flywise

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Everything posted by flywise



  1. flywise added a post in a topic Catalina engine replacement   

    I also made bushings (aluminum) but they go full length inside the rubbers so as to use  1/2in bolts. My rubbers were designed for 5/8 inch...
    I also had to grind some rubber to make them fit in the engine mount. 
    I have a question for you..is there anything about thrust line/angle for the 912 install???
    Keep going, it's a great project you have :)....& send us pictures of your work
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  2. flywise added a post in a topic Catalina engine replacement   

    Hey, yessss I'd love a copy of the 912 install. Also I want to share my thoughts about 3 bladed vs 2 bladed prop on the catalina. I had the opportunity to try out the same propeller (koolprop/Nrprop scimitar blade shape carbon fibre) in both configurations (2 bladed/70inch and 3 bladed 69inch). On my catalina, the 3 bladed propeller does not allow the wings to be folded...not enough space between the flaperons for the 3rd blade.
    Performance wise I found the inflight numbers to be VERY close/equal. There was a little gain on initial acceleration for take-off for the 3 bladed / 1/2 to 1 second shorter take off run.
    I chose the 2 bladed option because:
    1. less weight
    2. less propeller moment of inertia 
    3. very small performance difference versus 3 bladed
    4. much nicer sound
    5. need to fold my wings for storage
    6. cheaper
    Remember, the catalina with a 100Hp is a lot of power for it's weight (750Lbs) & big wings (36ft). Propeller does not make the big change...HP does...and it only needs 28Hp to stay in flight not loosing any altitude!!!
    Also note that the catalina hits an aerodynamic wall reaching 100Mph no matter how much Hp it's being fed. More Hp equals higher rate of climb and shorter t/off. To give an idea, 4800rpm=86Mph / 5200rpm=92Mph / max power 5700rpm=97Mph flying straight and level
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  3. flywise added a post in a topic Catalina engine replacement   

    Sorry but the manual I have does not show anything about the 912 installation...only the 582. As you are finishing your catalina I would like to emphasize the need to do everything you can to save weight. Especially in the tail area. The 912 installation is heavier and brings your CG further back than with the 582 engine. When I restored my catalina I removed 40Lbs of weight and now I can fly solo without added weight up front, also mind blowing performance on water. My Catalina weighs 750 empty and has electric gear (450Lbs useful load). It used to be 798 Lbs
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  4. flywise added a post in a topic Catalina engine replacement   

    Just back from the garage measuring ..So prop shaft centerline to fuselage is 37 inch and my propeller is 70 inch not 69 as stated earlier.
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  5. flywise added a post in a topic Catalina engine replacement   

    Hey jbmaridon
    I have a 69in 2 bladed propeller. Note that you will have to include about 1 1/2 in clearance between the tip of the prop and the fuselage. From what I know there are only 2 engine mounts provided by avid ... one for the 2 stroke (the 582) and one for the 4 stroke 912. I have never heard of a modified / different 912 engine mount. Your engine should fit between the top 4 mounts and the lower single mount. Today I will measure the distance between the prop shaft centerline to fuselage to confirm.
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  6. flywise added a post in a topic Spars   

    I have the thicker spar on the catalina and it has to have the stiffener for sure....remember this avid has the biggest wingspan of all...36ft
     
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  7. flywise added a post in a topic hi there   

    Welcome...I have a 912 powered cartalina. 69inch Koolprop/Nr prop 2 bladed sabre.  Happy to help you ....I am 1Hr from Vancouver/canada.
    here some pictures for you 
    https://1drv.ms/f/s!AvMw5i-09AkLmURmKBSU8uAlC3IR
    https://1drv.ms/f/s!AvMw5i-09AkLrBtSxvtsC_MQNeYT
    https://1drv.ms/f/s!AvMw5i-09AkLmyLHNPdIaLSnwTWe
    https://1drv.ms/f/s!AvMw5i-09AkLmyLHNPdIaLSnwTWe
     
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  8. flywise added a post in a topic Old UL with Silver Box Ignition   

    Hey, I had a similar learning curve/hardship making my 912 smooth. I solved it doing the same kind of actions you did except one simple one obvious you might have overlooked.
    The ignition cables...mine looked great/like new. My engine would idle fine but at higher rpm there was one or two wires grounding somewhere..
    I went ahead and replaced all the wires (solid core no fancy carbon etc.) and voila my engine run perfect. None of the removed wires had any chafing or visible damage...
    Also note that before replacing wires I had trimmed the ends going into the spark plug caps and coils...no help
    My 2 cents
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  9. flywise added a post in a topic 100hp Cylinders on a 912 UL   

    My engine is a 1994 model and I have done everything to it...Sb and SL. Now at last I am happy with the way it runs
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  10. flywise added a post in a topic 100hp Cylinders on a 912 UL   

