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Activity Stream
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akflyer added a post in a topic Engine Swap
That is how mine and a couple others here are plumbed. No issues with leaks etc.
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horsepower added a post in a topic Engine Swap
I think the copper will work fine. The guy that I bought my 582 from used copper on for all the fittings.He used 3/4 elbows as you did then he soldered a wire on each end to keep hose from slipping off.In other words he wrapped wire all the way around so it form a lip for the clamp.I have seen this on Kitfox websites before so it must be ok.Kitfox used to make the radiator filler with copper and they didnt use an expansion tank and it worked real well.Randy
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C5Engineer added a post in a topic Engine Swap
Well I think I came up with a solution for the elbow in my cooling system. I called 20 places today trying to find a 1" 90 degree elbow with pipe fittings on the ends. No one had anything like that. I finally ended up at Home Depot. This fitting is actually a 3/4" copper elbow fitting with flared ends so the OD is pretty dang close to 1". The pipe fit snut but not as tight as it would have if it was a correct pipe fitting. I tighened the crap out of a couple hose clamps on it. I haven't filled the radiator yet because I didn't have any distilled water. Can anyone forsee any issues with this set up that I should address before I button up this project. If it doesn't leak I think it should work fine. Lots of cars use copper fittings for stuff. Thoughts...I'm open to any and all suggestions.
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akflyer added a post in a topic Building wheel skis
Looking at making a couple sets. The 4130 alone will run about 300 a set. I know there is not 300 in aluminum on the skis that Jack showed. It would be a shit load faster to cut and rivet together the aluminum, than to fit, tack and weld out the 4130. I am gonna look at the plans and see if they are as simple as they look, get a material list and price it out. If it ends up being real close on price, I guess it will be a coin toss
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flattie45 added a post in a topic Gross weight revisited (sigh)
Thank you Steve. It makes sense to me. As for others people, well, who knows. Care if I copy and paste your reply over on the Searey site? Maybe even make your email address available if people have questions? I think I'm done trying to convince them but I wanted one more chance to lay it all out. I thought I made a good attempt but I don't think many people got rid of their assumptions. Especially with the thread edited. The Searey site is a pretty good community and I haven't seen evidence of animosity or rifts between members. Anyway, thanks again for your input.
-Nate
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84KF added a post in a topic Gross weight revisited (sigh)
"f. Weight and Balance.
(1) Before certification, the amateur builder should accurately weigh the aircraft in accordance with established weight and balance procedures to determine the aircraft’s empty, gross, and most forward and aft CG location, including the weight and balance for the initial flight tests in order to help reduce stall, spin, and other control-related accidents."
OK..., let's dissect the above statement....
a) "Before certification...," (before you can legally fly the aircraft)
b) "the amateur builder should accurately weigh the aircraft in accordance with established weight and balance procedures...", (you're going to put the aircraft on scales)
c)"to determine the aircraft’s empty, gross, and most forward and aft CG location....", You will now have the empty weight of the aircraft, and some numbers to work with. You will be putting at least one person and some gas, make sure you stay within what ever C.G. envelope applies to the design at the most fwd loading situation, and aft loading situation.
The "gross weight" for any flight, now or in the future, is but the final loaded weight. Add more baggage, gross weight goes up, drain some gas..., gross weight goes down. We all know what gross weight is. It's the total weight at any time. But we have been brainwashed into thinking it's something like "MAXIMUM WEIGHT" as applied to Type Certificated aircraft.
You don't need stamp a "Gross Weight" on the Data Plate of an Experimental Amateur Built. Why??? Because it just dosn't matter!!!!! And just how the hell are you going to determine a "gross weight" (meaning "how much will this thing lift and still fly?) for an aircraft that hasn't even flown yet??
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flattie45 added a post in a topic Gross weight revisited (sigh)
Hello 84KF. The discussion was about gross weight in general. The LSA aspect was not at issue. What regulatory weight does FAA Order 8130-2f Change 4 have?
