The Taylor monoplane saga - propeller hub build & other things

[phaxtris]

If you use a heat muff it's a good idea to use some sort of Co2 detection system in the plane. Those things are known to leak. They require regular inspections for failure.

yes i have one of those c02 cards on the dash that i replace at annual

So what about a leakdown test put a valve at either end and pressurize with a schrader valve if it holds pressure it’s good.

oh no it wont hold pressure, it doesn't need to, the only job the box has to do is divert a good portion of hot air from the heat muff into the carburetor when selected, carb heat air is unfiltered, and many planes do not even run a filter, so if some unfiltered air gets sucked in past the flapper im not really to concerned

And installed, works as expected, and doesnt crush the filter between the engine case and cowling, unfortunately my dog decided to take a couple chunks out of the aircleaner, at least its just foam and there is still loats of foam left



put an hour of hobbs time on it, with half the oil cooler blocked i still only see 140, i will have to partially block the eyebrows next

 

[phaxtris]

With the eyebrow inlets reduced down to a 1x3" oval im up to 158f and cht's in a much better range, next up block off the lower cowl inlet, could be the air rushing in over the case cooling fins is also to much

Scrounged through my pile of old project parts and scraps, ended up with enough to add a winch to pull the plane in, make some little hinged flaps that kind of ramp the plane in, i added a 3rd hinged flap later for the tail wheel (i did have to buy the hinges). Added some 12v lights over top the work bench area so that i dont need to pull the generator out to fire up the main lights when im just out there puttering around. I knew there was a reason i keep some of this crap around for years and years.





Took a little flight over to a neighboring airfield (i actually drive past it to get to my hangar) to check out a buddies new purchase, he took a video of the departure for me.

and the strathmore kart track

 

[phaxtris]

Getting a little more bland looking out these days, still working on getting the oil temps up, i have a few bits to build this week in an attempt to help raise those temperatures

but for now, a quick rip around the pattern, ive had to re-adjust the carburetor (leaner) for the more ideal CHT's, it was running terribly rich after baffling the cylinder cooling air intakes

 

[LenVW]

Getting a little more bland looking out these days, still working on getting the oil temps up, i have a few bits to build this week in an attempt to help raise those temperatures

but for now, a quick rip around the pattern, ive had to re-adjust the carburetor (leaner) for the more ideal CHT's, it was running terribly rich after baffling the cylinder cooling air intakes

Luckily you don’t have to deal with . . . corn stalks !!
The runway could use some grass to cushion the landings.

 

[phaxtris]

Luckily you don’t have to deal with . . . corn stalks !!
The runway could use some grass to cushion the landings.

Well it is November now, lucky its not covered in snow ! But in all fairness, it is by far one of the best kept grass runways around here, the tiny tires and hard suspension of the little T-mono just make it seem rougher than it is

 

[DPittman]

Getting a little more bland looking out these days, still working on getting the oil temps up, i have a few bits to build this week in an attempt to help raise those temperatures

but for now, a quick rip around the pattern, ive had to re-adjust the carburetor (leaner) for the more ideal CHT's, it was running terribly rich after baffling the cylinder cooling air intakes

Nice! Its hard to tell from the video but I am guessing your strip is nice grass and it is brown and just LOOKS like mud. Maybe thats partly what you mean by "more bland looking". It also looks a bit rough maybe?

I was out Saturday and my strip is mowed and rolled alfalfa. Not the smoothest but not too bad either. It was however muddier than I expected. Mud was flinging up from my tires and the tailwheel got totally packed with the worst heavy clay gumbo you can imagine. The stuff dries hard like concrete. Part of my days activities today will be cleaning up that mess.

 

[phaxtris]

It is nice grass, being November its starting to firm up and with the tiny little tires and minimal suspension, everything seems rough. Ive been told by several more experienced pilots that it is actually a very good strip, very flat and very smooth (for grass), but again, tiny little tires, they are a 5x something, maybe 8 or 10" tall

Thats to bad about the mud ! Ive had a few of those, let it dry up and brush it off later has worked for me, your tailwheel sounds like its going to be a job and a half

 

[DPittman]

Thats to bad about the mud ! Ive had a few of those, let it dry up and brush it off later has worked for me, your tailwheel sounds like its going to be a job and a half

Ya it was miserable but fortunately we had 12 degree weather so I got the garden hose out and picked away at it. I was concerned about getting water somewhere in aluminum tubing where it would freeze and damage things but I dont think that be a problem. The plane shed softball size lumps on the strip which I picked up cuz they would be like rocks when dried or frozen.
Can you air down your tires any to smooth out the ride? I am running 6 psi in my main tires and really made it smoother. I have heard of guys running only 4 psi in same tires which I think I might eventually try.

 

[phaxtris]

Ya it was miserable but fortunately we had 12 degree weather so I got the garden hose out and picked away at it. I was concerned about getting water somewhere in aluminum tubing where it would freeze and damage things but I dont think that be a problem. The plane shed softball size lumps on the strip which I picked up cuz they would be like rocks when dried or frozen.
Can you air down your tires any to smooth out the ride? I am running 6 psi in my main tires and really made it smoother. I have heard of guys running only 4 psi in same tires which I think I might eventually try.

the first time i covered the plane in mud i went to wash it off and one of the guys stopped me, told me to just let it dry and brush it off in a day or two, sure enough where i didnt try to wipe it brushed off easy peasy, where i tried to wipe it, big mess

I could air them down, they are around the 25psi mark atm, Im not sure how low i should go, i suppose i could air them down and judge by the tire bulge, in any case they have a tube, so as long as i dont shear the valve stem with the awesome power of the cable actuated drum brakes i should have no problems. ill add that to the list on my next outing

 

[DavidR8]

... the awesome power of the cable actuated drum brakes...

With ABS no doubt😀

 

[YotaBota]

Bigger tires equal smoother ride.

 

[phaxtris]

i know, but im on a small tire, 65hp budget 😕

 

[DPittman]

You

i know, but im on a small tire, 65hp budget 😕

You've got 5 more horses than I do! 😛
Make a line on your tire to rim to monitor if the tire slips any on the rim. Lower in increments. Typically a smaller tire does not carry a large load as well as a bigger tire and therefore will likely be less tolerant of pressure decreases. And I believe pavement does not play well with real low pressure either, but I am new to all this, so take anything you hear from me with a grain of salt. Except for what I have to say about my mud...

My mud doesn't brush off when dry. It chips or breaks off, just like concrete.