skypics

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Everything posted by skypics



  1. skypics added a post in a topic Jabiru to Avid Flyer Engine Mount.   

    Jim:
    The local welder is a bit higher than I would have expected. I would save about $300, but I have decided to hang my new engine on a new mount.
    John M
    • 0


  2. skypics added a topic in Avid Model IV   

    Jab 2200 for sale
    Since I replaced the hyd lifter and exhaust valve on my 2200 Gen2 s/n 3236, it is flying strong again and I will fly it till my new Gen 4 arrives from Tennessee.
    This engine has a slightly worn lobe at the #4 exhaust position.
    I will offer my engine for sale in three weeks. In the meantime, anyone nearby who may be interested can come to Corona Airport (KAJO) and see it perform.
    A new cam is $1200 from Jabiru. So I'll consider $4900 for the engine and mount that fits the Avid model b, c and MK4. 
    John M
    • 1 reply
    • 553 views


  3. skypics added a post in a topic Jabiru to Avid Flyer Engine Mount.   

    A new engine mount to fit the Gen 4 2200 will cost $895...gulp. A local welder will modify my current mount to fit the Gen 4 for $600 max. Not much difference so I think I'll go for the new one.
    john M
    • 0


  4. skypics added a post in a topic Jabiru Engines   

    Regarding Props:
    I used to have the WARPwhen the Avid was powered by a 582. Then I had a wood CATO prop on my model B. Now I fly with a Whirlwind 66" two blade prop and like it a lot. The WARP is heavy and the Whirlwind is light. The Whirlwind blades are scimitar-shaped and very quiet on the climb out as reported by observers.
    John M
    • 0


  5. skypics added a post in a topic What Happened to the NEW Avid Start Up   

    I am wishing him the best.
    John M
    • 0


  6. skypics added a post in a topic Jabiru Engines   

    Additional info on hyd lifters.
    I mentioned that it was hard to get the lifters to relax after pulling the head. Here are some solutions.
    Jabiru says many owners make a plate that mounts to the rocker cover bolt holes. On this plate are two more bolts that are tightened down on the rocker where the pushrods come in. 
    There is an easier way...
    After you reinstall the head turn the prop until the rocker pushes down on the valve and leave it there for a few minutes.
    I have also found that if regular oil changes aren't done sludge can form in the lifter affecting its operation.
    John M
    • 0


  7. skypics added a post in a topic Jabiru Mount   

    I am looking at the engine mount list from Jabiru.
    The mount for the Kitfox 1-2-3-4 C002124 (lower cowl inlet), C002113 (RHS), C002103 (LHS).
    Got is from jabirupacific.com/fwf.htm
    Of course, Jabiru Pacific is no more. Jabiru Jim dissolved the business years ago, but his info is still available.
    John M
    • 0


  8. skypics added a post in a topic Jabiru Engines   

    I am retiring my Jabiru 2200 Gen 2 engine.
    I was having engine stuttering issues and discovered the number 1 exhaust hyd lifter had been sticking and this caused wear on the cam lobe. 
    I installed a new lifter and valve and BEHOLD the engine is running better than it has in the last 100 hours. There is more power, therefore, more RPM on the climb out.
    I have ordered a new Gen 4 engine and should have it in 3-4 weeks. In the meantime, I will continue flying my Gen 2 engine until the engine arrives.
    I will take the engine mount off of the Avid MK4 and have a welder raise the rear top engine mounts 15mm to accommodate the new engine mount dimensions.
    I'm sure many on this forum will be interested in hearing about my first hours on this engine and I will post updates.
    This engine should take me to the end of my flying days.
    John M
    • 0


  9. skypics added a topic in Avid Model IV   

    What Happened to the NEW Avid Start Up
    So, what has become of the New Avid Company?
    John M
    • 3 replies
    • 1,152 views


  10. skypics added a post in a topic Jabiru to Avid Flyer Engine Mount.   

    Jim:
     
    Thanks. This is the one I had, but mine was a bit larger and easier to read the numbers.
    That said, this will work when I give it to the aircraft certified welder to raise the top two mounts 15 mm.
    I appreciate your help with this.
    John M
     
    • 0


  11. skypics added a topic in Avid Model IV   

    Jabiru to Avid Flyer Engine Mount.
    I seem to have misplaced the drawing I had for the Avid Flyer to Jabiru 2200 engine mount.
    I am having my mount modified to raise the top two mounts 15 mm to accommodate the Gen 4 2200 engine.
    If you have one let me know.
    I believe it was made by SkyFox and would also fit the Kitfox 4.
    John M
    • 13 replies
    • 1,731 views


  12. skypics added a post in a topic New Camit engine for sale   

    Turns out that they raised the top two mount points 15mm instead of the 8mm I stated. 
    I have a couple of guys looking into modifying my mount.
    John M
    • 0


