GRAZhopper Trike Owners Manual
Contents
1. Airparamo LLC directly 2007 Airparamo LLC www airparamo com Page 6 of 10 GRAZhopper Owners Manual Version 1 3 Updated on June 2010 3 15 Do a thorough flight check of the GRAZhopper motor and attach points WARNING Always turn off the master switch on any PPG motor when conducting a preflight check 3 16 Warm up the motor WARNING Always loudly announce CLEAR PROP before starting any PPG motor WARNING Do not attempt to start a PPG motor without instruction from a qualified instructor There are dozens of instances of pilots and spectators who have been severely injured by coming in contact with a spinning propeller 3 17 Hang test the GRAZhopper This helps to test your harness and hang point positions To do this properly set up a rigging arrangement where you can safely and securely hang the trike while you sit in it It helps to have an observer especially with a camera to report or record the correct prop angles between 2 to 5 degrees downwards while hanging in the air and seating positions WARNING Do not attempt to fly a GRAZhopper trike that has not been properly hang tested It could be out of balance resulting in an undesirable or dangerous flight attitude WARNING Be extremely cautious to run the motor on the trike while it is being hang tested If you do want to run up the motor in the hang test rig be sure to do this ina secure sturdy hang test rig and with the assistance of an experienced instruc2. under the roll bar as you are flipped upsidedown it could cause immediate and painful injuries to your arm including broken bones e WARNING If you decide to use a reserve parachute system on the GRAZhopper have a knowledgeable rigger who is extremely familiar with reserve use and deployments install or do a safety review of the reserve mounting system Also if you 2007 Airparamo LLC www airparamo com Page 8 of 10 GRAZhopper Owners Manual Version 1 3 Updated on June 2010 fly with a reserve become knowledgeable about the operation parameters risks and benefits maintenance care and exact use of owning and deploying a reserve An excellent way to gain this knowledge is through a reserve clinic which can offer much assistance in the set up use and maintenance of reserves 6 Care amp Storage The ideal place to store the GRAZhopper is in a cool dry dark location such as a garage To clean your GRAZhopper use a mild cleaner and degreaser such as Simple Green and rinse thoroughly and generously with water Be sure to dry any excess water on tne GRAZhopper after washing You can also use finish protecting or polishing products to clean seal protect and beautify the finish 7 Upgrades The GRAZhopper has several upgrade and add on kit options as listed below Please contact your product dealer or Airparamo LLC for more information on this or other upgrades Tandem upgrade The GRAZhopper can be flown in si
3. Airparamo GRAZhopper Trike Owners Manual Version 1 3 2007 2010 Airparamo LLC www airparamo com GRAZhopper Owners Manual Version 1 3 Updated on June 2010 Index 1 Introduction amp General Information 1 1 Safety First 1 2 Commitment to Quality 1 3 Notation Used 1 4 Warranty 1 5 Service a Parts 2 Overview 3 First Set Up Assembly 4 Set Up amp Breakdown 5 Take Off Flight Landing 6 Care amp Storage 7 Upgrades 8 Specifications 8 1 Dimensions amp Weight 8 2 Main Parts List 1 Introduction amp General Information 1 1 Safety First All forms of aviation have inherent risks which can be hazardous to your physical well being or your life It is always a good idea to get qualified and proper training on the use of any gear that will get you off the ground and into the air The GRAZhopper is no exception Ultimately it is up to each individual pilot to make their own determinations of safety on whether or not to fly selecting the flying conditions and site choosing gear to fly conducting proper maintenance and assembly observing all applicable local state and federal laws checking the airspace restrictions and conducting thorough pre and post flight checks Given the complexity and variability of the numerous variables involved in each flight the pilot in command assumes ALL RESPONSIBILITY for known and unknown risks for their and others safety in the use of any flying related gear inclu
4. TENTION could result in permanent and significant mechanical damage with a possibility of personal injury A WARNING provides supplemental information to help clarify an area where personal injury or even death could occur from negligence in ignoring the WARNING Disregarding a WARNING voids all product warranties 1 4 Warranty Airparamo LLC fully warranties the GRAZhopper to be free of any workmanship or material defects for 1 full year from the date of purchase Airparamo LLC will at its discretion repair or replace any damaged parts free of charge This warranty does not cover misuse neglect abuse unusually hard usage such as aerobatics or hard landings natural breakdown of materials or normal wear and tear The warranty specifically excludes tire or bearing damage galled turnbuckles cable damage due to untwisting parts corroding severe UV damage or scratches to the finishes Additionally the warranty excludes claims to any incidental or consequential loss to personal property and does not apply to accidental damage misuse mishandling or permanent alterations The user assumes all responsibility and liability in using this device 1 5 Service amp Parts We at Airparamo LLC hope your GRAZhopper brings you years of reliable fun in the air In case you need service or parts for the GRAZhopper Airparamo LLC has a stock of ready parts that we can ship out to you immediately Please contact your original dealer or Airpar
