Activity Stream

Activity Stream



  1. LSaupe added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Metric AN bolting (Engine Mount)?
    Is there a source for metric AN bolting?  The bolts used on my engine mount (side mount Rotax 582) are grade 10.9 and metric.  One of the local EAA Tech Counselors has seen AW inspections not pass recently if engine mounts bolts are not AN.  Not sure about this, but want to see if anyone knows more details.
     
    1.  Is AN bolting required for an engine mount, or can I used the 10.9 bolting?
     
    2.  If AN bolting is required, anyone know a source?
     
    Many thanks,
     
    Larry S.
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  2. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic It Flies After 9 years   

    It depended on the year but I usually changed main jets seasonally with my system. I probably didn't need to. I could have used a super small restriction to get more range, but I also had a couple near incidents with the system when it had a ton of adjustment range. I ended up using a simple plastic tubing coupler as the restriction and with the valve I used it gave somewhere around 100 - 150 degree total change in EGT. That limited range allowed me to keep EGT's fairly optimal through a wide range of conditions, but didn't go so far as to create a catastrophic condition if I left the valve in the wrong position which I did sometimes.
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  3. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic It Flies After 9 years   

    I used a 3 or 4 turn needle valve by SMC. I "ported" the valve by drilling out the threaded fittings and soldering little tubes in place so the valve had the largest "open" cross section I could obtain so it had minimum restriction when open. I think this thing works as much off pulses as pressure, so I kept the lines as short as possible to keep pulse phase shift minimized just in case that made a difference.  In hindsight I think a 1/4 turn ball valve would have been better. Problem with needle valves is the precision of the valve means a very restrictive valve overall. 10 turns is a super overkill. What if you take off leaned out? t takes time to turn those little valves 10 turns! One turn would be perfect and would have provided all the "accuracy" I ever needed but I could not find a 1 turn valve. I really think A 1/4 ball valve would work super well and still provide adequate fine adjustment. The nice thing about ball valves is that there is no restriction when they are open.
     
    Also You really want to size the restriction so opening the valve all the way only makes 100 or maybe 200 degrees max difference in EGT. Too much adjustment range can lean way too much even killing the engine as I found out developing it. I found one of those little plastic tube couplers worked perfect as a restriction. It doesn't take much. I think it is all visible in the photos i took of the install.
     
    I just checked on the avid yahoo group site and all my pictures are there. There are two photo albums. One is "Carb mods" these pictures go along with the carb drilling instructions above. The other photo album is "mixture control. Those pictures are of my actual finished installation that I flew for years.
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  4. Dan.lutgen added a post in a topic Buying an avid magnum   

    Thanks Ed. No parts needed that I know of. I am just thinking of future possibilities.
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  5. KFfan added a post in a topic Chugiak Mts Flight   

    Thank you very much for the ride. Great photos.
     
    Excuse me. I must now change my skivies...
     
    Lou
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  6. KFfan added a post in a topic It Flies After 9 years   

    Thanks for sharing Chris.

    I have been thinking about this modification/feature for my 582. Although my operating environment will not vary as radically as many here, my thinking has been about optimal performance from the power plant under even seasonal density altitude variations. In looking at the tables it seems to me the jetting variations seem to be pretty minimal. In your, and others, opinion(s) am I in "left field"?

    Lou
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  7. SuberAvid added a post in a topic Another Checkride in the books   

    Way to go Joey, that is a great achievement.
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  8. SuberAvid added a post in a topic Patrol   

    Keep at it Mark.  I was in HR at the last week of May but it was a work trip doing roof repairs on the place there.  Sorry I didn't have time to say hi.
     
    Beautiful weather though, took this picture of Mt Hood from the front yard.

