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akflyer added a post in a topic Pictures of MK IV radiator mounting? 15 Jan 2015

I have the radiators sealed off to the cowling on mine and at 80+ temps I have to step climb. I can get over 200 deg if I run it WOT for more than 5 minutes or so. Of course, I am running 50/50 on the antifreeze so if you run more water and some radiator ice or water wetter and you have a 4 pass core or more, you should be good to go. It would be easy to have the radiator tank as the high point, thats how my original radiator was on mine when I got it, but I tossed those and went to the belly mount after I had some overheating issues. I should have just baffled that radiator set up and kept flying it like that but I went for the sure quick fix

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TJay added a post in a topic 582 Exhaust 15 Jan 2015

Yeah that price is a bit high for me. I actually priced it out through CPS today for the complete exhaust, which includes muffler, elbow, springs, and header pipe varies from $428 to $658 thats brand new, so in my mind used should be half or less depending on condition.

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dav8or added a post in a topic Pictures of MK IV radiator mounting? 15 Jan 2015

If the radiator can be mounted high enough that a cap mounted on the tank would be the highest point in the system I will go with that. I need to get as much cooling efficiency as possible so I can still fly when the outside temp is hovering around 100 degrees. I plan to seal the radiators to the cowl inlets well. I know that has been an issue with some MK4's cooling. I would rather be over cooled than under. My current Kitfox style belly radiator is cooling very well even in summer but is vulnerable to damage being under there. The new cooling system I am working up will have either the same number of clamps as the current set up or less if I skip the bottom cross over between radiators. Of course there would be 2 more clamps eliminated if I can work the cap into one of the radiator tanks.

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akflyer added a post in a topic Pictures of MK IV radiator mounting? 15 Jan 2015

If it was me, I would have the cap on the radiator and do away with the inline cap. It is a pain in the butt, and additional connections to hose clamp have potential failure sources.

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dholly added a post in a topic Almost There... 15 Jan 2015

What a rush and NO squawks, woohoo! That is simply one of the best looking Avid/KFs around IMO and I'm sure you and Randy will be eating up many Alaskan A+ moments in the years to come. More proof there is light at the end of the tunnel!

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dav8or added a post in a topic Pictures of MK IV radiator mounting? 15 Jan 2015

I am going to have the radiators custom made and done in aluminum so I can modify the design a bit and I can decide to have the cap either on a radiator tank or separately between the tanks. I will determine the highest point and work it in there. I was thinking that a connection between tank bottoms might allow more efficient cooling more like a standard radiator.

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dholly added a post in a topic Aerocet 1100 amphib floats w/ Kitfox 3/4 rigging 15 Jan 2015

I was facing open spine surgery from the front but I dodged that bullet. Now it's just a matter of time for all the swelling to go away and the discs to re absorb. Still can't feel about 30% of my left leg but at least the pain is bearable, nothing a trip to Barbados and some righteous rum punch in a few weeks can't put in place!

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EDMO added a post in a topic Tailwheel castor angle 15 Jan 2015

And, Leni has to put "Water Wings" on his bird because the tailwheel spring gets all bent!
All in fun!
I wish I could fly from water, but I have a panic attack every time I have to fly across a river or lake - not because I drowned once trying to learn to swim, and never learned; but the thought of being bitten by all the things hiding in the water terrifies me - like Big sharks, Big gators, Big snapping turtles and Big snakes - Leni don't have the last three in Alaska.
EDMO

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akflyer added a post in a topic Tailwheel castor angle 15 Jan 2015

And for the record, I was just poking fun at Ed and his quest to turn all planes into mind numbing wheel barrows..

