dav8or

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Everything posted by dav8or



  1. dav8or added a post in a topic Pictures of MK IV radiator mounting?   

    From what I could make out in those pictures the radiators are connected together by hoses over the top of the engine mount and joined by a remote radiator cap. I can't make out the inlet and outlet fittings on the radiator. Are they at the bottoms of the radiators on both sides for inlet and outlet? I am guessing yes since it is forcing all coolant up and over the engine. I was thinking about having the radiators designed with a coolant passage hose crossing under the gearbox connecting the bottoms of both radiators then have the inlet enter the top outside on the right radiator and outlet on the lower outside of the left radiator routed back to the water pump.  Any thoughts on a setup like that?
     
    Dan
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  2. dav8or added a post in a topic Throttle Body Injection on 2 Bangers!   

    I seem to remember reading somewhere that it has to do with the 2 strokes sensitivity to mixture combined with liability. I think the manual mixture adjustment on the throttle bodies with an unfamiliar user might be able to go over the max EGT of the 2 stroke engines pretty easily and pretty fast causing an engine seizure. There is a company offering an electronic fuel injection system that can be used with 2 strokes which would take the mixture problem out of the equation. http://www.ecotrons.com/products/2_stroke_small_engine_fuel_injection_kit
     
    More reading:
    http://www.ellison-fluid-systems.com/old%20ellison%20files/applications/rotax582.htm
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  3. dav8or added a post in a topic PROP DIAMETER?   

    I am flying a 2 stroke on a speedwing so this may not apply. I just increased my diameter on a 532 with 2.58:1 A-box from 64" to 68" last summer by changing blades. In theory my climb should have been better with slightly less pitch and more disk area pulling me. The climb remained about the same but I seemed to lose cruise/top end speed. A couple of months ago I got fed up with point setting and swapped to a 582 with B-box and still 2.58:1. At first I put a 71" Culver fixed pitch prop on while waiting for the correct bolts and drive pins for the GSC. I had more power from the engine and the climb was a little better than I saw with the 68" GSC but static was well below Rotax recommended. I think I was getting 5600-5700 on the Culver instead of 6250. I switched back to the GSC as soon as the bolts came in and with a few other minor adjustments/corrections that come with a new to me engine I am back to testing. At first I pitched the prop for 6250 static. Climb was incredible but it would run way over max RPM in level flight at a relatively slow for me 100mph indicated. I have re-pitched a couple of times now until it would run around max RPM at WOT in level flight. With that setting I now get 5800 static. I am climbing at 6100-6200 rpm which still gives me 1100-1200 fpm at 75-80 mph. Cruise at 6000 is now a little over 100mph and 6500 rpm gets me over 110 mph.
     
    I do not expect to be going back to the recommended static RPM setting as it seems to wasting available power when it is set that way. I do watch EGT and water temp closely at all times.
     
    Not sure if this helps at all but what I noticed is a widening range between static and max RPM as the prop diameter went up. After I have some more time on the 582 I may try the 64" blades again just to see what happens. BTW both props used are 2 blade.
     
    Dan
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  4. dav8or added a post in a topic 582 Exhaust   

    The 532 exhaust bolts right up to the 582. The only difference I noticed was the exhaust ports on the 582 are a little higher/lower than the 532 on the engine itself. I am not sure if there is much difference in the tuning of the pipe/muffler between the two. I just swapped a 532 for a 582 in my Avid and it seems to have great power using the exhaust I had on the 532.
     
    Dan
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  5. dav8or added a post in a topic Pictures of MK IV radiator mounting?   

    That is great and answers how the cabin heat attachment is supposed to mount as well. I will have to modify this a bit but it gives me a great starting point. It would be interesting to see your setup as well. My Avid has the throttle set up mounted using the front 2 engine mounts where the MKiv radiator mounting plate is in this picture. It would be good to know the hose routings as well.
     