5. amo LLC directly to order replacement parts for your GRAZhopper 2 Overview of Features The GRAZhopper was designed and built from the ground up to be the pinnacle of PPG trikes Here is a brief overview of some of the qualities and features that establish the GRAZhopper as the best of the best in PPG trikes e Tested proven design Airparamo LLC pilots have logged thousands of flights on GRAZhopper trikes in single and tandem instructional flights The GRAZhopper has gone through several versions each time refining and improving the strength weight shipping size reliability finish build costs and overall quality e Operation of the GRAZhopper can be single person or tandem The conversion is simple and quick e Fully FAA legal under Part 103 for single person operations NOTE For tandem operation special FAA recognized instructor certification is required Contact Airparamo LLC for details on this 2007 Airparamo LLC www airparamo com Page 3 of 10 GRAZhopper Owners Manual Version 1 3 Updated on June 2010 e Strong design The design of the GRAZhopper is basically a triangulated truss where the cables act in unison with the rigid frame to form a strong stable lightweight structure Additionally all tubing on the GRAZhopper is round which is the strongest and most efficient shape for uneven loading The GRAZhopper has been thoroughly and rigorously field and flight tested with heavy single and tandem operations and has wi
6. be a little loose but the trike structure should be complete 3 7 Attach the rear wheels First check the clevis pin is in the correct hole for standard 12 30cm wheels use the outer hole for the 16 42cm or 19 49cm wheels use the inner hole Next insert the wheel bearings into the wheel axel with the stem facing outwards If you encounter resistance with the wheel bearings going into the axels use a rubber mallet to lightly tap the wheel into place Next secure the wheel with a clevis pin and ring in the outer hole 3 8 Align the rear wheels First be sure the cables are loose Next loosen the thumb clamp on the wheel axels Stand directly over the large main cable and visually follow 2007 Airparamo LLC www airparamo com Page 5 of 10 GRAZhopper Owners Manual Version 1 3 Updated on June 2010 3 9 3 11 3 13 3 14 the angle to the wheel axels If the wheels are towed in or out simply move them into the right position When the alignment is complete retighten the clamps on the wheel axels ATTENTION Do not overtighten these wheel axel clamps Use a wrench or pliers to gently tighten the thumb clamps ATTENTION Wheel alignment is critical to maximize the ease of launch and longevity of the tires and bearings Wheels that are not properly aligned create a huge drag resistance on the ground which makes for longer and slower takeoffs Also unaligned wheels put enormous lateral forces on the wheel bearings
7. bystanders Designed and built for years of trouble free operation For example saddles Spacers or inserts are placed in the most stressed places to absorb and distribute forces and keep the adjoining pieces moving freely as designed As such the GRAZhopper is capable of absorbing repeated hard impacts with grace and ease e Aircraft grade materials used throughout 6061 T6 Aluminum 4130 Chrome Alloy and AN hardware are examples of the quality materials used These are the same materials and hardware used in certified aircraft All AN hardware on the GRAZhopper is sized fitted and fastened using certified aircraft standards Any other hardware on the GRAZhopper is aircraft or marine grade or is of the highest quality available e Designed and built using sound tested proven aircraft construction principles and standards For example structural welds are made by certified welders there are only 6 welds on the entire trike all on steel Every other connection is mechanically fastened which is the strongest method of joining aluminum parts welding aluminum often significantly reduces the temper and thus its strength e Cables are aircraft grade coated with a UV resistant PVC e All machined parts are finished with a tough powder coat or are anodized e Designed to accommodate the premium 12 30cm Rolleeze wheels with standard with 1 nylon bearings on all wheels These wheels are ideally suited for PPG trikes with low weight s
