1avidflyer

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  1. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    Sounds like an idle jet might be plugged in one of the carbs. The holes in the idle jet are really small, like I used a small guitar string to poke through them. Pretty easy to get some junk in them. If one carb isn't working right, it will have a hard time idleing properly. The jets are easy to get to, drop the bottom off the carb, unscrew the idle jet. Hacman kit might be nice, but don't do it just to try to fix the idle, the idle circut in these carbs cuts out and the slide/midrange starts to take over somewhere around the 3000 rpm mark. These engines will not idle real smooth at low rpms, mostly from the prop fighting the gearbox at slower rpms, but it should smooth out at 2500 or 2600 rpm. I had a GSC on my Himax for a while, it seemed fine, but I think the factory says to replace them after 5 years..... Not sure how many people do. One thing to add, if you adjust it, you should never have to tighten the bolts down to where the two halves of the hub touch to get the right torque on the bolts. It's junk if you do. Take care, Jim Chuk

    PS this is why you (I) should always read the questions better. (like before I hit the reply button!) If the carb boots are leaking air, that would very much affect the idle as well.


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  2. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Which model fits me?   

    My B model serial # about 247 had the flat bottom doors just like my MK IV. Jim Chuk

    The "A" model and the kitfox I have doors that are angled at the back and the side rails on the door sills make it much more difficult to get in and out of. I cant remember if it was changed on the "B" models or if the changes came with the "C" model. I would guess that there was a transition time between models where you could ahve had a "B" model with the angled door sill.

    :BC:/>

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  3. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Which model fits me?   

    One way to get more head room in these planes is with the bubble top windshield. Avid used to sell them, maybe they still do. There are places that will form plexiglass for you with different sized bubbles. They are for skylights. Avid used 2 bubbles in one sheet of plexiglass, but I would think one bubble would would work just as well. I used to have a site saved in my favorites that custom made them. Not real expencive either. Well under $100 as I remember for a size that would fit on the plane. Roughly 24" X 37" with a 2" or 3" high bubble. A friend of mine is about 6"1 and when he built his Model A Avid, he made it a single seat and it works fine for him. He did put a little dome on the windshield above his head, but I think it's because his seat sits a bit higher than it could have. He has a 55 HP Hirth on it. I'ts 36" wide accross at your shoulders, the B,c, and MK IV models are all 39.5" Here's a pic of my Avid MK IV with the bubbles on the top. If you're flying alone, I think any of these plane will work, especially with the added headroom. Best to find one that you can sit in and see. If your legs are real long verses your body, that could be a problem with your knees maybe to close to the instrument panel. Take care, Jim Chuk

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  4. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Boo Boo   

    If you pay attention, you learn something every day. A few posts back, someone (Avid STOL HH) asked to see the metal caps on other planes. I brought the camera with me when I went to go flying to get some pics for him. I took some of my MK IV caps with the ram air vent tubes, then a couple of the cap on my C model HH wings. I knew those caps were plastic. Low and behold! those caps were close to the fusaloge just like yours are. Glad you brought up the problem you were having with them, I think I will replace the caps to where they should be before I recover those wings. Funny how if your not looking for something you maybe don't see it. I've looked at those wings various times, but never noticed the caps location till today. Well here are the pics... Put another 2 hrs on the MK IV today, helping my friend master the taildragger. He just got his Private a few months ago in a 172 and wants to start flying the Avid... Big change. He showed lots of improvement today. We are on skis and landing on a packed strip on a lake. Take care, Jim Chuk




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  5. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    Let it warm up good!!! I dont go over 2200RPM till I have a solid 140 on the water temp. Cold siezures are not good and can give you a false feeling that all is well because most times, the engine will squeak, then die, then as soon as it cools a tad you can restart and it will seem to run fine. The problem is, there WILL be aluminum off your piston stuck to the side walls and sooner or later, your looking at a major tear down. It is easy to avoid cold seizures... LET IT WARM UP GOOD!