    What about your idle speed??? What about starting and shutting down the engine??
    In the usual operation RPMs the crossover does not do much..  where it shines is smoother /much lower idle speed, softer starting and shut downs 
    If your engine was running a bit rough before the crossover, it will run the same after the crossover mod...the rough running I found can come from 3 main sources and I found myself searching for 3 months...:
    1. air intake rubbers leaking/cracked/porous
    2.carb issues....took me two rebuilds to get it right (slider spring length difference/choke valve seal leak/float hight adj./float chamber overflow tube badly positionned in airflow etc..)
    3. ignition issues: Pick ups not at the right distance to targets/coil malfunction/coil bad grounding wire connector corrosion/bad ignition wire or chafed wire/spark plug caps/ spark plug electrode gap/ignition module power supply wire intermittent
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  11. flywise added a post in a topic 100hp Cylinders on a 912 UL   

    It will not make any difference if you retain the small size elbows as they restrict the air from flowing 
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  12. flywise added a post in a topic 100hp Cylinders on a 912 UL   

    Hey Chris, I did the mod 2 years ago....my memory is not that good. What I do remember is that before the crossover I always had the rear cylinders overly rich and black and the front cylinders were on the too lean side...that was mostly solved with the crossover. My understanding is that the intakes don't have the same length from carb to front/rear cylinders making it very difficult to even out mixture, especially at lower rpms.
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  13. flywise added a post in a topic 100hp Cylinders on a 912 UL   



  14. flywise added a post in a topic 100hp Cylinders on a 912 UL   

    Hello, I had to get the pictures for you guys..I did my modification the DIY way. As I didn't have a welder welding aluminum I found a pipe, cut out the hole in the intake so that the pipe fits super snug and then used JB weld at the same time pressing the tube into place. Super strong and has held up 2 years now. 
    My 2 dollar crossover mod

     



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  15. flywise added a post in a topic 100hp Cylinders on a 912 UL   

    I have the same setup...ul modified into uls including a high performance camshaft. I did install the balancemaster and it's great. another thing which made a world of difference is the modification of the crossover tube...I have increased it's size to 1in diameter and the engine can idle smooth at 1200rpm, shuts down nice without sudden jolt and the bonus is that it can run on one carb (if one of my cables were to break..). Also the cylinders seem to have a more even mixture when running at lower rpm. Before I alway had the front cylinders running too rich..
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  16. flywise added a post in a topic hi there   

    I would redo the weight and balance for sure, certainly don't assume anything. If any doubts redo it....how long ago was it done by the way ??
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  17. flywise added a post in a topic Newcomers with an Avid Amphibian project   

    Hey Laurent, the fibreglass wrapped over the tube used to be for fixing the tube to the bottom of the hull. Over time this can be a problem causing corrosion. I guess this is under the rear seat?
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  18. flywise added a post in a topic Newcomers with an Avid Amphibian project   

    Hey Chris, do you have pictures of the damaged tructure. I am just wondering what a hard landing does to the bottom of the hull
    Thanks, Laurent
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  19. flywise added a post in a topic Newcomers with an Avid Amphibian project   

    Hey welcome to this group. Five years ago I bought and restored to flying condition the red avid catalina (rotax 912 power) and this group helped me a great deal
    If you need anything don't hesitate to get help here. 
    .....my name is also laurent hahahah
    https://1drv.ms/f/s!AvMw5i-09AkLmURmKBSU8uAlC3IR
     
     
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  20. flywise added a post in a topic Kitfox crash on utube   

    Hey Jim, I believe this one is from 2016....he retracted flaps and kept too much AOA it seems.
    http://www.kathrynsreport.com/2016/10/accident-occurred-october-01-2016-at.html
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  21. flywise added a post in a topic MK4 Engine swap   

    Hey Norm, I was wondering if you still have the "pusher" configuration exhaust? If yes I might be interrested. Can you post a picture?
    Thanks
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  22. flywise added a post in a topic Luga NR prop selection   

    I have the same prop / 2 bladed scimittar shape on my rotax 100Hp...works great
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  23. flywise added a post in a topic Avid Stretch (Mini Plus)   

    Hey Jim,
    from what I know, the Avid Amphibian (straight rudder trailing edge) had a single jury strut per wing /side. The Catalina wing (round trailing edge rudder+other mods) has two jury struts per wing/side (the outboard one is quite short & close to the strut attach fitting- wing side). All this came about because tests showed that for the long wingspan of the Catalina to have only one jury strut made the wing too flexible and sucessible to flutter. The Avid amphibian with only one jury strut per side had a shorter wingspan because of their drooping into the water wingtips. The Catalina has one more rib and a normal wingtip, separate floats are attached further inboard where the strut mounts to the wing.
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  24. flywise added a post in a topic Avid Stretch (Mini Plus)   

    Hey Jim, indeed the Catalina wings have two sets of jury struts each side......I am the one who bought the catalina wings as I thought it be a good idea to have a spare If I where to ding my wings into a dock...
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  25. flywise added a post in a topic Cat for sale   

    Any instruments? Is the Canopy included? Price?? Why is the electric gear forward retracting?? Is there any fabric to cover fuse and wings?
    Thanks 
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