8. ding the GRAZhopper trike 1 2 Commitment to Quality Congratulations on purchasing the GRAZhopper Airparamo LLC has spent years in development using the highest grade of aircraft and marine materials and hardware and sound engineering and design principles to deliver what we believe to be the best PPG trike available Designed and flight tested for a number of years by numerous pilots in real world conditions the GRAZhopper has evolved over a series of prototype models to be recognized as the finest quality PPG trike available in the world This Owners Manual will provide you with helpful information on the design details operation care and safety of this oe trike as well as set up storage flying tips maintenance and other useful information to help you get the most of your GRAZhopper 2007 Airparamo LLC www airparamo com Page 2 of 10 GRAZhopper Owners Manual Version 1 3 Updated on June 2010 1 3 Notation Used Certain special terms NOTE ATTENTION WARNING are used throughout this manual Their usage is defined below A NOTE provides supplemental information to help clarify a point being made in the text Generally a NOTE is provided to help assembly use or maintenance of the product Disregarding a NOTE could cause inconvenience but would generally not cause damage or personal injury A ATTENTION provides supplemental information to help clarify an area where equipment damage could occur Disregarding a AT
9. eels This could damage them Be careful to not leave the Rolleeze wheels in the sun on a warm summer day or in a hot vehicle Also be careful when traveling to high elevations The tires could burst or be damaged due to over inflation from high temperatures or drastic changes in altitude 3 3 Assemble the roll bar components with the supplied hardware See photos in this manual for specific details 3 4 Attach the front wheel onto the fork See photos in this manual for specific details 3 5 Attach the roll bar to the main frame See photos in this manual for specific details 3 6 Open up the GRAZhopper Begin by vertically standing the trike up on the front wheel facing and holding the underside of the trike Next undo the velcro strap that holds the trike and cables together Next with both hands carefully balance the trike by holding the rear wheel axels one in each hand Next lower the trike onto its wheels by pulling out and lowering the rear wheel axels to the ground Next release the quick release pin on the end of the roll bar Next undo the turn buckle and place the cable on the back of the main frame Next lift the center frame up and around the roll bar and between the tabs of the roll bar Next align the quick release pin to connect the roll bar to the lower hole of the main frame vertical support Next evenly tighten the turnbuckles to the point where the cables have just a little slack and play The cables should
10. ensions amp Weight Length 69 176cm Width Assembled 82 5 210cm Width Unassembled 22 5 or 57cm Height Assembled 46 5 118cm Height Unassembled 19 48cm Weight w 12 wheels w o harnesses 32 Ibs 6 ozs or 14 75 kgs 8 2 Main Parts List Here is a listing of the main fabricated components of the GRAZhopper trike 1 x GHT 01A Front Fork 1 x GHT 01B Front Fork Support 1 x GHT O1C Pilot Foot Bar 1 x GHT 01D Passenger Foot bar 2 X GHT 01E Front Wheel Hub 1 x GHT 02A Main Frame Front 1 x GHT 02B Main Frame Rear 1 X GHT 02C Main Frame Vertical 2 X GHT 02D Main Frame Insert 2 X GHT O3A Rail Side 2 X GHT O3B Rail End 4 x GHT 03C Rail Insert 2 X GHT 03D Rail Bracket 2 X GHT 04A Frame Connect Plate 5 X GHT 04B Frame Motor Clamp 2 X GHT 05A Wheel Mount 2 X GHT O5B Wheel Strut 2 X GHT O5C Wheel Strut Insert 2 X GCHT 05D Wheel Strut Bracket 2 X GHT 06A Launch Assist Tab 2 X GHT Cl1 Front Cable 2 X GHT C2 Upper Cable 1 x GHT C3 Back Cable 1 x GHT C4 Main Cable 1 x GHT B1 Bungie Cord for Back Cable and Turnbuckles 1 x GHT L1 Launch Assist Line Assenbly 2007 Airparamo LLC WWW airparamo com Page 10 of 10
11. mpted to self train on PPG trikes and ended up severely damaging themselves and their gear Consider that the flight training is cheap compared to a broken arm or torn up wing and cage Contact your PPG flight instructor or Airparamo LLC on recommendations for instruction 2007 Airparamo LLC www airparamo com Page 7 of 10 GRAZhopper Owners Manual Version 1 3 Updated on June 2010 ATTENTION The original bearings in the Rolleeze wheels are designed for walking pace speeds only If you go faster than a walking pace for more than a few seconds the bearings will heat up and potentially melt the housing NOTE A bearing upgrade is available to replace all the original nylon bearings to all steel bearings Here are a few tips to help you in flying a PPG trike e WARNING Always preflight your gear prior to launch As the famous saying goes it s better to be down here wishing you were up there than up there wishing you were down here e ATTENTION Airparamo LLC strongly recommends a strong motor cage for any PPG trike flying preferably one with a double ring cage A weak cage with a single ring cage is a recipe for expensive equipment damage e WARNING Beginners should only fly in calm conditions with winds not exceeding 8 mph Skilled and experienced trike pilots can push these limits as they progress within their capability as pilots e WARNING Always loudly announce CLEAR PROP right before starting the motor e WARNING Al