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EDMO added a post in a topic Aerocet 1100 amphib floats w/ Kitfox 3/4 rigging 15 Jan 2015

Glad to hear from you again - I was watching all the big snows up your way and figured you couldn't get out of the igloo to dig out the satellite. a friend of mine had part of a disc sticking out of his back and had the surgery and said it was easy, but I sure don't want to go thru that.
Hoping you recover soon,
EdMO

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EDMO added a post in a topic Tailwheel castor angle 15 Jan 2015

Me too Chris - I have probably more time in the antique taildraggers, but prefer the nose gear - My Ercoupe could be flown without having usable legs, as a friend of mine used to do, but I prefer a plane with all the separate controls, like flaps and ailerons and rudders - Everything is a compromise, but if it gets off of the ground and lands safely, then it is good IMO.
I just like to stir up some conversations and comparisons when I can.
EDMO

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dholly added a post in a topic Aerocet 1100 amphib floats w/ Kitfox 3/4 rigging 15 Jan 2015

Last Oct. I ruptured 3 discs. Spent 2 weeks in hospital and nearly 2 more months flat on my back in a drug induced stupor hoping to avoid surgery. Thank goodness for the pain meds, although that narcotic dependency withdrawal is a beotch! Just now starting to get around again with a semi-clear head but it's about all I can do physically to keep the wood stove stoked. Good thing we haven't had much snow so far, still need to get the plow on the tractor. I did drive for the first time this past weekend, retrieved some tools from the hanger and bought one of those little electric snow blowers. No shoveling for me!

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Luked added a post in a topic First flight as a KC-10 Crewmember 15 Jan 2015

Thanks for sharing pictures. That's awesome. Congratulations on the move back to refueling. Looks like it will be a great job.

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akflyer added a post in a topic Pictures of MK IV radiator mounting? 15 Jan 2015

If your radiators have a cap on them then you dont need the remote cap. The fittings on the bottom go to the engine and the top is just a cross over.

I will charge up my old phone and see if I have any pictures on it of my install.

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dav8or added a post in a topic Pictures of MK IV radiator mounting? 15 Jan 2015

From what I could make out in those pictures the radiators are connected together by hoses over the top of the engine mount and joined by a remote radiator cap. I can't make out the inlet and outlet fittings on the radiator. Are they at the bottoms of the radiators on both sides for inlet and outlet? I am guessing yes since it is forcing all coolant up and over the engine. I was thinking about having the radiators designed with a coolant passage hose crossing under the gearbox connecting the bottoms of both radiators then have the inlet enter the top outside on the right radiator and outlet on the lower outside of the left radiator routed back to the water pump. Any thoughts on a setup like that?

Dan

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tcj added a post in a topic First flight as a KC-10 Crewmember 15 Jan 2015

Those are great pictures. After doing that does flying your Avid still excite you?

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tcj added a post in a topic Moved the plane today 15 Jan 2015

Some perspective. Little Tahoma, that little peak you have seen on the side of rainier, at 11,138 feet elevation is the third highest peak in Washington and just 111 feet lower than Mount Hood 11,249 feet..

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Guest added a post in a topic Tailwheel castor angle 15 Jan 2015

Just to be clear...I love all airplanes whether the little wheel is in the back or front and I have both.....neither of which is flying right now, but I am working on that!

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akflyerbob added a post in a topic Anyone near Atlanta,GA 15 Jan 2015

You guys quitit .. you are pissing off the guys that can't go ... ME

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tcj added a post in a topic 582 Exhaust 15 Jan 2015

When My Kit was shipped from the factory there was no engine. The invoice said the engine would be shipped direct from the Rotax distributor. I tried everything I could think of to fit the exhaust inside the cowl. When I called skystar they just said it would fit and I needed to try harder cause I must have the cowl on wrong. I ended up cutting a hole in the cowl for it. A few years later I saw another kitfox in person and saw that the elbow had been shortened quite a bit to fit inside the cowl.

Here's a picture. The others I have seen had a section cut out in the center of the 90 degree and welded back together.

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akflyer added a post in a topic 582 Exhaust 15 Jan 2015

I am pretty sure the only modifications is to the elbow, other than that it looks stock. The elbow was cut and shortened about an inch to keep it inside the cowling. Others have notched the cowling just a bit and put the stock elbow on it and claimed 250-500 RPM increase.