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  9. SuberAvid added a topic in Avid fox flyers pics and vids   

    Chugiak Mts Flight
    We had a beautiful evening last Friday so I decided to go somewhere new.  I plotted a route up the Knik River, past Lk George, over the pass to Twenty Mile River, out to Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, up the Girdwood Valley and over the pass to Eagle River and out to the Knik Arm of cook Inlet.  The Foreflight is great for this and lets you easily plot the track up through the valleys and passes and then you can fly right on the track and the synthetic vision gives you a good visual of the ground ahead.  It is beautiful country back there; I thought you guys might enjoy the pictures. 
     
    Randy
























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  10. EDMO added a post in a topic Buying an avid magnum   

    Welcome to the forum Dan,
          There are a couple of Magnum owners on here - I am not one, but I do have the manual, as do some others.  As far as parts, there are some Avid parts being made, but most of that is for other Avid types.  You can make most any of the parts, or get them from others. 
          I have the Subaru EA-81 in my smaller Kitfox type scratchbuilt, but the Magnum is capable of the Larger Subaru,  Lycosaurus or Contisaurus engines, so it is your choice.   Some are using the 912/914 Rotax, but they are not cheap when new.  A Soob WRX should really send it skyward!
          Hoping you get the new bird and post some photos and join the writers on here.
    Magnums are fairly scarce, and you are lucky to have found one for sale.
          What parts do you think you will need?
    EdMO
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  11. SuberAvid added a post in a topic desser 27" tundra   

    Way to go Mike!  Makes that good looking bird even better!  I bet you will really like them in the rough and soft stuff.
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  12. MarkD added a post in a topic It Flies After 9 years   

    Thanks Chris,  I had already started design drawings for a system,  interesting how we came up with very similar arrangements.  Obviously your drawings were quite a bit more refined as to sizes of tubing and orifice placement due to having already built the system and operated it. 
     
    I have a mill, lathe and other capabilities in my shop so the carb mods will be no problem.  I have also reviewed the "Green Sky" web site information.  One difference is the Hirth has 38mm Bing 54 carbs installed and the jet sizes are different from ROTAX specifications, but the basic carb casting is the same and the concept is still valid.  My Carbs are not drilled for the venturi tap but that is easy machine work. 
     
    I'm glad you kept the information and are willing to share it.
     
    Where did you source the needle valve that worked for your application?  How fine does the control need to be?   I think Grainger has a 10 turn valve but I'm not sure how it is mounted.  Maybe I could make one if I can't find an appropriate one.
     
    MarkD
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  13. Dan.lutgen added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Buying an avid magnum
    Hi
    I am new to the forum but I am looking for advice. I am looking at buying an avid magnum and understand the company has been out of business for 20 plus years. How easy is it to get parts? Would you buy one the lycoming or Subaru engine? I have a 1400 ft runway. Will it fly off with 2 people?
    Thanks
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  14. MarkD added a post in a topic Antenna Suggestions (VHF) Kitfox model III   

    I don't know if you have ordered an antenna yet but, I installed two ELT antennas one on each side of the turtle deck. One for the ELT and one as a Comm antenna. The ELT antennas are relatively inexpensive and for the low speeds our airplanes operate at they are structurally just fine. The ELT antenna is cut to be resonant at 121.5Mhz, which is the middle of the VHF aircraft band. They have broad enough resonance to be matched for the entire band well enough for the typical low power of onboard aircraft Comm radios. If you are installing a radio that has VOR capabilities then it usually has a separate antenna lead for a horizontally polarized VOR antenna. We do not have to have TSO'd Comm antennas required for Certified aircraft that may operate under adverse conditions and have to hold up to situations like Icing.

    Just my 2 cents...

    MarkD
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  15. ChrisBolkan added a post in a topic It Flies After 9 years   

    Here are some files I posted to the Yahoo group to build a mixture control. There are a bunch of photos related to the carb mod document that I will try to locate and post later.
     
    These files are for reference only. I made these notes as I went along designing my own system and the different sketches show things differently. For instance the sketch that discusses my reasoning is not the same as how I ended up building it. My final setup didn't end up exactly like any of the sketches. The concept is what is important.
     
