way=
> time to time and charge them back up. I kind of whish they
offered these
>u=
>nits with the newer lithium ion stuff through...
>
>No, they aren't NICADs - the IMI uses a 2.9 AHr SLA battery
which
>self-disc=
>harge over a number of months.
>
>Tom
>

And the tyres are inflatable, not solid. Would be rather heavy to
lift into the trailer if the tyres were solid. All this is in the
description on the IMI website anyway.

Mike

[6PK]

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 8:30:14 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 7:12:20 PM UTC-7, 6PK wrote:
> > On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 6:47:45 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 3:35:13 AM UTC-7, William Kautter wrote:
> > > > I'm considering the purchase of an IMI Power Rigger. If you own one I would very much appreciate information about your experience with it.
> > > >
> > > > Bill
> > >
> > > Wings & Wheels has a video that shows how it works. I have one and it works great except for ONE thing: if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water, most likely at the time you REALLY want to use it. You fix this by:
> > > 1. Buying a 2nd battery.
> > > 2. Buying a mating battery connector so you can power it from another battery (someone posted a link where you can buy the connector).
> > > It's rated to lift something like 250 lbs (IF the battery is good and charged). I had no problem with my ASH31Mi inner wing panels. The quality of construction is absolutely excellent (CNC machined parts, for example). The tires are solid rubber, so no flat tires at the start of the season (been there, done that). Being able to tweak the wing position remotely while searching for the exact alignment position is a major plus. I need to come up with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed out by the second wing, but this is no fault of the rigger.
> > >
> > > My only complaint is it is a bit on the pricey side, but I think you get what you pay for.
> > >
> > > Tom
> >
> > "" if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water""
> > These are NiCad batteries. Playing with model airplanes a long while ago, the rule was to always charge the batteries before and after and also cycle them to prevent a memory built up. Although I don't have a battery cycler any longer the next best thing is to run them down to "almost" all the way time to time and charge them back up. I kind of whish they offered these units with the newer lithium ion stuff through...
>
> No, they aren't NICADs - the IMI uses a 2.9 AHr SLA battery which self-discharge over a number of months.
>
> Tom
My mistake, you are absolutely correct I just confirmed it too..

[2G]

On Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 6:15:04 AM UTC-7, Mike Clarke wrote:
> At 03:30 27 May 2020, 2G wrote:
> >On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 7:12:20 PM UTC-7, 6PK wrote:
> >> On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 6:47:45 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
> >> > On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 3:35:13 AM UTC-7, William
> Kautter wrote:
> >> > > I'm considering the purchase of an IMI Power Rigger. If
> you own one
> >I=
> > would very much appreciate information about your experience
> with it.
> >> > >=20
> >> > > Bill
> >> >=20
> >> > Wings & Wheels has a video that shows how it works. I have
> one and it
> >w=
> >orks great except for ONE thing: if you leave it on, or you don't
> use it
> >ov=
> >er the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water,
> most
> >lik=
> >ely at the time you REALLY want to use it. You fix this by:
> >> > 1. Buying a 2nd battery.
> >> > 2. Buying a mating battery connector so you can power it
> from another
> >b=
> >attery (someone posted a link where you can buy the
> connector).
> >> > It's rated to lift something like 250 lbs (IF the battery is
> good and
> >c=
> >harged). I had no problem with my ASH31Mi inner wing panels.
> The quality
> >of=
> > construction is absolutely excellent (CNC machined parts, for
> example).
> >Th=
> >e tires are solid rubber, so no flat tires at the start of the season
> >(been=
> > there, done that). Being able to tweak the wing position
> remotely while
> >se=
> >arching for the exact alignment position is a major plus. I need
> to come
> >up=
> > with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed
> out by the
> >se=
> >cond wing, but this is no fault of the rigger.
> >> >=20
> >> > My only complaint is it is a bit on the pricey side, but I think
> you
> >ge=
> >t what you pay for.
> >> >=20
> >> > Tom
> >>=20
> >> "" if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the
> battery
> >w=
> >ill die and you are dead in the water""
> >> These are NiCad batteries. Playing with model airplanes a long
> while
> >ago,=
> > the rule was to always charge the batteries before and after and
> also
> >cycl=
> >e them to prevent a memory built up. Although I don't have a
> battery
> >cycler=
> > any longer the next best thing is to run them down to "almost"
> all the
> >way=
> > time to time and charge them back up. I kind of whish they
> offered these
> >u=
> >nits with the newer lithium ion stuff through...
> >
> >No, they aren't NICADs - the IMI uses a 2.9 AHr SLA battery
> which
> >self-disc=
> >harge over a number of months.
> >
> >Tom
> >
>
> And the tyres are inflatable, not solid. Would be rather heavy to
> lift into the trailer if the tyres were solid. All this is in the
> description on the IMI website anyway.
>
> Mike

Yeah, it was the wing wheel I got from Craggy Aero that has a solid tire.

