rlmankins

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Everything posted by rlmankins



  1. rlmankins added a post in a topic Weight and balance   

    Thanks, that gives me some hard# to play with.
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  2. rlmankins added a post in a topic Mk IV wing-fold time   

    I have the factory trailer. It is so easy to load. Back plane up to trailer, set tailwheel in ramp, hook up to boat winch. Pull on trailer, lock axles on trailer. Fold wings, drive off. Bought my airplane in Port Angeles, Washington. Loaded on trailer, drove 1300 miles home, everything happy.

    That being said, I have a hangar and I will be keeping it in there. I will be towing the plane when I go on vacation. Wife can shop and I can go exploring. The entire package weighs less that a 1000 lbs. Actually hooked it up to my Harley and pulled it to the gas station to fill up. Got some very strange looks.
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  3. rlmankins added a post in a topic Weight and balance   

    I understand that each one is different. What I am specifically looking for is the effect of placing a fuel tank behind the seat. Am getting very tired of the fiberglass fuel tank discussions. Can have aluminum fuel tank made by a airplane machinist friend of mine very in expensively but am somewhat concerned about 150 lbs behind the seat.
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  4. rlmankins added a topic in Avid Flyer General Hangar   

    Weight and balance
    Anybody have a weight and balance for a avid mk4 heavy hauler with a 582.  trying to work out some things before I get to far along.
    • 10 replies
    • 2,878 views


  5. rlmankins added a post in a topic Naked Avid   

    Just liked the look. If does not work out is easy enough to finish covering. Was really looking for any experience someone had flying one. Used to fly a quicksilver, think it might be similar. I guess I will give a report if I ever get done.
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  6. rlmankins added a topic in Avid Flyer General Hangar   

    Naked Avid
    Am finally ready to cover my avid mk4. I am thinking about covering all flying surface and passenger compartment, leaving rear of fuse exposed. Seems to be pros and cons on this. Do not think as slow as the plane is that there will be to much drag, looks good, and might, I stress might help with crosswind. Be easy enough to finish covering if does not work out. Will only be used for low and slow, have Cherokee 180 to travel.

    Any comments, have thick skin so anything is ok.
    • 7 replies
    • 1,586 views


  7. rlmankins added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Wanted prop
    Looking for a prop for my avid mk4. 582 c box 3-1
    7759109289

    Thanks
    Roy
    • 1 reply
    • 627 views


  8. rlmankins added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    Any updates on the engineering. Getting ready to start bracing and if I need to change anything it's time
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  9. rlmankins added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Thermostat
    In our offload cars we drill multiple holes in our thermostat to protect our engines. Since I live in southern Nevada and will never be flying in weather colder than 30 degrees I do not think warm up will be a problem. I guess the thermostat closes in long descents and when you give it power it opens dumping cold water into the motor which causes clearance problems with the pistons causing the pistons to stick.
    My reasoning is if some water is circulating all the time there should more uniform temps in the motor. I do not feel comfortable removing the thermostat completely, 2 strokes do have a temp range they are happy at and we do want to keep our motor happy.
    Any experiences or suggestions would be appreciated. I have done my homework but you folks seem to be very knowledgable and experience is always the best.
    • 1 reply
    • 602 views


  10. rlmankins added a post in a topic Clutch for c box   

    So I was speaking to my engine rebuilder and he was not that big a fan of clutches. I was not sure exactly why. Some of his comments. No vibration dampening because no rubber torsion ring, prop strike will cause crank problems, wear issues in clutch engagement parts, and I guess this goes along with that, having to rebuild clutch frequently. Also said novice installer might have difficulty installing.

    Any comments?
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  11. rlmankins added a post in a topic Clutch for c box   


    Thanks, one more item on the to do list.
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  12. rlmankins added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Clutch for c box
    Anybody use a clutch for their c box. Was at airport, my buddies north wing weight shift has the clutch. Starts, idles, clutch engages smoothly. Seems pretty nice. Any reasons against using this?
    • 9 replies
    • 1,213 views


  13. rlmankins added a post in a topic Aluminum gas tank   


    I have to quit complicating things, I assume that everyone has tanks in both wings. Since I only have tanks in one wing how would I mount the poly tanks in the other wing. I guess I would have to put a rigid support structure in place.