    You should not undertake this type of project withot a pretty clear understanding of what you are trying to do and end up with. It is better to understand the concept of how it works and do your own variation that makes sense to you than just copy and hope for the best. This system has the capability to burn up an engine if the reference restriction isn't fine tuned to the valve and the specific installation or it isn't operated properly.....like leaving the valve at lean following a long decent to low elevation and forgetting to enrich it again before takeoff.
     
    One really nice thing is my engine idled and taxiied much nicer leaned out, but I had to remember to enrich for takeoff.
     
    I used this system for years and it really worked well for me.
     
    One other thing. I am not flying behind a two stroke now, and it has been years since I did this project. I am happy to help out a bit where I can fill in missing stuff, but I have probably forgotton a lot. Also I do not want to be resented or held responsible in anyone's mind if someone builds this and nukes their engine as a result. 
     
    That said it is a very fun project that really works when set up right and costs virtually nothing to build.
     
    Chris
    Chris Diagram.pdf
    Manual mixture.PDF
    Carb mod.pdf
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  16. EDMO added a post in a topic BLACK ENGINE?   

    IFMT,
          My mount is from a Pelican -  Not dynafocal - Think Dave made it, and it don't look like Stratus mounts do - Reiner Hoffman has an ebay ad right now - maybe I might be able to copy it? - for some Stratus mounts and engine oil pan, rocker covers, but they don't look dynafocal -  I was tempted to buy his red pan and covers - may try?
    You got any photos?  My mount don't even come close to fitting Avid or Kitfox - had to modify fuselage for it.
          Congrats on new 912 plane - should be great flying!
    EdMO
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  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic It Flies After 9 years   

    I believe Mike's system actually raised and lowered the needles to change mid range jetting.  Jim Chuk
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  18. EDMO added a topic in Hardcore Avidfoxflyers   

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY HIGH COUNTRY
    OMG - It has been too long to remember how many years I stayed 29 !    Keep the streets safe!
    Happy Birthday Robert
    EdMO
    KFfan - I didn't see your post until I made this one...
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  19. EDMO added a post in a topic It Flies After 9 years   

    Was the Hacman the control designed by my friend, the late Mike Jacober, who owned Arctic Sparrow ultralights in Birchwood, Alaska, and set altitude records - Or, was his a different control?
    EdMo
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  20. Dusty added a post in a topic It Flies After 9 years   

    Hacman is one of my "wouldn't be without" items
    Probably be worth starting a separate thread for this one?
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  21. MarkD added a post in a topic It Flies After 9 years   

    Dan, Do you have schematics of the HAC system? I've been looking online but have not found anything comprehensive yet. You mentioned drawings from Chris B. but my search of the forum did not show anything (or at least I was unable to find it). The jetting thing is getting tedious and the more I read the more I think I want to try the manual HAC thing.

    MarkD
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  22. dav8or added a post in a topic It Flies After 9 years   

    Also consider putting together your own leaning system like the Hacman. The only hard part to find is the needle valve. The other pieces can be ordered from McMaster Carr pretty cheap. I put mine together using diagrams from Chris B. and it works great. I run fairly rich jets and lean the engine to conditions with the needle valve control mounted in my panel.
     
    Dan
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  23. IFMT added a post in a topic BLACK ENGINE?   

    Sube engine mount. Hello Ed. I have a Dave Johnson re-drive on my sube. My mount is repairable but it did get tweaked a little with my nose second(first) landing. Do you know where Dave Johnson got the engine mounts. My is a dynafocal style. The metal parts of the bushing mounts are bright blue. Maybe stratus? The other update is I bought another plane while the Avid is getting fixed. I scored an awesome deal on a 912 powered lil buzzard. It's a Canadian produced variant of a Merlin GT. Going to do some familiarizing today. Cheers. B
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  24. KFfan added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Happy Birthday Highcountry1

     
    Wow, I have socks older than you!!  
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  25. EDMO added a post in a topic BLACK ENGINE?   

    Thanks for the info.
    If this rain don't let up I'm going to need to start building an arc!
    EDMO
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