Mendlerr

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Everything posted by Mendlerr



  1. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    Just a few more to close for the night.
     








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  2. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    Some Exterior Pics
     






     
    Yes I know the turtle deck is not installed properly.  I just set it on there for the pic.
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  3. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   



     
    Aft Firewall Wiring (What a MESS)



     
    An Earl's oil cooler with a computer fan behind it is my in cabin heat and air system, haha.  It's crude but works well!
     




     
    Thats about it for the interior and engine bay pics.
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  4. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    interesting considering the published cg is 10.7-16".  I'll have to play around.
     
    Where do you live and how do I get there?  Sounds like a party!  Steak, Seagrams and 7up, haha!
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  5. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    I just have so little fuel capacity, only 17 gallons, 15 usable.  I have no range.  It sucks.  i really want another wing tank, just not sure how to make it happen without spending alot of money.  There is no lead, tail only weighs 57lbs.  The battery is just behind the firewall on the copilots side.  There is a good coat of paint.  I wont say you can see a weave but I'm sure if you looked you could.  I had a piece flake off the other day and it wasn't too thick
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  6. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    I may go to the airport tomorrow and take pictures of the airplane. Maybe someone might have an idea of what weighs so much. Maybe I'm missing something
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  7. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    Well like I said I will pull the battery and see how much it weighs. I have made it a goal to get this plane to 600lbs. I see no reason for it to weigh any more then that. I greatly simplified the instrument panel.
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  8. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    The "actual W&B" will be done in a few days with everything installed properly.

    I have read that part of the FAR's before but for some reason it just made more sense to me now. The IA did not charge me a dime to review anything, the only logbook entry that came under scrutiny was because of wording. One of the previous owners wrote "removed engine, overhauled engine per rotax specifications, reinstalled engine". The DAR let it slide but because it a a major modification and he did not own nor was licensed as a Rotax Major Repair Facility he cannot use the term "overhauled". Either way it was all resolved and it was free.
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  9. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    He mostly works on experimentals around here. An illegal entry like one that says "new gear" or "fixed mag" and signed by the owner. It is not specific at all and a bunch of words are misspelled. It's kinda funny.  I just try to be as descriptive as possible with my logbook entries.  It's all fixed now though.
     
    I still cannot wrap my head around this weigh problem.  I don't understand what could be adding 50lbs to my airplane?
     
    Are all you guys using ELT's, Strobes, ect?  I understand I have a fuller panel then most and the grove gear, wheels and brakes do not help but I've had it all apart and it does not weigh that much.
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  10. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    It's an odyssey battery and that weight measurement was with all the fuel drained, no seats, no turtle deck, and some other miscallaneous things. I don't understand why it's so damn heavy
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  11. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    well we are just finishing up the annual and did a new W&B.  I think my old W&B was incorrect because after removing 15-20lbs of useless crap the airplane weighed in at 658lbs!!!  Not sure what to do now other then start taking more stuff out.  I think a large part of the extra weight is the complex fuel system and miles of wiring under the panel.  I was really hoping to see a number around 610.
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  12. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    good to know.  i'm taking a break from my medical training in the spring to get my Light Sport Repairman Mechanical rating along with Level 1&2 Rotax Maintenance certs and a Rotax 2-Stroke repairmans cert.  I'm hoping to start servicing some local 2 strokes in the future.  In fact, I've already been asked a few times if I can help with repair of a 2 stroke.  There seems to be a demand for these services lately.
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  13. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    If I were to remove the header tanks and removed all that plumbing would a fuel pump even be necessary?  I don't know much about just high wing tanks, most of the aircraft I fly have fuel pumps on always.  I remember flying a J3 cub a couple years ago with no fuel pump.
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  14. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    It's 628 empty, well, was.  I just built a new, simplified instrument panel which saved me some weight, stripped out some electrical wires and removed a few non-essential components..  I'm redoing the W&B tomorrow so we will just have to wait and see.  The plane originally weighed 550, but the 3rd owner got his hands on it and added 100lbs of useless stuff and made alot of illegal logbook entries which just got sorted out today by the local IA and DAR.  I'm now officially airworthy again.  The 4th owner stripped it back down to 600lbs but then added the Grove gear and Matco brakes and got it back up to 628.  I am now the 5th owner and have to fix everyone else's mistakes!  haha,
     
