Yamma-Fox

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Everything posted by Yamma-Fox



  1. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Brought new plane home, find out engine is hatched...   

    It really does look like a valve keeper!
    And the prev owner did do a valve job on it, but it was about 100 hours ago.
    And most of of the f.o.d. was in the oil tank (just downline from the oil pan).  Only those two small flakes in the filter.  I bought a filter opener and found nothing (big or small) in the filter material

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  2. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Brought new plane home, find out engine is hatched...   

    Thanks guys!
    Yeah the paint on that one big piece really makes me scratch my head!  It's got a washer like look to it.  Valve keeper is about right, but engine was seemingly running fine.  Pulling valve covers next time I'm out there is easy enough though.
    And the quote from Colorado rebuilders is 2500-4000+ depending on what got "crunched" (ie crankshaft).  He was also concerned that the 118hp variant may use different pistons, cams, shaved head, ect. Which would complicate the rebuild.
    That is a bit out of the budget.
    So a less professional rebuild is the next option I guess....
    Just don't know how far I want to go trying to revive this old injured horse!
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  3. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic OLD MERLIN GT 95%   

    Low Ball him Jim!
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  4. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic OLD MERLIN GT 95%   

    I like the paint job.  Cool!
    But did laugh at the 8x6 "tundra tires" !
    What motor is hanging on there?
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  5. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Engine alignment   

    That's pretty nice!  Production quality jig.
    Let me know when you start making RX1 mounts and I'll buy one!
    (If ya just had an rx1 motor laying around.. then I could send ya the soob mount and you could build off that...)
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  6. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Engine alignment   

    Yeah.  Predicting cg is gonna be complicated:  going to floats, tailwheel and gear off, ventral fin, water rudder.....
    Luckily its full lotus, where you can easily "slide" the floats fore or aft to help a little in the end.
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  7. Yamma-Fox added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Engine alignment
    Unfortunately gotta pull my soob off.  Might end up switching out to the Yamaha Genesis  (RX1). 
    Wondering if you guys have any tips on how to align and locate (prop flange coming out of cowl in the right place) a new engine.
    I had a crazy idea (they all are...) to build an alignment jig out of 2x4.  Bolt it above cockpit to wing center section, run a 2x4 out front of the nose up high, then another down to touch the center of the soob prop flange.
    When new motor goes on just get the new prop flange touching jig at same location, set angle, then tack the motor mount together.
    Never done anything like this before...  I'm sure there is a better way!
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  8. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Brought new plane home, find out engine is hatched...   

    Aw.....  Crap!
    Went fishing in the remote oil reservoir with a telescoping magnet (my soob is a dry sump system).
    Found some more junk.   All appears to be part of the same component.  Strange but the largest curved black piece appears to be painted!
    The other pieces are malformed quite a bit... like they've been crunching around awhile. 
    I can't see any way around a full tear down and inspect.  I gotta know what is going on in there.
    Wish it were an airboat, then I'd just run the hell out of it and see what happens!
     
     

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  9. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Forced landing   

    I know that feeling!  
    10yrs ago in my KF2.  Took off with 4 gall in the "lap" tank behind the instrument panel, flipped the gravity drain valve open for the (full) aux wing tank.
    Fly along a bit and I only have 2 gall in lower tank!?? (Later found xfer line was airlocked).
    Made it to the airport... but eyeing roads and fields even more than normal.
    But I really found it interesting how much I was talking myself out of a precautionary landing on a quiet country road....  Not good ADM!
    Besides, it was my perfect excuse to exercise emergency authority and land on a road (something I have always wanted to do!)
    Since that day, I have a new way of looking at the precautionary landing decision.
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  10. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Brought new plane home, find out engine is hatched...   

    Thanks for all the input guys! 
    Good advice.
    And for an Update:  
    Yesterday i pulled the oil pan and drained the remote reservoir (retaining old oil for analysis if necessary).
    There were absolutely NO other visible objects in the oil or the pan.  Next I will run a magnet down in the remote oil reservoir and see if anything is down there (those two chunks in the picture were magnetic).  I will also put the dial caliper on those chunks and compare that to the filter wall thickness where the holes were punched.  They seem similar... but they are not perfect punch blanks either.
    I will still send the untouched filter and those two chunks to my a&p to open up and inspect.  I would rather have another set of eyes look it over.  He is out in deer camp now, so I'll get that done next week.
    So for now, things are looking promising.
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  11. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Working on your eab plane - signoff requirements   

    Great,  this plane hit the skies in 1997, so hopefully i am in the new rules (concerning magor alterations).
    The airplane is 15 mi away.... but now that you mention it, i think the op lims were in the plane docs when i checked it over prior to purchase.
    I did order up another copy from the faa just now as well.
    I'll update the post once i get a look at the details.
    I learned a ton here.  Thanks guys!
     