    Thanks!
    Dan
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  6. dav8or added a topic in Avid Model IV   

    Pictures of MK IV radiator mounting?
    Hi,
     
    Does anyone have pictures of the MK IV radiator mounting. I am going to try mounting twin radiators in a MK IV cowling and it would be great if I could see how it was originally done on the MK IV before I start designing my own mounts and radiators. I have one MK IV radiator I believe but I am not 100% sure about how it was mounted. I am modifying my Model C which originally had a side radiator.
     
    Thanks,
    Dan
    • 17 replies
    • 2,142 views


  7. dav8or added a post in a topic Dimensions of Kitfox 582 oversize belly radiator?   

    That is pretty much what I have planned. I already have the shape of the shroud built with insulation foam. I just need to get busy and start laying the fiberglass over it. Then I will make a simple flap at the back controlled by some type of vernier or push/pull cable.
     
    I hadn't thought of putting it right below the seats but that might be a great location. I could probably make a simple rod attched to the flap with some type of detents or friction device to hold the adjustment.
     
    Dan
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  8. dav8or added a post in a topic Dimensions of Kitfox 582 oversize belly radiator?   

     
     
    The MK IV fuselage has been cut up and disposed of since that picture. It was severely damaged.
     
    That duct made a 40 degree difference in my cooling temps.
     
    Dan
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  9. dav8or added a post in a topic Dimensions of Kitfox 582 oversize belly radiator?   

    Got it! Just had to find the option. Should have been quicker but I had to run the dog to the Vet's office first.
     
    I am working on a cowling/scoop to enclose the radiator and hopefully allow me to control the airflow with a small flap and control cable at the back. I might also try to add a slot to the floor in the cockpit with a slider to act as cabin heat for the month or so of winter we have.
     
    Thanks,
    Dan
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  10. dav8or added a post in a topic Dimensions of Kitfox 582 oversize belly radiator?   

    Pictures after first 2 coats of paint on cowling.
     

     

     

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  11. dav8or added a post in a topic Dimensions of Kitfox 582 oversize belly radiator?   

    Pictures of my Belly radiator conversion.
     

     

     

     

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  12. dav8or added a post in a topic Dimensions of Kitfox 582 oversize belly radiator?   

     I glassed in the hole that was in the side of the cowling now and finally got it painted.
     
    I am trying to figure out how to attach pictures to these posts. As soon as I do I will post some pictures from the transformation. A major key to making the belly radiator work is a separating plate that I made to funnel the hot air from the cowling/muffler through the gap between the radiator and bottom of fuselage. Hot cowling air also exits the bottom of the cowling at the sides.
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  13. dav8or added a post in a topic Dimensions of Kitfox 582 oversize belly radiator?   

    Just an update after flying through the hot part of Summer with the belly radiator. For the past few weeks temps have been in to mid to high 90's here and I still can't get the engine temps above 130 in a hard extended climb. I am going to have to tape off part of the radiator until I can find another way to keep it warm. It is a much better problem to have than the overheating issues I had with the side mounted radiator though.
     
    Dan
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  14. dav8or added a post in a topic Avid Motor Mount Wanted   

    My Avid has one aluminum tank and one fiberglass. The log books show the builder removed one of the aluminum tanks and went to fiberglass after a leak.
     
    Dan
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  15. dav8or added a post in a topic Avid Motor Mount Wanted   

    Jack how much are you asking for your motor mount and which style is it. The early version or later one?
     
    Thanks,
    Dan
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  16. dav8or added a post in a topic Avid Motor Mount Wanted   

    Looks like an old topic but thought I would see. I could use a B-C model rotax mount. I need one that I can modify to fit an aftermarket starter I want to try.
     
    Thanks,
    Dan
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  17. dav8or added a post in a topic Dimensions of Kitfox 582 oversize belly radiator?   

