akflyer

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Everything posted by akflyer



  1. akflyer added a topic in Avid Model C   

    cooling issues
    Yesterday we went out and the temps were in the low 70's and I had issues with my cooling system.  I have the rotax dual radiators in the cowl and if I pushed harder than about 5600 the temps went to 185- 195.  I did a very shallow 40 mile climb out so I could get high enough to cross the open water.  At 5,000' the OAT was about 48 degrees and then she dropped down to 160 and ran cool even at 6100 RPM.  I started off with 50/50 mix on the coolant, but then tried it at about 30/70 coolant/water (distilled).  The temps came down a tad but not much.

    Do any of you guys with in cowl radiators have a cooling issue?  I made baffles for the radiator so all air entering the cowling is forced through them.  This helped me in climbout as I can climb at a slower speed and still cool, but I am thinking it may be an issue of not enough exit air?  My feet get PLENTY of heat through the firewall if I run over about 5600 RPM.  I have insulation on the inside of the firewall but it still gets good and warm.  I am thinking of going to a belly mounts radiator, but I see plenty of planes flying around with the incowl rads.

    Any thoughts?
    • 18 replies
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  2. akflyer added a post in a topic playing on the beach   


    Thanks,

    I got the new 1450 floats in and will have them mounted next hitch home.  then it is time for the funnest flying of all!  should be able to get some good float vids this summer with the new floats.

    Move on up here, more wide open space to fly than you can imagine.  Yesterday we flew up to Biglake (about 90 miles) and spotted more moose than you can shake a stick at   Had a quick dinner at my cousins (yep it was a 100.00 steak) then back home to get ready to head to work today.


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  3. akflyer added a post in a topic playing on the beach   

    one more.  had to squat down to be on the same level as my kid



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  4. akflyer added a post in a topic playing on the beach   

    pics from yesterday


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  5. akflyer added a post in a topic Avid MkIV Doors   

    are you talking about the bubble doors?  those are from LP aero plastics and are around 220 each.  I have lexan top and bottom on mine, but did it in 2 pieces with rivets, using the stock aluminum bottom half as a pattern.
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  6. akflyer added a post in a topic Hysol 9460 epoxy shelf life   

    do it to it.  I would without thinking twice.  The only concern is you holding up progress
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  7. akflyer added a post in a topic Any fabric paint gurus on here...? restoration time   

    First is to figure what you have now.  If it is aerothane I can tell you how to fix it straight out of the polyfiber manual.  If it is dope, I think the proces will be pretty close.  I will call a buddy today and see what he has to say.  He has been doing this shit for 35 years and has restored alot of dope planes.
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  8. akflyer added a post in a topic playing on the beach   

    mine are 24" aircraft tires that were made by the multi purpose tire co here in alaska.  He sold out to Gar aero... WAY heavy.  I am talking to the guy that made them, and he is thinking about going back into business.  He said if he did, he could easily make us 24" or 26" tires what ever ply we wanted so they would be light weight from the get go and not have to be turned down to lighten them up.  They are all hand laid rubber in the molds he has.


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  9. akflyer added a post in a topic playing on the beach   



    Just loaded another one, but it was done with a digital cammera so the quality is a bit less.  Should be getting more vids with better quality and the wing mounted cam tomorrow or Saturday.


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  10. akflyer added a post in a topic Hysol 9460 epoxy shelf life   

    I would just mix up a small test batch and see if it cures properly.  I have used it when it was 6 or 7 years old, but we never get the high temos that others down south get.  I dont think my garage ever breaks 70 or 75 and that is only for a few hours in the mid day if it does.  I would not have an issue using it and would not even think twice.... but I am just a snake oil salesman too
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  11. akflyer added a post in a topic playing on the beach   



    Link to first vid.  More to come later tonight or tomorrow.
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  12. akflyer added a topic in Avid fox flyers pics and vids   

    playing on the beach
    Here are a few pics from yesterday.  Was a great day playing on the beaches!  More to come later and some vids.




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  13. akflyer added a post in a topic first un-intentional engine out   

    yeah, but on the flip side, I got a new set of stock rotax pistons off ebay with rings for 250 bucks.  That was what everyone wanted for one set..  But I did learn my lesson on the SPI pistons

    The beach was a blast today and we did a quick spot landing contest.  I have no clue how many landings we made as we flew down about 60 miles then back.  As luck would have it, the kids used my video cam yesterday and the battery was totaly dead, but Bob got some on his that he should be posting up later.

    Hope the weather holds out, if it does, we will go do it again in the morning.


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  14. akflyer added a post in a topic first un-intentional engine out   

    we fingered it out... I had bought the 582 pistons off ebay from willwaynes and put them in... The rings on mine lost the temper just like they did on Bob, but his went after 3 hrs, mine made it 27 hours before they shit the bed.  Got new jugs from a buddy and dropped in a new set of stock rotax pistons and she fired right up and purred like it is spose to.  Tomorrow I will do the 1 hr break in then go play on the beaches.


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  15. akflyer added a post in a topic It's Show Time...eh?   

    well steve today I was gonna video some beach stuff for you, but it looks like a tear down is in order unless I find that my issue is external wiring.  Either way, she will be back in the air tomorrow.... with my engine or one of AKFLYERBOBS spares   Nice to have friends in low places that think we need lotsa spare parts on the shelf just waiting for shit to happen


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  16. akflyer added a post in a topic first un-intentional engine out   

    The new 1450's will be here the 27th from Full Lotus.  They will be installed as soon as I get back from work.