  13. skypics added a post in a topic New Camit engine for sale   

    My friend has decided to keep his Camit engine. This is because he found out that the standard 2200 engine mount for his Avid MK4 is not currently available from Jabiru. 
    When Jabiru changed from CNC cylinders with removable heads to a cast, one-piece Jug and head of all aluminum instead of a steel cylinder and aluminum head, Jabiru raised the top two engine mounts appx 10 mm to allow the mounts to clear the larger heads.
    He knows this because this is what I am running into as I try to change my 2200 to a new Gen 4 2200 on my MK4.
    John M
    • 0


  14. skypics added a post in a topic Jabiru Mount   

    I am changing from the Gen 2 2200 to the Gen 4. 
    My motor mount was from Skyfox.
    Trouble is the mount on my Avid Flyer MK4 is 260 mm from top to bottom mounts. The newer ones are 275 mm. So it looks like I'll have to have a motor mount also.
    MLy Gen 2 has had an exhaust valve head come out and destroyed the cylinder and rod with all kinds of debris in the engine. Ben was still at Jabiru with Pete and he rebuilt the engine. This was at 1195 hours of trouble-free flight. My friend had the same thing ha[pen at just over 1100 hours.
    I'm hoping the new design...roller cam lifters and better oil feed to the rockers should help.
    Jabiru sales says it takes about 3 weeks to get an engine from the Aussies and then another week in shipping from Tennessee to California.
    My air dams fit just under the cowl and the plug wires are on the outside as I like them. Can't understand why they have the wires inside the air dams to disturb the airflow.
    I am going to compare a total overhaul cost to the new engine and will make my decision then.
    They used to claim 85 HP on my 2200 now since they are certified and have to prove the exaggerations they are claiming 80 HP.
    I am changing the engine because I had a hyd lifter stick on me and it caused the cam lobe to wear badly. Interestingly enough I flew the pattern a couple of times with no issues before I pulled the #1 head to replace the exhaust valve guides which I have had to do a couple of times.
    So $14,900 US plus whatever the motor mount costs. OUCH!! Still, my friends with the Rotax 912s have their own engine issues that I don't want to deal with.
    Stay tuned...
    John M
    • 0


  15. skypics added a topic in Avid Model IV   

    New Camit engine for sale
    My friend is selling his brand new Camit 2200 engine.
    It's still in the original box unused.
    He bought it from Camit as a spare for his Avid MK4, but now flies an RV6 so will not be using it.
    Let me know if interested and I will let him know your interest so he can contact you.
    John M
    • 5 replies
    • 981 views


  16. skypics added a post in a topic Wing tank question   

    With the normal rear luggage compartment and the optional hanging bag that hangs behing the pilot/passenger I find there is planty of storage without cutting into the tanks.
    I can carry enough camping equipment ad clothing to last for two weeks on my Idaho trips.
    John M
     
    • 0


  17. skypics added a post in a topic Tail wheel springs and tail wheel settings   

    Nick:
     
    I believed you post earlier led me to buy the 25-degree wings.
    Thanks,
     
    John M
    • 1


  18. skypics added a post in a topic Jabiru Engines   

    Haven't visited this forum in a while.
    As an update on the Jabiru engine.
    The North American distributor sold the business to the same company that makes the Arion aircraft and uses the Jabiru exclusively.
    They are up to generation 4 now with changes to make this simple negine even better . Like roller cam lifters and oil feed to the rocker box through the push rods amoung other things.
    For those considering buying a used Jabiru there is a form you can look at at jabiru to see what changes wer made as they went from generatoion 1 to generation 4.
    I have over 3000 hours behind Jabirus and find it has been a good investment and the 85 HP lets my Avid MK 4 climb at 1000-1300 FPM and cruise at 95 TAS turning a 66" Whirlwind prop.
    John M
    • 1


  19. skypics added a post in a topic Rotax 912 trigger coil dissected   

    Flywise:
    I can relate to what seems like excessive prices for Rotax parts. most of the friends I fly with are always bitching about the prices. 
    Of course, some  of this can be accounted for:
    Rotax engines are ther most popular experimantal engine
    Parts are Euro based and have to be shipped from Europe so add shipping.
    That said, the Rotax engine itself is robust. It's the gear box and sprauge clutch that seems to give my friends headaches.
    I have be flying behind the Jabiru 2200 in my Avid Flyer MK4 for over 3,000 hours and when I compare my engine with that of my Rotax drivers, I am amazed at the simplicity of the Jabiru and inexpensiveness of replacement parts. Many of which can be purchased from NAPA auto parts.
    The weak point of the Jabiru is in the heads. I have had to replace the valve guides and valves. In we have had an exhaust valve head come off and damage the chlinder on mine and my friend's Jabiru. 
    Jabiru is up to a generation 4 engine. This added roller cam lifters and oil feed to the rocker box through the push rods instead of through feeds from the side galleries to the rocker box as mine is.
    I do like the fact that I can pull a head in 10 minutes.
    Different 4 strokes for different pilots...
    John M
    • 0