12. ngle or tandem versions Converting the GRAZhopper to tandem involves adding a passenger harness Tandem operations require a powerful motor with a strong cage and a tandem sized wing NOTE For tandem operation special FAA recognized instructor certification is required Contact Airparamo LLC for details on this e Wheel upgrade The standard wheels are the 12 Rolleeze wheels Upgrades can be done to the rear wheels only by increasing the size to 16 or 19 The larger wheels offer better suspension over rough terrain and a higher ground clearance to better handle tall grass brush deep sand or larger rocks e Bearing upgrade The standard bearings on all wheels are 1 steel bearings on a nylon housing some earlier models have 2 nylon shaft on the front wheel These bearings can be upgraded to all steel bearings for much smoother rolling and extended service life e Launce A line Assists An upgrade kit that includes lines and hardware that connects to your A risers to the rollbar to help with inflations e Pilot Stick Control An upgrade kit that allows the pilot to operate their paraglider much like a fixed wing aircraft is operated The stick control is located between the pilots legs and controls the paraglider steering and flare control using a series of lines and pulleys 2007 Airparamo LLC WWW airparamo com Page 9 of 10 GRAZhopper Owners Manual Version 1 3 Updated on June 2010 8 Specifications 8 1 Dim
13. rouble free operation 12 1 Pull the frame in such a way to release any cable tension on the turnbuckle you desire to tighten or loosen It is helpful to use your foot to push on the lower main frame and one hand to pull the vertical main frame support towards you This releases all cable tension on the turnbuckle you want to tighten 12 2 With your other hand use your pinkee to keep the lower cable from turning Then use your thumb and other fingers to tighten or loosen the turn buckle 12 5 Use the supplied bungie loop to go through the key ring on the turnbuckle and up to the bolts on the roll bar See photos in this manual for details This provides a secure system to insure that the turnbuckle will not turn loose in flight Position rear cable into stay under the rear portion the of main frame It is ok if this rear cable is a little loose See photos in this manual for details Attach your motor unit Use the Universal Motor Clamping System on the GRAZhopper to connect the bottom and upper frame tubes Also use the supplied doublesided Velcro to attach the motor unit to the GRAZhopper wheel axels and as a safety backup for the top motor clamp ATTENTION With some motor units the Universal Motor Clamping System may need to be modified to fit properly Be sure that your Universal Motor Clamping System is securely holding the fame of your particular motor If you have any doubts do not hesitate to contact your product dealer or
14. thstood many hard landings with usually no damage e Stable The low center of gravity wide wheel base and the placement of the mass of the motor ahead of the rear wheels minimizes rollovers and turtling where the trike tips backwards onto the prop e Protection for pilot and passenger The main frame wraps around the pilot and passenger to protect the occupant s in the event of a crash or roll over It is made of Super strong thick walled military grade 4130 Chrome Alloy tubing e Light weight The GRAZhopper weighs only 32 Ibs 6 ozs without harnesses e Quickly folds up for transport or storage in less than 5 minutes with no tools e Quickly disassembles into a small footprint for easy shipping e A universal motor mounting system accepts just about any PPG motor frame available and connects or disconnects the motor to the trike name in under a minute e A unique rear wheel alignment system makes it easy to keep the rear wheels tracking straight This adjustment can be done in the field in 5 minutes or less with a pair of pliers or a wrench e Designed so that motor thrust angle points slightly upwards on takeoff and then slightly downwards in flight This helps with inflations and take offs since the motor does not disturb the layout of the wing on the initial motor run up Additionally the slight upwards thrust line helps to minimize dust and debris from getting airborne and conseguently getting sucked into the prop or bothering