-Nate
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jliltd added a post in a topic Today's Dumbass Stunt
Yet another great feature of a light tractor airplane like an Avid. Just a little embarrassment.
If you were in a Rutan canard you would have probably taken out your prop. I watched a pilot and his wife (both very nice people) auger in after they forgot to replace the fuel cap on their Vari Eze and it went through the prop on takeoff. It was a near vertical impact with a big puff of flame and smoke. Unsurvivable.
I took off with my fuel valve closed in my Avid one day and it got my attention on climb out (landed in the grass at Arlington, WA). And then to top it off I took off with the radiator cap off on an initial test flight. I had landed and checked the coolant level and then left the cap off so it could cool better. The rest was history. Didn't hurt the engine but it was a long flight back to the airport smelling steam and seeing coolant drizzling down the firewall near the rudder pedals.
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akflyerbob added a post in a topic Building wheel skis
I have a pair of the, I think Avid???, Wheel skis.
Leni, Why can't we just raise the pedistal, Axel location,
and use them for patterns? That way if you wanted to use the
22" tires you could, just make the teflon bottom fit.
Instead of bolting into the ends of the axel, add a tube to
slip over the existing axel.
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akflyerbob added a post in a topic Alaska Fly in
I was at OSH with my Dad and uncle in 81, seem like a
life time ago, both gone now, for you young brats I guess it was. There were more people there than I had ever seen before. It was 95-98 degrees and we almost died, but of course loved it. Dad and Uncle were both home builders. I owned a 150 Citrab
I regret getting back into flying so late, didn't fly
for 22 years, seem I was to busy working, Overseas.
Really intend to make it again and will be great to know
someone there out of the many faces.
That was the year Quantis airlines got to fly display,
but the F jets had to go to Syria and blow them up.
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Bandit added a post in a topic Plastic Tanks
My airplane is ready to fly, only the weather didn't work out. The next nice day I will give it a try.
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C5Engineer added a post in a topic Engine Swap
Here is the stuff my engine and gearbox is painted with. Calfifornia Power systems part# 9643. I could not find it in the catalog or on the site but when I called they knew what it was. It was $30 for the can but it only took two coats to do gearbox. A can will go a long ways. This stuff is heavy duty.
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dholly added a post in a topic Another Avid takes flight soon
Actually, I nver heard. Been a bit busy lately to follow up but I did just sent an email. Sure hope all went well.-
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horsepower added a post in a topic Engine Swap
Right on !
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dholly added a post in a topic Alaska Fly in
Leni- you got to make it to OSH someday, 10,000 planes camping out, it's a hell of a week! We befriended one of the back gate guards long ago, now she stores all our camping crap, coolers and chairs at her house from year-to-year, has all our liqueur and beer ready when we fly in, leaves us her van to use, brings bagels and donuts every morning etc. Makes flying in easy as hell, it's almost like we know what were doing. Lots and lots of great stuff to see, buy and drool on too but you will not see it all in 3-4 days, it's just too damn big. The Seaplane Pilots Assoc Corn Roast (and beer blast) is good fun too. Snaps is always there and happy to talk about his 670 Avid. Told me he's working on a new high HP project for his Avid this year, you can bet 2-stroke. Hang onto your short hairs, because the guy is certifiable! Rumor has it he once strapped a set of oxy cylinders on his plane to get out of a pond after losing a float and I believe it!
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akflyer added a post in a topic Engine Swap
Anybody gets pissed because anyone asks questions and I will their ass
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horsepower added a post in a topic Engine Swap
Thats going to be a nice reliable set up.Makes me want to go out and get a new Blue head but I better wait. I cant believe how much crap cost for even these little airplanes.Looks like your doing a sanitary job and its nice to have Leni on this forum along with other people for advise.Hope I dont piss anyone off when I have to ask questions because I figure I better get this right the first time around. Plus I havent flown on a steady diet since the late 80,s. Nice job, Im anxious to see if the performance is the same or better. Randy
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C5Engineer added a post in a topic Engine Swap
The blue head does not have the bolt on the water pump housing like the grey had does. No issues with the Y pipe and yes you can only put two bolts on each side in...never figured that one out...