    Here is what a piston looks like that's had a cold siezure. This came out of my last MK IV after I got it home. The guy didn't have a thermostat in the plane, and he said it was really hard to get it to warm up. It was about +40 F and after taking off and getting to about 200' the 582 died and he was able to land straight ahead with no damage to the plane. It started up soon after and he couldn't find the reason. I should have pulled the exhaust pipe and looked at the cylinders before I bought it, but it ran nice and sounded good so... I figured on tearing it down as soon as I got it home for new seals anyway, but wasn't expecting to put another $700 in parts into it. I'm not crying though, price was low even with the overhaul. Jim



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  6. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Boo Boo   

    I read in one of the Avid newsletters why they went to the ram air vented tubes. One of Avid's main guys was flying behind a 582 to Oshkosh and his fuel pump quit. He had to put the plane down in the mountains somewhere. I could find the newsletter if need be, but that's how it came about. The ram air pressure will keep the fan turning. (that's kindof nice) On my first MK IV, I drilled out the metal caps and epoxied in 1/4" aluminum tubes. They worked fine. I also used those caps without the tubes for a long time with out problems, although shortly after I stated to fly the plane I had a fuel filter between the wing tank and header tank plug to where I had to land in a neighbors hay field. (It doesn't take much to stop gravity feed) If I had had the vented tubes then, it may have pushed enought fuel through the filter to keep it running. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  7. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Buuilding wings for model 2   

    Leni, you wouldn't insult me, just curious, what did the factory want for a set? Was that the Avid or Kitfox factory? About 8 years ago, I picked up a messed up Kitfox 3 that needed a wing and flaperon. I remember talking to Kitfox then and they wanted to sell me a Kitfox 4 wing kit. Don't think it included the flaperons, but it may have. They wanted about $4500. Later on I was sure glad I didn't do anything with them. Just after that they stopped filling orders after taking the money. I would probably have been one of the poor guys that got screwed. Just to be clear on this, if anyone doesn't know about this Kitfox thing, it's not the current owners that were robbing people. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  8. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    Chris, you just need to spend more time out in the shop with those two planes turning wrenches and whatever else they need!! LOL. One other topic: Congrats on the purchase of the new plane RMendler?? Was wondering what you meant by oil injected but at 100-1 so premixing is still required. Is the oil injection pump set incorrectly? Take care, Jim Chuk


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  9. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Boo Boo   

    Just looking my Wag-Aero catalog at gas caps and necks and they show (on page 3) and aluminum weldable neck that is 2/14" in diameter. If one was to use a hole saw, maybe 2 3/16" size, you could slip this neck into the hole. Might have to file a bit, but usually the hole saws cut just a bit oversize. You could then perhaps epoxy or fiberglass the neck into place. Not saying this is the best way, but it's the one that comes to my mind right now. The price for the neck # E-448-000 was $8.40 the cap # E-482-000 was $6.95 Take care, Jim Chuk

    Just reread you post and as far as fixing the leaking fuel caps, when you install the new caps, remove the old ones and patch the hole with fiberglass. Just thought of another thing. Do you have plastic caps? Wasn't Leni saying his caps leak fuel also. He had the plastic caps. The caps I mentioned from Wag-Aero are the steel ones and look like what my MK IVs have. No problem with fuel leakiing out of them.


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  10. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Boo Boo   

    Wonder if you couldn't fiberglass new caps in where they should be, and remove the old ones? Might not have to do a lot of fabric patching, and it should all be over a solid surface. (the tank) Take care, Jim Chuk


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  11. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Buuilding wings for model 2   

    The guy on the TeamKitfox Forum with the Kitfox 3 wings has the flaperons also. I'm thinking they may be the same as the Avid ones. You would have to compare the hangars/hinges and distance between them and yours. I do know that the Kitfox 4 flaperons are larger and mount differently. He is in Michigan, I'm in Mn, so he's further from you than me, but maybe a deal could be made. Anyone want to offer an opinion what one should ask for them? And yes I do realize that opinion would be somewhat different if one was buying or selling. LOL! Take care, Jim Chuk

    I do have the brand new flaperons that are in that Kitfox 1 kit I just picked up a week ago, but I'm still not sure if I want to part it out or sell it off as a complete kit.