    Took me a while to finally confirm but the belly radiator works great now on it's own. I finished the repairs on my flaperon that came unglued and got some flight time in this past weekend. I removed the side radiator and and scoop before flying this weekend. It appears that I have gotten most of my speed back. I have started making a form for a radiator scoop to cover the belly radiator hoping to clean it up aerodynamically. I took pictures with my cell phone camera. I will try to get them downloaded. Temps were in the 80's this past weekend and my water temps never went nuch over 130 on the gauge. At wide open throttle in level flight at 2000' I was showing just over 110 mph indicated. I was seeing 113-114 before adding the belly radiator with just the side mount.
     
    Dan
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  18. dav8or added a post in a topic rebuilding Flaperon?   

    Thanks for the help. I ended up using sandbags for weight. I finished up the repair and got it back together this past weekend.
     
    Dan
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  19. dav8or added a topic in Avid Flyer General Hangar   

    rebuilding Flaperon?
    Has anyone ever successfully rebuilt one of the Avid Flaperons? I have one that came apart on me and need to get it fixed so I can get back in the air and finish testing my new radiator. I am not sure where to start. It came unglued for about 2 ft of the trailing edge (builder did not add rivets and I didn't know they were supposed to be there). Also most of the ribs have come unglued from the skin on the top or bottom. It had also come unglued from the bottom of the torque tube near the inboard end as well as most of the top of the torque tube. I have tried to press the skin back down where it is supposed to be but it does not seem to fit well and wants to wrinkle or pop back up from the ribs in spots. a few of the ribs appear to be at least somewhat damaged (something melted the edges away). I am working on a flat table I built for the repairs. I have already riveted the trailing edge of the good flaperon so hopefully this does not happen to that one.
     
    Thanks,
    Dan
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    • 1,232 views


  20. dav8or added a post in a topic Avid "B" Information   

    Oops, just noticed I hit a 9 instead of 3. My serial number is 312. Must have been a gradual transition to some of the upgrades in the C model
     
    Dan
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  21. dav8or added a post in a topic Avid "B" Information   

    It is interesting the differences. I have a model C speedwing serial # 912. I have the external cowl scoop side radiator (for now). The scoop is removeable from the engine cowling. I also still have mechanical brakes (future upgrade to hydraulic) My hangar mate has a higher serial number model C aerobat speedwing. His originally had the radiator angled in front of the firewall inside the cowling.
     
    Dan
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  22. dav8or added a post in a topic Coolant expansion tank mounting   

    I fired up the 532 with the new belly radiator yesterday and it isn't enough by itself at least while the plane is sitting still. Seemed a little worse with the cowling on due to the lip. I am going to run both side and belly radiator tomorrow to see how it cools. It is supposed to hit 100 here tomorrow so that should be a good test of the cooling system. I would not be able to climb with the side radiator alone. Hopefully the combination will be enough to keep me cool for tomorrow to fly to lunch. Sunday I might do some experimenting with foam and tape to smooth out the cowling lip. My radiator is hanging a couple inches below the fuselage. I had expected that I will need to make a scoop for it to force air through the radiator but wanted to try it in free air to see if it would work on its own.
     
    Dan
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  23. dav8or added a post in a topic Coolant expansion tank mounting   

    I just mounted my belly radiator yesterday but forgot to get pictures. We made 2 rails from aluminum angle mounted with clamps to the fuselage bracing then mounted the radiator to the rails. Expansion tank is mounted on the water pump side with a bracket made from more aluminum angle bolted to gearbox. If the expansion tank hadn't leaked we would have started it yesterday. Now I have to wait til next weekend.
     
    Dan
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  24. dav8or added a post in a topic Coolant expansion tank mounting   

    I have seen it mounted with a large hose clamp around the tank to a bracket mounted on the engine but the bracket could be mounted anywhere.
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  25. dav8or added a post in a topic Possible belly radiator source   

    Radiators are still listed in the Kitfox parts catalog. They list a regular and an oversize. Not sure if they are still made by this company but they are right at $300 also. I checked with a couple of other custom aluminum radiator businesses and got quotes of $500 and $700 to build similar aluminum radiator. I will try to call the number above if I get a chance this week.
     
    Dan
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