Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. TJay added a post in a topic Lift Strut Threaded Rod Ends   

    Its OK ED, it would probably cost more to ship them than my total bill in materials.
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  2. LSaupe added a post in a topic Screaming HIGH EGT's 582   

    The braided portion runs through the firewall then changes to a non braided (black and white) wires to mate up with the instrument.  Does appear to be an OEM set-up.  However, no temperature gradients in this area to cause mischief
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  3. akflyer added a post in a topic Tack hookup   

    Just hackin on ya mr    Gotta make sure I keep yer ole ticker in good working condition if your ever gonna get that bird in the air!
     

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  4. EDMO added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    PARTING OUT OR SELLING KITFOX 3
    I purchased a Kitfox 3 with no engine and a bent-up, but rebuildable front end, and have not seen any rust on longerons.  I have 3 good flaperons, and a set of wings with two 13 gallon tanks that I have to inspect - one wing has hanger tails broken and can be repaired.  Intact tailfeathers, lots of small parts.  KF2 Wing Struts w/no damage and KF3 Wing Struts with fairings and 4 rod ends, but one has a dent in one tube.   Also have Kitfox 1 clone fuselage, and lots of parts, and landing gear and Cowl for Kitfox 2 and parts of Kitfox 3 Cowl, and some IPs for standard or Magnum type birds.   Maule tailwheels, and springs, and Kitfox radiators and one heater for Rotax, and 2 heaters for larger alternator systems.
    I have some short new Kitfox undercamber ribs, and one long used rib, and 4 fixtures for building ribs of any design.  Also lots of brake MCs, strut fittings, and controls, and 2 sets of Kitfox seat covers, and 2 engine mounts.  Plus other parts not listed - engine gauges and senders for Rotax 2-stroke, etc.
    PM me for whatever you need.   EDMO
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  5. EDMO added a post in a topic Tack hookup   

    I know that Leni - Even the old Lycosaurus and Contisaurus engines have quit, and some radials have dropped a rod and quit - There is no guarantee that the fan will keep turning with any engine - You just got to get educated enough to know your engine and hopefully keep it going.   Relying on the expertise of others is a big help.
    The AFF site with all of you to help was not around when I first got the Kitfoxitus about 25 years ago!
    Thank you so much, Captain Leni AkFlyer, for starting it, and keeping it going in spite of that Russian hacker!
    BTW:   Yearly donations help keep the site going, just as a reminder for the new guys.
    EdMO
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  6. akflyer added a post in a topic Tack hookup   

    seems we had a member on here that wrecked a nice plane with a subie in it when the cool fan stopped turning..    I know of sevral other 912 engine outs that ended in wrecked planes or fatalities.  a 4 stroke is not a promise that it will stay running when ya need it most.
    But I do know what yer sayin mr. 

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  7. EDMO added a post in a topic Tack hookup   

    I meant that evidently others cant keep them running either - That's why I have a Subaru 4-stroker for my new Foxy.      I guess that the ones who are flying the 2-strokes have gotten better educated on maintaining them than the ones who crashed when the engine quit. 
    EDMO
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  8. BryceKat added a post in a topic Tack hookup   

    That's a very nice looking Avid!!! Welcome to the group! Bryce
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  9. EDMO added a post in a topic Tack hookup   

    That's probably because I write too much and I'm too damned old to get pissed off at some junior chainsaw taildragger drivers comments!   I can fly a TD too - just don't like them as much - and I cant keep a chainsaw running - I have 3 wrecked Kitfoxes to prove that point....:bc:
    EDMO
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  10. akflyer added a post in a topic Screaming HIGH EGT's 582   

    Remember that gauge is only accurate at 70 degree ambient temps, after that you can run the correction error or just use it to show a "trend".  As Jim said, plugs don't lie.  To get the best plug reading warm the engine up on a set of old plugs, shut down, swap to new plugs and fire it up then go to full power for a minute or two.  Shut down very quickly, you don't want to spend time idling it.  Pull the plugs and see what they look like.  This will tell you if the main jet is sized right.  you can do the same for you mid range and just run it up to about 42-4500 rpm then shut down and see what they look like, this will be fully on the mid range circuit. 
     

