Hello,

I am new to this site and am looking to possible purchase an M-4 or 5 with floats. I have a few planes that I am looking at and just need some clarification. I read a few earlier posts on Gross Weights and am not sure I understand.

One post led me to believe that if you have a Maule on floats, you can autimatically add 10%of the float rating to the gross weight of the aircraft - is this true?

In order to do the above (adding 10%) - do you need to add the High Gross Kit? How much are these kits worth and how much to install them?

Any comments would be appreciated.

thx.

garth

Here is part of an email i sent to Garth.

Garth,
the gross weight kit is not for the M4. The M4 can have Cont IO360 210hp or Franklin O350 220hp. Useful load on wheels will be up to 900lbs dependent on airplane. Gross weight 2300lbs except early early models at 2100lb.
M5 may have C IO360, F O350, or Lyc O540 235hp after 1975. The Lyc is by far the most desirable thus more money and 2000 tbo versus 1500hr in the others.
The M5 till 1981 was 2300lb gw then 2500lbs after. The 200lb gw increase kit is on some older M5 already if added. You must also make sure the floatplane reinforcement has been added to the plane you look at.
Floatplane M5's also get a 10% gw increase (paperwork) thus 2530lb gw or 2750lb gw. The floats must be compatible.
The gw kit is under $1000 but approx 35 hours are needed to install.

Can you take an M5-180 up to 2500 also? I'm thinking not from what I can find, but I do occasionally see 2400 listed as max gross instead of 2300.

proud112000
The up-gross kit is only certified on m-5 235 or 220 ,210
The 0-360 180 hp not avaible.

The MX7-180 is rating at 2400lb GW, and you don't get an increase with floats....

The increased gross weight is also dependent on the floats and the testing that has been done. The best is for you to go on the Maule website and download all the technical specs (supplements) and look for your perticular floats.

For all M(x)7 (MX, M-T, etc.), the gross weight on wheels is 2500 lbs. With Baumann, Aqua or Wipline floats, the gross weight goes up to 2750lbs. With EDO, it stays at 2500lbs. This depends on the tests that were done. In other words, the wings and fuselage can take the 2750lbs (x1.5 for certified aircraft), as well as the float struts and floats themselves. If the gross weight stays at 2500lbdbs, means the tests were ok up to 2500lbs X 1.5 (certified) but no more for float struts or floats.

Again, best check on the Maule web site or call them.

Bernard

I have asked Maule Engineering why my M-6-180 with the 2500#, 32'11"wing is only rated at 2400# gross;
since the MX7-180B with the same engine,prop, and 32'11"wing is rated at 2500# on land or floats?
No answer as of yet.
My longer 120" flaps and shorter 51" ailerons may be a factor, as could the droop wing tips on the early M-6's. The M6-180 also has the shorter cord M5 rudder.
Since VG's and elevator gap seals are now installed, the aileron effectiveness is less an issue.
If installing the Late M6/MX7 longer cord rudder would get the gross weight increased to 2500# it would sure be worth it.

The POH for my 1986 MX-7-180 with the 30'10" wing says that gross is 2500#.

Andy

Flybrian,

I just talked to Shirley in engineering and she said that the information has been submitted to the FAA. She also said that they have called back for a few details, so sounds like they are working on it.

From your signature block, I'm assuming that you have this bird on floats. Shirley did say that the upgross would only be applicable to float equipped M-6 and not on wheels.

Hope our normal lightning fast FAA ( tongue firmly planted in cheek ) can get this approved in a relatively moderate amount of time.

Is the upgross to 2500 possible on an M4 if it has M5 wings?