    I know the fuel system is a nightmare, I really want another 7 or 9 gallon wing tank and to get rid of all this useless crap.  I have no baggage carrying capacity because of the plumbing of the fuel system.  I'm in the process of designing a baggage sack and can't seem to make it work
     
    Oh and you should see the electrical.  There is probably 20 miles of white wires, none of it labeled and who the hell knows what its all attatched to?  I can't seem to figure it out.  There are 3 power distribution blocks and the exact same wires running to all 3 of them.  I just dont know what to do about it other then start over but I do not have the money or time right now.
     
    I feel like the plane was built really well, but owner after clueless owner got their hands on it and it started to fall apart.  Fortunately the IA and DAR said the fueselage and wings were done very nicely.  It's just the fuel and electrical that needs the work.
     
    Oh and AkFlyer, I notice you have ski's in your Sig, did you buy them or build them?  I've been thinking of building a set but not sure where to start.
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  15. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    Also, my fuel flow meter is installed before my header tanks so it is only showing me a reading of fuel flowing from the wing tank?  Not sure why anyone would do this?  I need to move it to infront of the carbs or infront of the header tanks where it matters.
     
    Here's some pics of my crazy fuel system.
     

     

     

     
    The clear filter in this picture below was the culprit.  It looked clean but it was not
     
    The round/oval rubber disk just below the clear glass filter is the fuel flow meter.  It's definitely not in the correct position.
     

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  16. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    Well I almost ran out of fuel, well, to the carbs anyway.
     
    I was flying along and the wing tank got down to about 1/4 tank so I decided to bring it on down and start disassembly for the conditional inspection and guess what I found.
     
    My rear "header tanks" were almost completely dry and vapor locked.  I had very little fuel flow if any.  I had just replaced the "Fuel Filter" with a new glass one so I assumed it wouldn't be a problem for awhile.  Well it turned out to be the Fuel Filter, it was full of a clearish fiberglass resin that was about the same color as the filter so I did not notice it.  It was completely clogged.
     
    If I had of attempted one more pattern I would have run out of fuel about 60-120 seconds after takeoff.  It would not have ended well in my given terrain.
     
    Just a reminder to check your fuel filters!  Just because you cannot see debris does not mean its not there!
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  17. Mendlerr added a post in a topic Drove the Chevy to the Levy but the Levy......   

    sobering.
     
    I know we have a few people missing in our local lake. 
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  18. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    Thanks for all the advice.
     
    I just finished editing the video of my first flight in my Kitfox.  The first takeoff was smooth but please excuse the small bounces and lack of directional control on landing.  I wasn't really sure when it was going to touch down so it took me by surprise.  Not to mention I was over controlling.
     
    Enjoy!

     
    A quick vid of some confined landings I did last year in a Robinson.  Good times.
     

     
    Here's a quick vid of some light aerobatics in a Pitts S2C I dug up from last year.  What an incredible airplane.
    http://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=I97vS5i2ByY&o=U&ns=1
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  19. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    I can reach the flap handle, i just dont like to bend down to reach it.  I'm 5'10" so the Kitfox is comfortable for me.  I just have to loosen my right shoulder harness some.  The hooker harness is not forgiving when cinched down a little tight.
     
    Thanks for the advice, I've been flying a tight pattern but I bet I could bring it in a little more.  In fact I haven't even been flying a "pattern" so much as a military style "Initial 1" and "Initial 2" to landing.  A rectangular pattern takes too damn long at 60MPH, haha
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  20. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    I'm running it at 6,500RPM WOT.  I was just reading some interesting stuff and the information was all conflicting.  Thanks for clearing that up. 
     