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akflyer added a post in a topic Engine Swap
Looking good! The outlet and hose are 1"!
I think lifting the tail may get some more air out of the system.. I could be wrong... There is a little casting in the block in the grey heads for sure that will trap a little air in there unless the entire engine gets angled down. Will be easy for you atleast try it if you roll it outside and pick that tail up about as high as you can get it. The blue head may have had that dam removed but I am doubting it.
That paint for the gear box looks DAMN good. It also looks like you Y pipe has not been modified and put up at a steeper angle. No issues with it not rubbing inside the cowl? Can you get all 4 bolts in each flange or are the top inside 2 impossible to get a bolt in
Keep the progress up and you will back to flying tomorrow!
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dholly added a post in a topic Gross weight revisited (sigh)
---pullin' up a chair!---
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C5Engineer added a post in a topic Engine Swap
I made some major progress on my engine swap this weekend. The E gearbox swap was pretty straight forward. The guy I got my engine from sent me the Rotax puller. Some tension and two whacks with the dead blow and it popped right off. I coated it in stuff called ST316 that CPS sells. It's stainless steel flakes mixed with Polyurethane. It made my gearbox look like brand new again.
Once that was all done my buddy and I started getting the engine mounted. We ran into several problems here. I had to take out the angle grider and grind a little off the case so it would fit in my engine mounts. I also had to use a cut off wheel on my dremel and cut off a small piece of the case to make it fit. After 9 hours yesterday we had the engine hung and called it a day. I spent most of the day today hooking everything back up. I'm SO much happier with my wiring now. It's nice and clean and loomed. Before it was rats nest that looked like crap.
I got the line for my rotary valve from the local cycle shop. The oil was not moving so I took my reservoir off the firewall and pulled it up as high as I could get it. I sat there and watched the air come up the line for about 30 minutes. I had to top off the reservoir 3 times during the process. I think it's good to go.
My last obstacle is finding a 90 degree elbow for the water outlet on the head. The Blue Head outlet is 90 degrees off from my grey head. Can anyone confirm that the Rotax radiator hose is 1"?
Onto the pics.. wish I would have gotten some of the box swap but we were so busy I totally forgot
New engine hung
Gearbox after sandblasting and spraying with the ST316
I also sandblasted all my exhaust parts and repainted it with some high temp stove paint. It was all rusty and nasty before.
Also installed my Tiny Tach while I had crap apart. It fit over the two bottom bolts of my old tach.
Pretty proud at how clean my wiring came out
The garage for this week
The old engine headed for a rebuild and a new life on someone else's plane
Bleeding the RV reservior
I was not getting any fluid movement until I took it off the firewall and lifted it up... same thing as lifting the tail I think Leni
This is the last thing I have left to do before I can fill the radiator and fire it up. I need a 90 degree elbow and a piece of radiator hose to finish it up. That's 1" tubing right?
What a lot of work but man I am happy with the final result. I should be good to go for at least 300 hours now minus basic maintenance.
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dholly added a post in a topic Fly-thru airplane wash
now that is some funny ass shit... literally!
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jackak added a post in a topic Building wheel skis
Ok, I'll have them ready when you come for the cowl.
Jack
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84KF added a post in a topic Gross weight revisited (sigh)
Sorry I'm late... The dog ate my homework..., somthing like that.
Before I comment I need to know how in what context the term "Gross Weight" is being used.....
In regards to LSA and Sport Pilot issues?
Or, in regards to the maximum flyng weight of an Experimental Amatuer Built Aircraft?
Both are myths...., but I digress.
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akflyer added a post in a topic Building wheel skis
Yes I did, that may swing me as they look like they will be easier to build! Not to mention the price of 4130 has gone way up since the last time I bought some. From the pics, it looks like Acrolights modified just a bit for more width would be real easy and cheap to make. I would make the pedestal a bit taller to get better angle of attack. I will be real interested in seeing the plans when I swing by!
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