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  12. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Buuilding wings for model 2   

    I have a set, but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with them. Thinking maybe when I rebuild the wings I would sell them togeather. Might let them go sooner though? Take care, Jim Chuk


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  13. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic C Drive Gear Oil   

    I use synthetic 85/140 that I got from the local "men's" store. (Like a Farm And Fleet) The synthetic doesn't get real stiff in cold temps. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  14. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Making new Conform Foam seats   

    Just wondering Doug, was the wife out of town when you turned the kitchen into your workshop? LOL. Looks like you are going to have some nice seats when you get done. I may copy some of your ideas. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  15. 1avidflyer added a topic in Avid Flyer General Hangar   

    Mecury Power Tune
    Hi Leni, in a recent post of yours, you said you use Mecury Power Tune every 100 hrs. to get rid of the carbon in your engine. Can you tell me more about that product, and how you use it. My hour meter is showing 51 hrs. since I rebuilt the 582 last Sept. and I'm thinking about Rotax's saying to decarbon every 50 hrs. Thanks, Jim Chuk
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  16. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Buuilding wings for model 2   

    There is a guy on the TeamKitfoxForum with a set of Kitfox 3 wings, and flaperons for sale. Just a reminder, the strut attachment point is further out on the Kitfox 3 than the 2, but if you have the Kitfox 3 struts, that might not be an issue. Or maybe you can just lengthen the Kitfox 2 struts. The guy was looking for an idea of what they were worth. Might come to a deal with him. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  17. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    Went and looked at the add for the plane you are talking about. The N# was there so I ran it. Plane is in seller's name, and registration is current till 2016. Grab you car keys! If I lived closer, you might have to race me to it. LOL Jim Chuk


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  18. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    Once again, depends what he means by no paperwork. If the build logs are'nt there and things like that, it wouldn't stop me. I didn't get that with the last 4 Avids I bought. As long as the FAA paperwork is in order, go have a look. If you have the N # go run it on the FAA website. It will come up showing a problem if there is a problem that they know about. If it's listed in his name, and they don't say a problem exists, you're probably good to go paperwork wise. You can always find a builder's manual, I have 3 of them within 4 feet of me right now. Ask him if he has the airwothyness certification. That kind of paperwork IS important! Take care, Jim Chuk


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  19. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Orange AVID Actually Flys   

    Looks good! Lots of work, but all worth it today! Take care, Jim Chuk


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  20. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    If it's close by, I would go look at it to try to better see what he's talking about. Maybe it's not as bad as it sounds. Big difference between specks of rust starting to show that were sanded off and repainted before the recover, and rusted tubes that you could stick a sharp punch through. I did the first one when I recovered my MK IV, but would never cover the second situation. If it was totally rusted and the guy just recovered it to pick up a quick buck, he wouldn't tell you about it I think. If nothing else, you will get to see another airplane and if you look hard at it, you always learn from that. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  21. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Mark IV For Sale   

    Couple of posts back mention 300' per minute climb with 2 guys in the Sube. powered plane. My flying partner and I were practiceing landings again yesterday with our 582 powered Avid MK IV. Between the two of us, that's probably 420 lbs, (I'm the light one) and I had about 15 gallons of fuel at least. It was about 35 F and we were on skis. We were getting about 700' per minute climb. Empty weight on the plane is 585 lb. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  22. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Buuilding wings for model 2   

    The other option is buying a set of used wings if the Kitfox 2 deal is good enough, another set of wings could be found. I actually have a set of Avid Heavy Hauler wings hanging on the wall of the hangar that I will eventually get rid of. They have 14 gallon tanks in each wing. They have some damage, mostly just the rib tails broke off which is repairable. I had planed to fix them, cover them and then sell them. Haven't got to it yet. They should fit on a Kitfox, spacing on the wing carry through tubes is the same on both planes (27 1/2") You might have to customize the lift struts to get the right dihedral, but I'm not sure on that. I don't think Avid ever changed the lift strut location on the wings in their different models, I do know the ones on the Kitfox 3 are further out on the wing then the Kitfox 1 and 2 were. First Kitfox was a modified copy of the Avid, so many things are the same on these plane, especially on the early Kitfoxes. Take care, Jim Chuk


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  23. 1avidflyer added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Mounting battery in tail
    Hi all, I've been working on the bent parts in my first Avid MK IV, and have been thinking it would be a good idea to make a battery mount and door to access it near the tail to help out the CG a bit. I've got a number of ideas, but it's often helpfull to see how someone else did it. Anyone have any pics they can post for me to see? Thanks, Jim Chuk
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  24. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 kit   

    Thanks for the info Paul! Jim Chuk


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  25. 1avidflyer added a post in a topic Kitfox 1 kit   

    Thanks, Ed, I did a bit more digging through my manual, don't know why I didn't see it allready, but I found the page that shows the tubes and all their pieces and lengths. Page F-6 in my manual. I'm going to google some of those parts and see what pops up. Thanks again, Jim


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