NorthIdahoAvidflyer

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Everything posted by NorthIdahoAvidflyer



  1. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Battery   

    I recently replaced my battery. I did a lot of looking around and went with the Odyssey Battery. Not as light as an Earth X but half the weight of a conventional battery and more than half the price of the Earth X. It has served me will the last year and didn't moss a beat after setting in the cold hangar all winter. 
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  2. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic NR Propeller   

    Start with the easy stuff first. I go to great lengths to make my blades consistent in pitch. I raise the tail so the face of the prop hub is as close the 90 degrees to level as possible. Read the manufacturers pitch instructions to determine the exact location to take the pitch measurement. On my GSC it was 24 inches from the hub. On my Warp its at the tip. Once you locate that location use blue painters tape to mark the location on each blade. I have use an adjustable square to make the tape lines exact on each blade. When you check the angle of each blade the blade should parallel to the floor at a exact location each time. I use a level on the prop hub to place the blade 90 degrees to the floor then I adjust a painters stick (like the one use would use on a paint roller) to a length so I can roll either prop around and set the prop blade on top of the stick to bring it to the same location each time. Once I have all set up I determine a start pitch setting and use my calculator to figure out the correct reading on the electronic angle finder. Lets say you want 12 degrees. 90 degrees - 12 of pitch = 78 degrees. 78 will be the number you want to see on the electronic angle finder. 
    Get a stool and set at the the end of the blade. Have the hub and blade bolts just tight enough to adjust the blades. Roll the first blade around and set in on the paint stick. Place the angle finder against the blue tape line and adjust the blade to 78 degrees. These angle finders are very sensitive so make small adjustments and let them settle. Roll the to the next blade and do the same. One you have both blades adjusted tighten the hub and blade per the instructions. 
    It sounds like a lot of work but I assure you if you take the time the prop will run very true unless there is something else wrong. I have helped three guys adjust their blades ths way and they were amazed on how much smoother they ran. 
    Here is a pic of the angle finder I use. 
    If you have any questions PM me. 
     

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  3. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Motion sickness?   

    FredStork is correct. I flew this weekend to a fly-in and on the way home I let my passenger fly the plane. As soon as he took control of the plane I started to feel less comfortable. I have experienced this before also. When I got back into flying I was very uncomfortable. It's not near as bad now but I still get that feeling when I'm not the one in control of the plane. 
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  4. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic 2 stroke piston options??   

    Yeah he was one of the several I've know to use them. I'd kinda like to know more about them and where they get them from. 
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  5. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    2 stroke piston options??
    Just out of curiosity.....I see more than one engine rebuilder using ceramic-coated piston tops in Rotax 2 stroke engines.  I know they have been around awhile because I had a set installed in a 503 several years ago. 
    Who sells these pistons? Are they just having new stock pistons coated?  What do you guys know about different piston options.
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  6. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Avid Skis for sale on Ebay   

    I am lucky to live in an area close to two large plastic outlet stores. It wont be hard to get the material. I just want to make sure I get he right stuff. Thank you for the offer.
     
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  7. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Avid Skis for sale on Ebay   

    Should I use the LDR or the UHMW?  Thanks for the info. 
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  8. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Hard seat cover wanted to buy or trade   

    I sent you a PM. 
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  9. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic wanted: fibreglass seat pan Avid MK IV   

    That is a great outlet. I'll pass that link onto my Zenith peeps. Thanks for sharing. 
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  10. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a topic in For Sale and wanted, you got it, I want it   

    Hard seat cover wanted to buy or trade
    I am looking to buy a multi colored black seat cover. I have a gray with black and red strip seat cover now that is in great shape I'd trade for a black one. My plane is white and black so I'm justb looking to color coordinate. Not a big deal but figured I would throw it out to see whats out there. My plane is a Mark IV and the cover is for the hard pan seat.  Pic of my seat cover attached.

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  11. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Where's Doug?   

    Good to hear from you Doug. I've been wondering about you.We will keep you guys in our prayers. Get well Brother
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  12. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic wanted: fibreglass seat pan Avid MK IV   

    I will keep my eye's open. I have one in my Mark IV and iike it. They came from the factory with two different color of covers. The one I have is lite gray with black and red strip. The other one was a multi colored black. My plane is white and black so I'd like to find or trade someone for the black one. 
     