15. tor who is thoroughly familiar with motor runups in a hang tester 3 18 Test drive the trike for a few minutes WARNING Be careful to not turn too sharply with any speed This could initiate a rollover ATTENTION The GRAZhopper has no brakes When you need to slow down ground speed use your feet to bring the GRAZhopper to a halt ATTENTION The original bearings in the Rolleeze wheels are designed for walking pace speeds only If you go faster than a walking pace for more than a few seconds the bearings will heat up and potentially melt the housing NOTE A bearing upgrade is available to replace all the original nylon bearings to all steel bearings Please contact your product dealer or Airparamo LLC for more information on this or other upgrades 4 Set Up amp Breakdown Once the trike is fully assembled set up and break down can be accomplished in under 5 minutes For the set up refer to sections 3 6 3 12 3 13 3 14 and 3 15 of this Owners Manual For the break down refer to sections 3 14 3 13 3 12 and 3 6 of this Owners Manual and detach and loosen parts 5 Take Off Flight amp Landing WARNING Do not attempt to operate or fly a GRAZhopper trike without qualified flight instruction The PPG trike is quite different from other types of PPG or PG flight and the subtleties of learning to fly a PPG trike can be unforgiving and dangerous There are dozens of examples of PG and PPG pilots and complete newbees that have atte
16. uberb suspension capabilities flexibility and robustness on all types of surfaces puncture resistance easy field repairs and flat tread with low grip to help self correct wing oscillations e The rear wheels can be upgraded to 16 42cm or 19 49cm sizes for a greater ground clearance higher weight tolerances and better suspension capabilities 2007 Airparamo LLC www airparamo com Page 4 of 10 GRAZhopper Owners Manual Version 1 3 Updated on June 2010 e The standard nylon bearings can be upgraded to all steel bearings for improved wear and service life Wheels and bearings can be quickly swapped out in minutes with basic hand tools 3 First Set Up Assembly The first time you assemble the GRAZhopper it is helpful to have a few tools handy a rubber mallet two wrenches in 1 2 and two wrenches in 7 16 or two adjustable wrenches to attach or tighten various bolts and nuts and a flat head screwdriver Estimate 1 to 2 hours to assemble and hang test your GRAZhopper for the first time To begin assembly of the GRAZhopper 3 1 Start by separating and checking the parts the main frame the wheels the front fork components the roll bar components all hardware and the harness es The small footprint of the basic components makes for simplified and inexpensive shipping of the GRAZhopper 3 2 Fill the Rolleeze wheels with the correct air pressure as listed on the tire ATTENTION Do not over inflate the Rolleeze wh
17. ways wear a helmet when you fly the GRAZhopper or any PPG trike e WARNING Always take off and land into the wind Cross wind take offs are to be done only by skilled and experienced pilots e ATTENTION On the initial inflation be careful to not whiplash the lines too hard with lots of thrust This could flex even the strongest motor cage and cause the prop to come into contact cage or wing lines e WARNING On the initial inflation if the wing is oscillating reduce the thrust and either abort the launch sequence or attempt to get the wing under control If the trike shows any hint of rolling abort the launch and immediately shut off the engine e WARNING Assume your engine will quit any time during the flight In other words always have at least one place to safely land e ATTENTION After landing shut the motor off as the wing falls behind you e WARNING If the wind picks up past 12 mph while you are flying on landing try to get the wing to come down straight behind you If the wing falls to the side with winds exceeding 14 mph there is a strong likelihood of rolling the trike physical injury and getting dragged e WARNING The GRAZhopper has a wide wheelbase and a low center of gravity It is difficult to roll over the GRAZhopper However if the trike begins to roll over quickly bring your arms inside the roll bar The roll bar may protect you from physical injury if you are dragged or rolled However if your arm gets caught
18. which causes them to fail prematurely and quickly Attach the harness es The GRAZhopper trike accepts a multitude of different harnesses Use straps to pull the harness forward for better comfort and to adjust the flight nose wheel angle See photos in this manual for details Attach the wing hang point position Use the rear hole for single and the front hole for tandem positions WARNING Be sure to have the correct hang point arrangement for single or tandem configurations Flying in the incorrect hang point position would cause the trike to be unbalanced with the front wheel too high or too low in the air and could be extremely dangerous or even lethal to fly and land Attach the front foot bar as desired There are 8 user selectable positions depending on your comfort or leg length Fully tighten the cable turnbuckles ATTENTION On turnbuckle tightening special care must be taken when tightening or loosening the turnbuckles DO NOT use any tools to loosen or tighten the turnbuckles or nuts on the turnbuckles or the threads will quickly gall and jam Several users have found success with a stainless steel anti galling lubricant on the threads of the turnbuckle but this can become a messy ordeal with the lubricant sticking to anything it Tew touches and attracting unnecessary dirt into the turnbuckle ATTENTION We also recommend our tested proven approach to loosening and tightening the turnbuckles which will insure you years of t
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