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  11. akflyer added a post in a topic Tack hookup   

    sweet looking plane too!  Don't worry, Ed is the only one we hassle around here cause of his nose dragger
     

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  12. akflyer added a post in a topic Tack hookup   

    they make an AC current hobbs.  Hook that one to the voltage regulator input and it will only run when the engine is running.  My plane originally had a DC hobbs that was hooked into the master but the few times I dumb dumbed it and left the master on it racked up a lot of hours on the meter.  I used the readings  on the tiny tach I installed before I flew it to keep track of actual hours then replaced it with the AC hobbs.
     

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  13. EDMO added a post in a topic Who's running a 406 ELT?   

    Joey,
          I bought the ACK E-04 406 ELT because it was cheaper from Spruce than the Ameri King 451. 
    And, it came with the remote switch and wire, even tho the Spruce catalog says it will work with the Ameri King remote switch.
    EDMO
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  14. EDMO added a post in a topic Tack hookup   

    Nice looking plane Jon - Welcome to the minority group of nose-draggers.
    EDMO
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  15. EDMO added a post in a topic Economical Application of 2-Part Paints   

    Doug,
          Where I was missing the boat was the ad for the Eastwood product - I think it said the only finish coat colors was "Model T" BLACK - So unless you need black, or find another source, then you are going to have to spray your topcoat - That's why I suggested the water cleanup with Stewarts if you are going to use PolyU.
          I would be interested in an rattle-can colors other than Black....
    EdMO
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  16. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Screaming HIGH EGT's 582   

    If you have Westac gauges, you can send them in and be fixed or recalibrated.  I think they charged me $25 which is way cheaper than a new gauge and should (maybe?) just as good.  Jim Chuk
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  17. Av8r_Sed added a post in a topic Screaming HIGH EGT's 582   

    Does your thermocouple wire run all the way from probe to instrument, or is it extended in some fashion?  What you're seeing matches my frustration with the original Westach instrument which led to a change.  If the calibration worked and the readings were repeatable, you could mark the analog gauge and move on.  The problem is you have to be able to trust the readings and the original gauge never got my vote of confidence.
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  18. LSaupe added a post in a topic Screaming HIGH EGT's 582   

    Quick update and more confusion I guess.
    Tried the TC calibrator on the Westach EGT guage and even though the calibrator was putting out the correct mV it would stop working when connected to the instrument (not sure why yet).  Tried a new instrument out of the box (though 20 years old) and... one side worked and the other was intermittant.  Shut down and put back the old gauge and for some reason everything is now in line again.  EGT's at about 1050-1100 across the range from 4K to 6K.  Gave it a loop around the pattern and it behaved perfectly (no high EGT's).  Inspected of the engine (through the exhaust ports and plug holes)  and everything looks fine (no evidence of excessive EGT for any length of time).  Actually appears to be running on the rich side.
    I am hedging my bets right now on instrument error and will order a new EGT system (probes and gauge).  Just odd that it would go off scale high and both needles together when it happened.  The exhaust is also one area that has my interest (great post Jim).  Never know if there was some sort of "visitor" that had taken up residence at some point.  I will do a boro scope on the muffler to see if I see anything.  I have had situations like that with the sleds but would lose high RPM power (though didn't have EGTs on those sleds).
    Thanks for all the feedback so far, this has been very valuable.
    Larry
     
     
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  19. dholly added a post in a topic Economical Application of 2-Part Paints   