    Well the prop is fixed, I simply backed the castle nut off on the lead screw about 3/4 a turn to where I could still fit the cotter pin in and now I can load up the prop.  I'm still only seeing 500-700fpm climb at 6,500RPM and WOT but I have not played with the flaps very much (can't reach the lever).  Again this is at 4,000ft Density Altitude and higher with little to no flaps,  so I'm sure at sea level it will be much better.
     
    Here is my next problem.  I have the IVO IFA and a CLUTCH.  How do you descend in the pattern safely?  Should I reduce power just enough to keep the clutch engaged (3,000RPM) or should I pull it all the way off and disengage the clutch.  I notice if I try any power setting above 3,500 the EGT's go right to 1,200 like I've been told they will.
     
    I've flown 2 hours in the past few days with 8 T/O and Landings and each has been drastically different.  With a little power still pulled in I descend at 60MPH and 500FPM.  With  the power at Idle (i.e. Clutch Disengaged) I descend at 60mph and 800FPM.  I have not messed with slips yet, just trying normal landings as I seem to be landing too fast. 
     
    Whats typical pattern speeds for all you other Fox flyers?
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  21. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    So if I am turning 7,000 WOT, is it acceptable to simply reduce throttle to 6,500 on the takeoff?  It seems very dangerous to me to reduce throttle on takeoff but I guess I am reading so much from different websites I am getting confused.
     
    There is so much information on these engines  and  I just feel like most of it is wrong.
     
    I guess I am also confused on the 582.  I have a greyhead, my manuals say not to exceed 6,400 RPM's.  I happen to see people say on the forums to climb out at 6,700 RPMS and then reduce power to 6,000 for cruise.  Is this safe or is this only for Bluehead 582's?
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  22. Mendlerr added a post in a topic NEXT QUESTION - WHAT'S A 670?   

     
    Out of curiosity, would these canards be adjustable in some way?  Rigged to work with the elevator/flaperons or are they fixed?  This is an interesting idea if you have a nosewheel bird.
     
    Also, let me know what you think about the 670.  Your the first I know to actually bite the bullet and buy one.   
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  23. Mendlerr added a post in a topic How good is your preflight???   

    We were just having hanger talk about this at my local airport.  Apparently this can be a big problem in early Piper Cherokees.  The drains are very small and can become clogged very easily.  Nobody ever thinks to check for water.  Good to know, glad everyone is safe.
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  24. Mendlerr added a post in a topic N94JE   

    I would if IVO would sell me the hi pitch blades.  I'm going to call them tomorrow and beat them up a little.  I just want to swap out the fine pitch blades for the course pitch and some of the SS tapes.  I do think it's a nice prop overall.  Interesting design for sure.  I see alot of people are modifying them.
     
    They are willing to give me the full amount I paid for the ultralight to get the Medium.  I don't understand why they couldn't do that for just the blades.  From my research the Coarse blades are cheaper then the Fine pitch so I'm sure they wouldnt be loosing any money..
     
    I do have my concerns over blade movement in the hub but I have the knurled hub and I took it apart today, it obviously grabs the blades HARD because they were pretty marked up and I have made sure to torque them to exactly 200 inch pounds.  I try to be as precise as possible.  Even tested out my torque wrench on the Snap-On truck before I tried torquing those bolts.
     
    Now I'm dealing with electrical issues, some radio problems popped up.  I'm very dissapointed in the previous owner, he used some cheap wire and let it ride against sharp metal edges (which should be smoothed and have grommets) which ate through the insulation and finally broke the wires.  Overall the electrical is a nightmare, very unorganized and confusing.  A few more hours of effort and it could have been a very nice wiring job but someone just wasn't patient enough
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  25. Mendlerr added a post in a topic I passed   

    Congratulations on the license. I just got my private ,single engine land add on rating 2 weeks ago. I am also considering a sea plane rating but it would be a private pilot add on. A bit more complex and alot more expensive. I also just finished up my Tailwheel endorsement. I flew my kitfox a few days ago for the first time and found it to be a bit of a handful on landing.
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