    Any suggestions?
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  14. rlmankins added a post in a topic Flaperon Detail   


    Thanks

    Roy
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  15. rlmankins added a post in a topic Aluminum gas tank   

    That seems entirely reasonable. I just found out the FAA is mandating inspection of the control cables on my Cherokee yearly. I have been doing it anyway, major pain but it is my a!! If it fails. Tank can be built in any configuration and that seems very doable. I want to keep it as close as possible to the front so that should work. I think the biggest issue is to keep the volume to a reasonable level, looks like it could hold a lot. Since I only have a 14 gallon tank I need the extra capacity anyway. In avids with higher capacity is there fuel in both wings? Might be easier just to munt the tanks in the other wing.
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  16. rlmankins added a post in a topic Aluminum gas tank   


    What I was thinking of doing was to put about a 12 gallon tank behind the seat for local flights, leave the 14 gal in the wing. I can buy av fuel in Las Vegas, put it in the wing for safety, fly with the blended in the aluminum tank around town and on trips use av fuel. Does this seem reasonable?
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  17. rlmankins added a post in a topic Aluminum gas tank   


    I live in the country and only have acces to ethanol blended fuel. Can I open my tanks and add a layer of ethanol resistant glass to my existing tank?
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  18. rlmankins added a post in a topic Flaperon   


    The tube looks like it is disconnected at the hinge fitting, not knowing exactly how it is made rod could be broken. It looks sleeved at the hinging point, and perhaps joined inside sleeve. To repair I would make a much longer sleeve.
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  19. rlmankins added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Aluminum gas tank
    Has anyone thought about moving the gas tank to behind the seat using a facet pump and eliminating the fiberglass wing tanks. Would be pretty easy to weld up a custom aluminum fuel cell to fit there, I believe you could change out the rod for cables, rod looks like a prob anyway under the seat, to make room for it. Not sure about cg but should be close. Not to happy about sitting on gas but not looking forward to gas tanks leaking either. I am sure this has been beat to death as a topic but can not find in search. Feel free to flame me, only dumb question is one not asked.

    Thanks
    Roy
    • 12 replies
    • 2,200 views


  20. rlmankins added a post in a topic Flaperon   

    The pics make it look like something I could do. It is bent at the fist hinge in from the outer end on the left side facing the front. What I was thinking of doing was to cut the skin past the bend, remove it, make new skin, over lap it, put the pole back together correctly, glue it and rivit it. A 6 inch overlap should be stronger than the original sheet metal. What do you think?
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  21. rlmankins added a post in a topic Flaperon   


    Will take pic tomorrow
    roy
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  22. rlmankins added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   


    I am not sure how I would attach my floats with the grove gear. I really like the gear, what I wanted to do first but do not want to have to remove them.
    Roy
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  23. rlmankins added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Flaperon
    My flaperon is bent and I would like to know if anyone has the construction details, I can not find them in the build plans.
    • 8 replies
    • 1,297 views


  24. rlmankins added a post in a topic Fuse length and new gear   

    Thanks for the advice, I spent the day doing an inventory and taking a hard look. Looks good.
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  25. rlmankins added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Fuse length and new gear
    I just purchased a Mk4 with heavy hauler wings. It had been landed hard and ground looped. Damage to fuse has been repaired in a worksman like manner and I need to replace 2 end ribs and the wing tip, included in purchase. This is a very nice plane and I would like to keep it that way. I have been going through th NTSB and air Canada accident reports for these planes and there seems to be 2 common causes of accidents, engine failure and landing gear collapse. I am haveing firewall forward (582 c box 3-1) zero timed at Oregon Aircraft Designs.

    Tha strength of the crossmember under the seats looks questionable. I plan on plating both sides with light sheet metal to increase shear load, maybe 2 lb weight penalty. I have a set of super cub landing gear that happen to be very close to the same size as my float attachment points. These would raise my fuse about 4 inches and widen my track about 18". I am not sure that I want the drag of the carbane and oleo struts but do need advice on it. Does this seem a reasonable upgrade?

    While all my cover is off it would be a perfect time for a fuse stretch. I am a low time tail wheel pilot and want my daughter and my grandson to learn to fly in this plane. I have a Cherokee 180 but there is no way that either one of them can afford to fly it, besides the gear is on backwards. Does this increase the directional stability enough to justify the work. Weight penalty look very negligble. Advice for and against would be appreciated.

    Plane is very well built but was completed in 1994, has 186 hours on it. Empty weight currently with BRS is 537 lbs without floats, no idea with floats, gross with BRS and floats is 1200. There must be some collective wisdom on failure points, upgrades, best tweaks for the plane. Not looking to redesign the plane or add a bunch of weight, but it will be carrying precious cargo and should be as safe as possible. I have purchased a BRS for it and am interested in the collective wisdom for mounting it.

    Last but not least, where do I put my fly rod?

    thanks
    • 36 replies
    • 4,325 views