1avidflyer

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

    I knew a guy up on Lake Vermillion that had an Avid plus on floats.  He had a EA81 Subaru also.  It was pretty well a single person plane.  Think the gross weight was 1250 on the plus if my memory is correct.   What is the empty weight of your Kitfox 5?  JImChuk
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  2. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Brought new plane home, find out engine is hatched...   

    Maybe overhaul this engine, or get it overhauled, would be the quickest way to get it back in the air.  Once it's flying, you can always look for or set up a different engine for the plane.  Bummer about finding out the engine has issues like you did.  At least it didn't puke out while up in flight.  Any clues in the log books?  When was the last log book entry for an oil change?  JImChuk
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  3. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 build   

    Looking better all the time.  Wish I could get something done on my Avid project.  I'm kind of in a lull on it.   Weather has been to nice to spend in the garage.  65 F today in northern Mn.  Not a record, but has to be close.   JImChuk
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  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic I'm a Mountain Boy from Idaho   

    Nice pictures Joey.  I spent 3 years in western Mt. in the early 70s and these pictures remind me a lot of there.  Great country.  JImChuk
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  5. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Interesting Kitfox sales brochure   

    Got a bit more video of the Kitfox 1 this evening.  Maybe inspiration and motivation for those struggling with their builds.  Keep at it, if you do, you'll be able to post vids like this one.  JImChuk
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  6. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions   

    If the BR$ is 25 lbs, then you are about 488 empty.  That's not to bad, lighter than mine.....  Not sure why mine is as heavy as it is, small battery, nothing extra in it really.  Got to fly it a bit this evening.  Nice!  Might put a vid on utube later....JImChuk
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  7. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions   

    If you are at 513 with fuel and a BR$, that is a light bird!  My Kitfox 1 is right at 500lbs with no fuel or BR$.  I was kidding Joey about buying my Kitfox 1.  JImChuk
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  8. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions   

    How about a 500 lb Kitfox 1 with a 582???  ;-)  It's a fun machine.  JImChuk
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  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Introduction Project Desciption   

    Just a guess, and I shouldn't maybe even say, but the Avid 582 with the Avid cheek radiators  is probably 100 lbs at about 20" to engine CG.  I should go measure before I post, but I just got back from the hangar after flying and don't feel like going out right now.  (still have half a beer;-)  Just grabbed the calculator, and 100 lbs. at 20 = 2000.  60 lbs at 32" is 1920.  Almost the same.  Then with a heavy warp 3 blade, may not be much difference.  Then again, maybe I'm all wet!  Plenty of people would agree with that I'm sure.  Anyway, that's my story (for now) and I'm sticking with it.  JImChuk
    PS  lot easier to have a little cover there then try to reach in to the bolt (or try to get my wife to do it with her much smaller arms)
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  10. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Introduction Project Desciption   

    Here are pics of my Avid MK IV tail spring.  Way different than a Kitfox.  One thing about the Avid, is they are usually a bit nose heavy, even with a light 2 stroke engine.  Loosing weight may not be quite such a concern, especially depending on how far forward the engine is mounted.  How much do you think your engine will end up weighing?  JImChuk
     


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  11. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Introduction Project Desciption   

    The angle is different on the back end of the fuselages.  When I broke a tail spring on an Avid once, I bolted the spring on from my Kitfox 4 project, and the tailwheel castor was way off.  JImChuk
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  12. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Introduction Project Desciption   

    Avid tail spring is different than this one.  My Kitfox 4 looks like this one so it seems the Kitfoxes have always used the same shape.  I'll try to get a picture of the Avid later today.  JImChuk
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  13. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic My latest project MK4   

    One way to test for alcohol in the fuel is put some in a small clear bottle.  Pill bottle or spice bottle maybe.  Add a few drops of food coloring.  (borrowed from the kitchen) Shake the bottle.  If there is alcohol in the fuel, the gas will change color and the coloring will dissolve into the mix.  If no alcohol, the food coloring will reform in drops at the bottom of the bottle if you leave it sit for just a little bit.  JImChuk
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  14. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Introduction Project Desciption   