    If you missed the first post...
    I have three HF paint guns, all are a P.I.T.A. to clean properly in my experience. Probably even more so with 2-part paints. I'd like to avoid that hassle for such a small paint job.
    I can't use PolyTone. Only 2K epoxy primer and 2K poly-urethane topcoat.
    The 2K all-in-one aerosol rattle can epoxy and topcoat approach would cost me about $50. Clean up consists of tossing the empty rattle cans.
    (1) Qt of two-part epoxy and catalyst plus shipping cost about $50, and I still have to buy and ship the 2K poly, catalyst, reducer, gun cleaning solvents. That equals more $$$ and, because the shelf life of opened but un-catalyzed 2K products is very short, a bunch of wasted product.
    Equipment setup for the aerosol rattle can 2K might consist of good cross flow ventilation and the new P95 dual canister respirator already sitting on my shelf vs. mixing paint, setting up gun, compressor, positive breathing apparatus (which I don't have), test spraying etc...
    Something too that I thought would be a big positive for the rattle can products... if you've ever had to contort yourself in, around and under tight obstacles to paint something, you know what a P.I.T.A. that can be. Now try to do it recovering from 3 ruptured discs in your back, all the while doing your best to keep the air line from fudging up your just painted fuselage tubing.
    yada, yada, so the rattle can convenience is looking mighty attractive to me. I was leaning this way but hoping someone night have tried them and could speak to their experience. Sometimes you just gotta be 'that guy'.
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  20. Av8r_Sed added a post in a topic Who's running a 406 ELT?   

    I use the InReach SE from DeLorme.  The big advantage is it allows two way texting in addition to providing the tracking info.  It's helpful to be able to receive emergency messages when you're out adventuring as well as being able to send them out.
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  21. dholly added a post in a topic Tack hookup   

    I believe mine was hooked to the Key West regulator.
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  22. dholly added a post in a topic Screaming HIGH EGT's 582   

    Another not so helpful post but I bot my KF3 from a field elevation of 1200' and flew from a field at 600'. I remember changing needle positions, I assume lower (again, sorry, can't remember to/from clip) but it did make a small difference in EGTs. Seem to have less and less brain space these days and I think I subconsciously deleted most of my 2-strike experience after moving on from my 'learning experience'.
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  23. Jon added a topic in Avid Flyer General Hangar   

    Tack hookup
    The Avid Mark IV is complete and registered.  Next is the EAA chapter Technical adviser to look at the workmanship and advise on any issues.  Still some work on the Rotax 582 to get it running correctly. Need different main jets for the altitude in Colorado. Then need the FAA to do their inspection.  Just my update.
    My question is where do I connect the Hobbs meter to activate when the engine is started.  I currently have it on a switch.
     
     

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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Screaming HIGH EGT's 582   

    The spark plugs don't lie.  (hard to read them when you're in the air though) ;-)  I almost hate to tell this story, but it did happen to me.  When I got my first Avid, I noticed they had redlined the EGTs at 1350 or 1400.  I thought to myself, that's kind of goofy.  Had new seals put in the engine and once I started to use it the EGTs did run scary high.  Ran it rich as possible, so much pitch it bogged down the engine on take off, different EGT gauge that had been sent back to Westac for calibrating.  Different props.  Plugs showed black as can be.  That engine was a 532.  Ended up putting in a 582 that I had acquired using the same muffler as before.  That engine ran just like the 532, high EGTs.  When I bought the MK IV, It also had a 582, and I borrowed the muffler from it and put it on the first plane while I was remodeling the MK IV.  Instantly my EGT temps went to were they should have been with the rich carb settings and over pitched prop.  I can't explain this, the EGT probes were where they were supposed to be, and the same exhaust manifold was used.  Both mufflers were from Avid and looked the same.  The reason I said I hated to tell this story is I would hate to have you right away say your problem is the muffler's fault and then find out it wasn't when you cooked the engine.  If nothing else works, maybe you could borrow a muffler from someone just to see if things are different then.  Like I said before, I can't explain why a muffler would make EGT temps higher than they really are.  I still say it can't. (maybe???)   If temps really were 1350 to 1400, I should have cooked the engine.  But I didn't cook the engine and even though I have only one working eye, it's plenty good enough to read an EGT gauge.  A mystery for sure.   Jim Chuk
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  25. akflyer added a post in a topic Screaming HIGH EGT's 582   

    Should be 165 as Jim said.  Also lower the clip on the needle to the third position from the top and see how that does.  Anything that shows over 1200 on the EGT's is asking for trouble.  I run 2 jets.  165 in the summer and 170 in the winter and with the IVO IFA and the inflight adjustable mixture I can keep the EGTS right where I want them. 
     
    If you can take a picture of your plugs and post them that would help us out too.
     

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