    I am not going to toss the 582, I have way too many hours behind one to be scared of a 2 stroke.  I have had an engine out on a lycoming too so I know 4 strokes fail just as well 2 strokes.  But I am certain Bob hit the nail onthe head with electrical.  Will know in a few hours as I am aboutt o leave the house and load the biatch up and bring her to Bobs shop for a teardown.  Good thing these are easy to work on and get to

    Oh, and I did not bother with beer, I went straight to Sailor Jerrys and coke

    Kinda fun telling the Navahoe on short final he gets to go around cause I am dead stick and taking the run way if he likes if or not.


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  17. akflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    first un-intentional engine out
    whew... well just got back from a little flight that resulted in my first engine out.... I did a turn around the pattern then departed straight out to go play on the beack.  About 5 miles out I could see the tide was too high to play so I did a 180 and headed back.    Just as I got within reach of the airport for no good F'n reason the pilot cooling fan quit turning.  I had good fuel flow as I was just looking at the fuel burn.  Had good EGT at 1100.  Bitch would not restart in the air so I did a very short pattern and made the gravel runway.  tried it again and she fired but was runnin very rough.  Taxied in and tied down, pulled plugs and they looked pretty rich.  Tried to do a run up but she started popping and farting about 4000.  Got it up to 5500 but the popping and farting got worse.  Pulled power back and she did not want to stay running.  I tried running with the electric pump on but it still did the same thing.... tomorrow I am goona bring it home and pull the engine and see what the bad word happened.  Atleast I made the runway


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  18. akflyer added a post in a topic M.T.O.W. modifications   

    Lotsa good info in that post, thanks for putting it up!

    I have a C HH with most MK IV mods.  When I rebuilt the wreck I beefed up the fuse by plating it on each side from the firewall to behind the strut attach point with 4130 .030 ? plate.  I also added 4130 gussets to the fuse truss where the bungies wrap around.  My struts were pretty rusty so I cut them off and used 1" .059" tubing.  It started off as 1085 gross (as stated on the paperwork from Avid on the sales ticket) so I dont even think twice about putting 1200 in it.  I dont fly heavy unless winds are pretty calm so turbulence is not an issue. 
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  19. akflyer added a post in a topic video from CNN website..   

    sounded like a little fuel starvation... plugged filters would be my guess. 
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  20. akflyer added a post in a topic You know...   


      <Sailor Jerry's and coke chug.

    Just got back lastnight.  Flew up to my cousins for a crawfish boil... and bonfire... and way too many beers

    Been kinda dead here, think Daves rotax site carpet bombing ploy worked out for him. 
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  21. akflyer added a post in a topic It's Show Time...eh?   

    I should be getting the wheels on it this week.  If I do I will go get some beach vids.  Most of the dirt strips are muddy messes right now with spring break up, but the beach is deffinately doable.

      < abused emo
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  22. akflyer added a post in a topic Gap tape question(s)   

    Get some UHMW tape.  I got a roll that is for bladder repair on my 18' raft.  Shit will stick like a mofo and lasts a long time.  When you need to replace, use a heat gun (be smart about it and dont get the fabric too hot but you allready knew that ) and it will come right off.


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  23. akflyer added a post in a topic Props and Blades   

    I flew a buddies KF I with a 582 b box 2.58:1 and while it flew good, when we went to the C box 3:1 and more prop it turned into a rocket on take of and climb.  I dont care too much about top speed or cruise, I want  most grunt to get out of the hole on floats.  I talked to Dave (from the list) and he said he tried 3:47, 3:1 and 2:62.  He thought he would pick up more cruise with the 2.62 but loose in climb.  Turned out he lost all the way around so he went back to 3:1.  I have the IVO IFA so I can flatten out for max RPM to get off the ground, then pitch it up for cruise.

    The gear puller should be here in a few days so I should know next week if ther is any significant change by going 3:1.  If not, well it is only an hour or 2 to go back to the 2:62.

    Still looking at the AC 800 to put in the nose.  About the same weight as the 582 but 120 HP and 105# tq at 6800.... plus EFI.  Shold be one hell of a performer when I get it installed.  Trying to figure out now what I can do to get the C gear box on the front of the engine.


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  24. akflyer added a post in a topic Alaskan Bushwheel Tailwheel Assemblies   


    Have one on my brothers short wing death trap   Works good, but make sure you put compression type springs on it or you will have fun in the soft stuff keeping it from unlatching when you dont want it to.  I flew his twice and then took the springs off my avid and put on it till the replacements came in.

    Is the guy gonna use it like a cub or just wanting to be "cool"   I dont think I would feel right taking a plane that cost that much and abusing it the way I like to.  He putting some bigger mains on?  26" or 29" atleast?


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  25. akflyer added a post in a topic Props and Blades   

    think you need to roll it one more hole there steve... while youre at it, put the rest ofthe bolts in and safety wire it.... sumbitch, do I gotta teach you A&P guys everything  

    I dont think there is a big improvement.  The most efficient is a single bladed prop with a big counterweight.  On a Beaver, the best climb prop is a big ole 2 blade canoe paddle blade.  Most of the time, if you cant use all the power your engine is putting out, the answer is to throw more blades at it.  You can load the 582 with a 2 blade or a 3 blade.  All the extra blades do is give you less pitch on each blade (less forward speed more thrust).  I am pretty damn happy with a 72" 3 blade on my 582.  I am at 2.62:1 right now, but next week will be at 3:1 and see how she does!


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