Tom

[2G]

On Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at 6:15:04 AM UTC-7, Mike Clarke wrote:
> At 03:30 27 May 2020, 2G wrote:
> >On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 7:12:20 PM UTC-7, 6PK wrote:
> >> On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 6:47:45 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
> >> > On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 3:35:13 AM UTC-7, William
> Kautter wrote:
> >> > > I'm considering the purchase of an IMI Power Rigger. If
> you own one
> >I=
> > would very much appreciate information about your experience
> with it.
> >> > >=20
> >> > > Bill
> >> >=20
> >> > Wings & Wheels has a video that shows how it works. I have
> one and it
> >w=
> >orks great except for ONE thing: if you leave it on, or you don't
> use it
> >ov=
> >er the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water,
> most
> >lik=
> >ely at the time you REALLY want to use it. You fix this by:
> >> > 1. Buying a 2nd battery.
> >> > 2. Buying a mating battery connector so you can power it
> from another
> >b=
> >attery (someone posted a link where you can buy the
> connector).
> >> > It's rated to lift something like 250 lbs (IF the battery is
> good and
> >c=
> >harged). I had no problem with my ASH31Mi inner wing panels.
> The quality
> >of=
> > construction is absolutely excellent (CNC machined parts, for
> example).
> >Th=
> >e tires are solid rubber, so no flat tires at the start of the season
> >(been=
> > there, done that). Being able to tweak the wing position
> remotely while
> >se=
> >arching for the exact alignment position is a major plus. I need
> to come
> >up=
> > with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed
> out by the
> >se=
> >cond wing, but this is no fault of the rigger.
> >> >=20
> >> > My only complaint is it is a bit on the pricey side, but I think
> you
> >ge=
> >t what you pay for.
> >> >=20
> >> > Tom
> >>=20
> >> "" if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the
> battery
> >w=
> >ill die and you are dead in the water""
> >> These are NiCad batteries. Playing with model airplanes a long
> while
> >ago,=
> > the rule was to always charge the batteries before and after and
> also
> >cycl=
> >e them to prevent a memory built up. Although I don't have a
> battery
> >cycler=
> > any longer the next best thing is to run them down to "almost"
> all the
> >way=
> > time to time and charge them back up. I kind of whish they
> offered these
> >u=
> >nits with the newer lithium ion stuff through...
> >
> >No, they aren't NICADs - the IMI uses a 2.9 AHr SLA battery
> which
> >self-disc=
> >harge over a number of months.
> >
> >Tom
> >
>
> And the tyres are inflatable, not solid. Would be rather heavy to
> lift into the trailer if the tyres were solid. All this is in the
> description on the IMI website anyway.
>
> Mike

Yeah, it was the wing wheel I got from Craggy Aero that has a solid tire.

Tom

[jfitch]

On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 8:30:14 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 7:12:20 PM UTC-7, 6PK wrote:
> > On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 6:47:45 PM UTC-7, 2G wrote:
> > > On Tuesday, May 26, 2020 at 3:35:13 AM UTC-7, William Kautter wrote:
> > > > I'm considering the purchase of an IMI Power Rigger. If you own one I would very much appreciate information about your experience with it.
> > > >
> > > > Bill
> > >
> > > Wings & Wheels has a video that shows how it works. I have one and it works great except for ONE thing: if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water, most likely at the time you REALLY want to use it. You fix this by:
> > > 1. Buying a 2nd battery.
> > > 2. Buying a mating battery connector so you can power it from another battery (someone posted a link where you can buy the connector).
> > > It's rated to lift something like 250 lbs (IF the battery is good and charged). I had no problem with my ASH31Mi inner wing panels. The quality of construction is absolutely excellent (CNC machined parts, for example). The tires are solid rubber, so no flat tires at the start of the season (been there, done that). Being able to tweak the wing position remotely while searching for the exact alignment position is a major plus. I need to come up with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed out by the second wing, but this is no fault of the rigger.
> > >
> > > My only complaint is it is a bit on the pricey side, but I think you get what you pay for.
> > >
> > > Tom
> >
> > "" if you leave it on, or you don't use it over the winter, the battery will die and you are dead in the water""
> > These are NiCad batteries. Playing with model airplanes a long while ago, the rule was to always charge the batteries before and after and also cycle them to prevent a memory built up. Although I don't have a battery cycler any longer the next best thing is to run them down to "almost" all the way time to time and charge them back up. I kind of whish they offered these units with the newer lithium ion stuff through...
>
> No, they aren't NICADs - the IMI uses a 2.9 AHr SLA battery which self-discharge over a number of months.
>
> Tom

Easy enough to replace with an LFP. I did that on my Cobra electric. You can leave the LFP half flat without affecting life expectancy, and the self discharge rate is low.

[[email protected]]

@Tom/2G
"I need to come up with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed out by the second wing..."
Try taping the first wing after you insert it.
Doug
W24

[2G]

On Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 5:56:26 PM UTC-7, wrote:
> @Tom/2G
> "I need to come up with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed out by the second wing..."
> Try taping the first wing after you insert it.
> Doug
> W24

Yeah, that was my first thought. I will try it next time I rig (I have the glider tied down with covers on and only rig 2-3 times a year).

Tom

[[email protected]]

> "I need to come up with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed out by the second wing..."

On SH left wing goes in first, pin goes half way in, then I stick a piece of wood between the end of the pin handle and cockpit.

[John Foster]

On Thursday, May 28, 2020 at 7:29:56 PM UTC-6, wrote:
> > "I need to come up with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed out by the second wing..."
>
> On SH left wing goes in first, pin goes half way in, then I stick a piece of wood between the end of the pin handle and cockpit.

That's the way the Phoebus rigs as well. Left wing in first, pin goes in through one fork of the spar, insert right wing, push pin all the way through both spars.

[Dan Marotta]

Same thing on my former LAK-17a.Â* Taping the first wing keeps it in
place as the second wing is shoved home.

On 5/28/2020 6:56 PM, wrote:
> @Tom/2G
> "I need to come up with a method of preventing the first wing from being pushed out by the second wing..."
> Try taping the first wing after you insert it.
> Doug
> W24

--
Dan, 5J