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  12. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Working on your eab plane - signoff requirements   

    Great.   Got it.  Yeah i went through the big box of docs that came with the airplane but have not come across the big copy of oplims. (But I did learn alot about my bird paging through the builders manual / logs!)
    Thanks a ton guys!  I'm a new guy when it comes to the eab stuff (and new to eaa). This info will help when i meet the local chapter.  Now I'll at least know my head from my tail!
    Sure glad to be free from the bleeping certified side!   (I was almost becoming "certifiable".... couldn't even stick on a 1oz plastic GoPro mount without a bleeping field approval!!)
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  13. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Working on your eab plane - signoff requirements   

    Thanks guys!  Are the operating limitations spelled out in entirety on the special airworthiness certificate?
    And it looks like I'll definetely be going to phase 1 then, for the float install and wing extensions.  And also if I go with the Yamaha Genesis conversion.
    So what would be the easiest way to jump through all those paperwork hoops?
    If I understand  what you are saying Ed, I should get my op limitations changed to the new type before I go to work.
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  14. Yamma-Fox added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Working on your eab plane - signoff requirements
    This topic has been hashed before I am sure, but what are your guys interpretations on the A&P signoff requirement.
    Lets narrow this down:  Non-builder (no reapirmans certificate) does work on his EAB aircraft (above and beyond routine mx... say, rebuild his non cert engine) (a scenario near and dear to me )
    I ran across this post in the eaa forums and found a knowledgeable and seemingly reputable member post this:
    -----------------
    Clarification: The work does not have to be specifically signed off by an A&P...it is not necessary to gain A&P approval before returning the airplane to service. Rather, during the next Conditional Inspection, the A&P will assess whether the aircraft is airworthy, INCLUDING the work that you'd done.

    I'm in exactly that situation: I extensively modified the electrical system of my Fly Baby, and have been flying it with no problems for the past two months. My Condition Inspection is due, and I've told my A&P about the modifications and warned him that the annual might take a bit more time as he examines my work.
    --------------
    No one in the post raised objection to that comment.  I hope it is accurate.
    What do you guys say?
    (Source:  http://eaaforums.org/showthread.php?2088-I-m-confused-about-the-maintenance-and-annuals-on-an-experimental-I-purchase  )
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  15. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Brought new plane home, find out engine is hatched...   

    Wouldn't take much money at this point in time!!
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  16. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Brought new plane home, find out engine is hatched...   

    I might be the guy to help you fulfill that wish Ed!

    And the local aero shop has the filter now, I'll have them check for the "hanging chad" (filter punch blanks) possibility.
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  17. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Brought new plane home, find out engine is hatched...   

    Logbook just shows regular changes done by owner.  Nothing specified about any f.o.d. or filter inspections.
    You guys are right, for sure it would be quickest and cheapest to long block it or diy overhaul.  From what I've seen so far it looks like signs of early failure (although I wonder what bigger pieces might be "grinding away" on the other side of the oil pump).
    Below is a crappy pic showing two chunks of something wedged in the two holes upper and left of the "6c" stamp.  I will bring the filter out to the fbo here and have them pull it apart and do a more detailed inspection.
    It just wish I would have gotten to fly it a bit, and gain some of the "sooby love" that others speak of who have the engine.
    But without that warm fuzzy I look at that motor like it's the guy that wants to take my daughter out on her first date... and now that i look closer i see he's got tattoos with bad insignias (like an oil filter with metal chunks in it)
    Might be a great guy after a little fixing.... maybe.... but do I REALLY want to go down that road!

     

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  18. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Yamaha RX1 Engines   

    Why not the rx1 snowmo muffler?
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  19. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Yamaha RX1 Engines   

    Put mine in that assembly line too!!
    Got my RX1 all tuned up and ready for snow testing yesterday.  Service manual calls for oil filter change every 12,000 miles ( 350 snow hours)!  Mine still had factory filter on it, which will be nice since i can dissect it and see whats been in the "bloodstream".
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  20. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Introduction Project Desciption   

    Yeah, send some info on the powerplant and prop when you can.  Nothing better than having beta range!
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  21. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Yamaha RX1 Engines   

    Glad Steve made it home OK!
    Few thoughts to add into the think tank:
    1.  Make sure to check the output shaft bearing on the engine.  If it starts to go bad, the clutch would wobble and vibrate, putting alot of stress on that gearcase bearing.
    2. Some people have reported clutches that were out of balance (think they weighed each puck to see if they were the equal).  If a snowmo clutch is out of balance far enough it can take out the engines pto bearing (or in this case a gearbox bearing)
    3.  I think steve had a prop harmonic issue a while back with another ratio.  If that was bad enough do you think it could have damaged the gearbox?
    Also, If you guys haven't talked to Tony at Twisted Metal Racing, it would well worth your time to add his expertise.  He designed the clutch 20 yrs ago and has been selling it (and the c box) ever since.  He has told me of successful applications over 200 hp, and other applications (commercial airboat) that take a LOT more abuse than in airplanes.
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  22. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Please Input on rotax ricks rebuilds   

    A "few new cuss words".....  
    Understatement.
    X2 on circlip installer.
    Me had a one of em damn things fly away like akflyer says.
    Looked around the shop for 40 min, couldn't find....
    Yeah... you guessed it!
    And YES, I did have the opening to the crankcase plugged!
    How?   I will never know!!
    Ran for 3 min.....   tick, tick, tick,  kaboom!
     
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  23. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic NASA Dumb stunt   

    Guess that gives me a lot of "authority"

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  24. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic NASA Dumb stunt   

    I carry a antigavity pocket start to boost with if needed...  guess from now on  I'll be packing it over a void with only fabric underneath.  If she lights up, quick burn through and look out below!
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  25. Yamma-Fox added a post in a topic Yamaha RX1 Engines   

    Ok.... A lot of info there.   But, back to this topic, I guess the info above does validate the clutch designer's claim on the 670 HP, which is a good thing.
    It means he is not exaggerating, or stretching the facts in that part of his statement, which adds validity to the rest of his statement.
    I will edit out my above comment questioning his claim that the power output of the 670 is equivalent to the Yamaha Genesis.
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