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  13. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Avid Skis for sale on Ebay   

    Well that explains why he was reluctant to come down on the price. I'm glad to have a set but I wrote him and asked him if the bottoms were in good shape because they are prone to cracking. He said they were in good shape. After I bought them he said he noticed one had a cracked edge. After getting them there is no doubt the bottoms are ruined. I have time to mess with them before winter so I think I will look into either aluminum or carbon fiber bottoms. I have both available at my Airport. 
    I do not have my own lathe but I do have one to use anytime I need one and a machinist to go with it. I believe his is an older Central Machinery Lathe. The only issue is I have to drive out to Spirit Lake to use it. I've been looking into buying me a small lathe for my garage because the more I play with these Experimentals the more I need to make small parts. I have been looking at buying the 7" x 14" mini lathe from Grizzly. The same company that makes the Harbor Freight mini lathes also makes the Grizzly lathes but the Grizzly has a longer bed, larger "Big Boy" tailstock and a center rest which the Harbor Freight ones do not come with. There is a company that makes a better metal gear set for them and there is a ton of videos on U-tube that show how to adjust and upgrade various parts on these machines to make them more precise. 
    https://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly-7-x-14-Variable-Speed-Benchtop-Lathe/G0765
    With any luck I will have these mounted up and be skiing down some lake in Northern Idaho next winter.  
     
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  14. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Radios and intercoms   

    Thank you Flywise, I will check all those things. I know the ground plane is small and the coax cable is not the best quality. They also installed a inline port system so a handheld (see pics) could be hooked into the coac running to the antenna. These are all break points in the antenna coax system. I may buy a double shielded RX400 cable and run it from the Radio all the way to the Antenna. I replaced the standard cable on my Mark IV and it made a world of difference. 
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  15. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Radios and intercoms   

    I actually believe this could be a source of the problem. Now that I know the one on the panel works I will use it to see if it makes a difference. 
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  16. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Radios and intercoms   

    This is on the Avid Magnum and the engine is a Lyc O-320. The radio has been working good but recent was reported as scratchy from a local tower. 
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  17. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Radios and intercoms   

    I went over all the connections and nothing seemed out of place. As most other things on this plane the wiring leave a lot to be desired for being neat and titty. It really needs a complete dash rewire. If this problem continues I will gut the intercom, install another set of headphone jacks in the panel and use the radios built in intercom system. 
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  18. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Radios and intercoms   



  19. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Radios and intercoms   



  20. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Radios and intercoms   

    Thank you. I will start there. 
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  21. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a topic in Avidfoxflyers General Hangar   

    Radios and intercoms
    I flew the Magnum to a local towered airport a few days ago and when I reported 10 miles out the tower said that my transmission has a lot of static. The radio is a Icom IC-A210 dash mount unit and it has worked great until the last flight. When I went to leave I attempted to call on the ground freq and got another report of a lot of static in my transmission. I had an extra headset so I switched them out and the next headset had no side tone and I got no answer when I attempted to call the tower. I switched the second headset plugs to the co-pilot side of the intercom with no change. I switched back to my headset on the co-pilots side of the intercom and was able to make contact but they still reported a lot of static. I think by now they wanted me gone so they cleared me to depart via 4R to the West. 
    When I got home I started checking out the radio system. It has a Sigtronics intercom with a dual headset plug mounted way up under the dash and a remote volume and squelch controller on the instrument panel.  the radio has a built in intercom which it not being used. There is one set of headphone jacks and a remote PTT button on the panel. When I plugged a set of headphones into the instrument panel jacks you can hear noise/interference in the headphones when you plug in the big plug but you can not hear any radio transmissions or side tones. The PTT works but I didn't try to transmit with it when I was having issues.
    I have never played with an in dash radio system. I've always used a handheld system. I do not understand why someone would install a second intercom when the radio has its own and the panel was wired for it. I also hate the location of the remote intercom headphone jacks and would love to change that. 
    So I'm coming to you guys for advice on where to start. I'm not the best with this stuff but I have a installation guide downloaded and can figure out how to check the pin connections and such. I will post some pictures of the various parts of the system. 
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  22. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Carbs   

    I've ran both. I prefer a primer for ease of use and set-up for new installations. I also keep the cylinders balances as close a possible. Makes them run smooth. Allen, do you manually adjust your slides to the same height or do you use a manometer?
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  23. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Avid Skis for sale on Ebay   

    No they did not. The axles on my Mark IV are 2.5 inches longer on the outside than needed and both ends have cut threads in them. I'm sure I will have to make something up but I have axle material and a lathe.
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  24. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Avid Skis for sale on Ebay   

    The price of the Ski's was dropped to $425. I am now the owner of the ski's 

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  25. NorthIdahoAvidflyer added a post in a topic Best cleaner and "rain beader" for Windshield?   

    I only use micro fiber towels. I pick a bunch up at Harbor Freight or Walmart. I also pre-soak the planes window with a water/soap mixture in a spray bottle to soften the bugs/dirt before cleaning.  I hate scratches....lol
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