  20. skypics added a post in a topic Tail wheel springs and tail wheel settings   

    The "wings" are where the steering chains from the rudder to the tail wheel attach. As the tail wheel is turned to a specific angle by the rudder, one of the wings will disengage the tail wheel steering allowing the tail wheel to caster.
    I also found that Spruce offers a tail wheel steering spring set that is supposed to eliminate shimmy.
    This consists of two different springs...one larger than the other. This is supposed to prevent resonance set up when the wheel shimmys.
    John M
    • 0


  21. skypics added a topic in Avid Model IV   

    Tail wheel springs and tail wheel settings
    Well, I finally broke my tail wheel spring that had been on the MK4 for many moons. This includes landings on back country strips.
    It was a double leaf type. I could see from the area of the brakage that it must have been cracked for a while and finally gave out. So make sure you check closely for any cracks. I am 1 mile from AC Spruce so I ran up and bought the "experimental" on which is less than half the price of the certified ones.
    This one os single leaf and 4 inches longer that the one being replaced. So it lifted the tail and gives a bit more over the cowl visability. It isd also very springy. Trouble is the hole for the tail wheel bolt was 3/8 and I needed 7/16. It took a lot of work and drill bits to get tha hole enlarged.
    The extra length meant lengthening the tail wheel steerering spring hookup. This is where I ran onto an issue.
    If I made the steering hookup tight enough to give positive steering the MATCO tail wheel would not kick into the castering position. If I loosend the steering I could get the castering to work, but the steering required too much pedal to get the nose to turn.
    Then I read something on this forum that said MATCO sells 25 degree "wings" that kick into caster mode much better than the 45 degree ones the builder had put on my tailwheel. This made sense since the Avid rudder only turns a littl over 30 degrees.
    This helped, but my steering springs were too stiff so I found a spring set that was a bit softer and now all is well.
    This was A frustraiting effort and I wish to thank whoever posted the comment on the 25 degree wings.
    John M
    • 5 replies
    • 935 views


  22. skypics added a post in a topic Tail Wheel Swap to a Matco Pneumatic 8"   

    Niappos:
    I had my spring break on my Model B single spring and now on my MK4 double leaf. Ishould mention that I do a lot of landings on grass, dirt and gravel.
    I can see where the spring was cracked for a while.
    I bought the experimental spring from Spruce and had to drill out the 3/8bits. th hole at the tail wheel to 7/16 th. Went through some costly drill bits.
    This spring is about 3 inches longer than the one I replaced and I find that when I make the sterring spring tention enough to give positive steering then they won't kick out into the caster mode. 
    I see that you bought 25 degree wings to allow an earlier caster. I will call MATCO and have therm send me these. This should help.
    John M
    • 1


  23. skypics added a post in a topic Avid MK4 braking effect   

    Even f you have the pedal geometry correct it is hard to get good braking due to the lack of toe clearance caused by the firewall crossbar.
    On my MK4 and the same on the Model B I had, you can't raise your foot high enough on the pedal to get the ball of your foot on the pedal.
    I only  wear a size 9 and have this issue. 
    On a trip to the Idaho back country last year the shoes I wore were wearing out and the soles coming off. So I flew into McCall and bough new Sketchers shoes.
    Trouble is, the material on the heel extended behind the heel so much that it raised my foot to the point where the toe could get caught on the firewall crossbar. So I had to fly in my stocking feet. And by the way, I had much better feel and braking effect in my stocking feet.
    John M
    • 0


  24. skypics added a post in a topic Jabiru serial number reference   

    M 2200 is S/N 3267 which is generation 3. I believe yours is Generation 2. It may be solid lifters and if so is very early. Mine has hyd lifters and finer fins than the earlier generations.
    Have you tried contacting Jabiru here in the states?
    John M
    • 1


  25. skypics added a post in a topic Avid MK4 braking effect   

    I just measured the clearance between the top of the  brake pedal and the cross bar on the firewall structure on my Avid MK4 (1 inch) and a friend's Kitfox 7 (3.25 inches).
    I have good geometry on my brake pedals (3:1) but the clearance issue does not allow my foot to be high enough on the pedal to get good pressure. I actually push with the toes on the top of the pedal. 
    I had a situation where on landing I applied brakes and my toe got caught between the toe and the firewall crossbar. She almost nosed over. WHEW!
    John M
    • 0