LSaupe

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Posts posted by LSaupe

  4. Posted

    Thought I would jump on this older thread for some additional feedback.  Sounds like it is possible to fly with one door open?  If so, do they (doors) jump around a bit in the airstream or are they pretty much in one place (I do know mine bobble quite a bit when trying to taxi with doors open).  

    Does it make more sense to open in flight at low airspeed or take off open.

  6. Posted · Edited by LSaupe

    I have an odd one here, and I know next to nothing when it comes to radio's.  I have a top mounted antenna (grounded to the fuselage) at the standard Kitfox antenna location.

    Radio performs strong in the air and on the ground (often over a 50 mile range).

    However, on the way home from a fly in yesterday a Champ was flying loose formation to my side and rear.  When he was anywhere behind me, I could barely make out him and he could barely make out me.  He was at my altitude or slightly lower.  If he was well above me or in front things were strong as usual.

    Question is, could my tail feathers or fuselage be hindering transmissions to the rear?  Anyone run across this before?

    Larry

  8. Posted · Edited by LSaupe

    Flew up to the Piseco pancake breakfast yesterday. Fabulous weather and a great turnout.

    Three Kitfox's where in attandance. Our Model III, a nice Model IV and a factory built SLSA Model VII. This was the second SLSA Kitfox I have seen in the area. I must say the workmanship was phenomenal! It definitely was a stand out bird on the ramp (and there were some very nice planes there). 

    Will try to post a few pics.

    Larry

     

     

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    1 person likes this

  12. Posted

    Have any of you guys experienced long wait times for your Ivo prop items as of late?  I ordered a new prop 6 weeks ago and now it looks like at least another two weeks.  4 weeks, became 6 weeks and now forecast for 8 weeks.  2 months (if it shows) seems like an awful long time.  Anyone know what is going on at Ivo?

  15. Posted · Edited by LSaupe

    Do you know what they weigh per foot?

    I installed the PVC fairing on the wing struts of my Classic 4 Kitfox and gained 12 pounds.  That's 6 ounces per foot.  Heavy by my standards but the increased performance out weighs the weight penalty.

    I gained 10 mph in cruise speed.  From 75 mph to 85 mph.  Thats with a 503...52 HP.  Rate of climb also increased.  I don't have number's to prove it but I can tell the difference.  The first thing I noticed with the first flight with fairing on the wing struts was the sink rate was much less on power off glide approach to landing.

    TJC:

    Quick question, how did you handle the lift strut to jury strut straps.  Did you fix these somehow (like with a rivet or adhesive) or just leave them loose and re-position when bolting the jury struts back on?  I have snaded the fairings smooth and have prepainted them.  Hopefully the remainder of the work can be fogged in without much hassle.

     

  16. Posted

    What are you guys using as a wear strip (if any) between your fiberglass cowl sections.  I am starting to get some chaffing (I am fiberglass to fiberglass).

    I have seen what looks to be a very thin wearing surface on some builds.

    Any suggestions?

  18. Posted

    Thought I would add a bit more here.  New floats arrived on Monday and have had 4 real nice flights since that time.  Engine running great and very smooth.

    What perplexes me though is that my original problem (very rough idle and occasional fuel coming out if the carbs into the air filter); I had attributed to a needle/seat problem.  I replaced both and the problem remained.  I replaced the floats (2 months ago) and the problem went away (hence a presumed float issue).  However, the original floats always floated fine, just never worked well.  When my new floats were recalled, I put the old floats back in to see what would happen, and yes the problem returned.  Not sure if the total buoyancy is a bit less (by design) than the new ones, but there is a noticeable difference.  What I am getting at is that there might be more to checking floats than a simple float test.  Float height fuel shut off position was also checked prior to ordering new floats.

    The old ones were rectangular.  The new ones are scalloped on the outboard corners (which may help with clearance at the corner points).

    Figured I would pass it along in case anyone was having similar issues.  Currently running the new style floats (shown above), with size 50 idle jets (at 1+3/4 turn air screw turns) and it runs fabulously. (80F at 1,000 PA currently).

      

     

  19. Posted

    You want the chains on the Matco fairly snug to help it relock coming out of a turn. If you find it doesn't unlock right for you they sell a different ear (the gold piece) to change where it unlocks. Looking good. Won't be long now! 

    Yep, mine are about 25% compressed when everything relaxed to straight forward.  You need to have some compression for the dogs to work correctly.

  21. Posted

    You can do a leak check of the coolant system.  Most auto parts stores these days will rent you tools if you don't want to buy one.  I pressured mine to 14 PSI and it held... but it still had a bad head gasket that leaked at higher pressures.  Are you getting any discoloration in the coolant bottle?  Triple check all hose connections.  Do you have a weep hole on the water pump shaft cover, block, what ever you want to call it that the RV shaft runs through?  Any evidence of leakage or weeping there?

    Actually no discoloration in the coolant bottle at all (still looks like new coolant in the bottle and under the cap when I take it off).  All connections dry as can be (yep, have been over them at least 3 times, o.k. maybe 5 times).  The weep hole I am not familiar with however.  Not sure if I have one or not. If I do, I assume it is on water side of the shaft vice the RV side?   I have no drips anywhere on the engine (oil or coolant).  I have a 13 psi cap, so I guess the only regions of higher pressure would be whatever head the pump creates.  Hopefully it will make itself evident. 

  22. Posted

    Have a frustrating one here. I lose about 1/4 height of my overflow bottle (which looks like a large pill bottle for a Kitfox), over about 10 hours of flying.   Is any loss typical?

    Seems to only be a small loss under pressure somewhere.  No external leaks that are apparent.  RV oil level is holding constant with no evidence of contamination. Looking up the exhaust into the cylinders and head/cylinder junction area show no evidence of leakage or even a static drop (though the engine is cold by then).  Next plan is to do a 10 psi hydrotest with internal cylinder inspection at that time.

    Anyone run across this before?

  25. Posted

    As the 2 strokes dont have valves and the plugs are changed at 25 hours is it even a concern then?