    I just posted pics a week or so back on how I've supported the tail when I've hauled these planes.  Here is a link to that thread.  JImChuk  http://www.avidfoxflyers.com/index.php?/topic/4455-broke-tail-wheel-during-road-transit/#comment-38638
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  15. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions   

    As I remember it, the 532 high water temp was 190.  I think the higher temp than the 582 was because the bearing cages were plastic in the 582 and metal in the 532.  That's what my memory it telling me right now anyway so don't bet the bank on it  :-).  I tried to find a 532 manual, but couldn't.  My larger overhaul manual for the 462, 532, and 582 doesn't give the temp limits.  Considering the snow on the ground, he probably won't have to worry about the high temp, but that is a very good point about not having too cool of temps.  I could post pictures of pistons that were cold seized in a plane before I got it.  JImChuk
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  16. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Got to love our Avids !   

    I have to say that I'm really impressed with the 503.  Last winter I went for a ride with a guy in a Kitfox 4 with a 503.  Granted we were pretty near at sea level, but it got off the ground with both of us with very little problem.  Combined weight we were probably about 375 or so.  I don't remember what he had on for fuel.  The plane flew fairly fast for that little bit of power also.  I think the longer, newer style wing on the Kitfox 4  helps, but none the less there were only 52 HP in front of us.   A friend of mine is about 6'1" and probably about 230 lb, and we flew several times in my Avid MK IV and my B model also.  He set his Avid A model up as a single seat, so did his BFRs in my planes.   He was a snug fit though.  One of the reasons I widened my latest MK IV fuselage 3" during the rebuild.  JImChuk
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  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic My latest project MK4   

    Doug,   I think what you are seeing with the fiberglass root rib is actually the original fiberglass fuel tank.  There is no end rib on these Avids, just the fuel tank.

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  18. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions   

    You are right Ed, to low of an RPM on these 2 strokes and the gearbox/prop will cause it to run rough.  Probably wont run smooth till you get to 2300-2500 rpm.  Tiny tach is definatly the way to go.  JImChuk
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  19. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 questions   

    You are definitely making progress.  What rpm are you trying to idle it at where it's running rough?  JImChuk
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  20. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic My latest project MK4   

    Maybe that was all the bigger the glass was that he had left over...  ;-)  JImChuk
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  21. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic My latest project MK4   

    I like the valves up near when the tanks are.  No doubt then what tank you are turning on or off.  JImChuk
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  22. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MOFOCO vw engine questions   

    Everybody but me!. But then I'm the only one here who has seen it close up.  (although, maybe Larry did)  As far as the upgrades for using a prop, I think it does have those.   Hour meter has over 400 hrs on it and the engine looks like it's been used quite a bit.  Looking at MOFOCO's video on youtube, it seems they don't just take a VW engine and remake it.  Looks like it's been built by them completely.  The crankcase has their name cast into it even.  JImChuk

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  23. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Please Input on rotax ricks rebuilds   

    What all do you want to do to it?  A simple decarb is pretty easy.  Further in gets harder and requires more tools.  JImChuk
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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic MOFOCO vw engine questions   

    I'll let you have it for $900, we'll split the difference!   ;-)  Thanks for the info.  I asked on the hombuilder's site about it also.  And Larry, I thought you would be a bit more supportive, it has a black propeller, just like your's.   JImChuk
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  25. 1avidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    MOFOCO vw engine questions
    Hi guys,  Yes my wife rolled her eyes also today when I told her what I was going to do.  Anyway, a guy about 30 miles from me had a rather rough shape KR-1 airplane that I had heard about.  He wants to get rid of it fairly cheap.  The engine is the aforementioned mofoco vw engine.  I had never heard of them before.  Any one have any info or experience with them?  I'm figuring that if I can part it out and make it worth my time, I might do it.  Maybe keep the fuselage for the grandkids to play with.  The hour meter says 400 something, but it must have been a long time since the last flight.  Engine turned over with decent compression on 3 cylinders, with a bit of a hiss out the exhaust pipe on one cylinder.  Anyway, have a laugh if you like.  I think the picture looks a good bit better than the real thing.....JImChuk
    PS  looks like I have to reset the date on the camera... :-)


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