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In other threads there was discussion of top cowl pin retention for the vertically split configuration. This is what I have:




It works and is very positive. But, you can inadvertently close the fuel door without capturing the pin and then it can vibrate forward into the prop.

Paint it white with red stripes. That always works.

Why not adjust the length so it can't move forward and wreck the prop? Even if incorrectly fitted.

My builder made the end at the fuel tank a folded "rectangle" - once fitted you rotate it 180 degrees so it is down beside the fuel cap. It's not going anywhere there.

Bryan Cotton wrote:In other threads there was discussion of top cowl pin retention for the vertically split configuration. This is what I have:

It works and is very positive. But, you can inadvertently close the fuel door without capturing the pin and then it can vibrate forward into the prop.

See if you can use the hole provided in the filler box like this. You may need to cut a hinge loop away. It cant travel forward.

Good ideas guys. I think we won't make the mistake again - but on the next Waiex we build I think we will do a more mistake proof solution like some of the ones suggested.

Was going to fly to Tennessee today to visit my parents. Mom ended up with a bad cold and they waved us off yesterday. Today we flew to the halfway point (KBMG) and back. 4.5 hours of cross country practice for Adam.

I got an email from Lonnie Prince that our prop repairs are done and he is doing the refinishing now. I'll be glad to have our prop back. We are pulling a little over 2900 in climb with the Sensenich and that is 70 HP according to the Aeroconversions graph. We typically climb at 3150 with the Prince and that is about 6 more HP.


First flat tyre today. I think we need to do a better preflight on them. The wheelpants hide the tire but when we pulled off the wheel it was worn through the cords.


I really need to figure out the alignment. 71.5 hours on this tyre.

Switch to 5.00 x 5 tires. Those go-kart tires are junk

GraemeSmith wrote:Switch to 5.00 x 5 tires. Those go-kart tires are junk

I'm considering putting the larger tires on mine to better handle the grass fields I like to visit .

As far as the factory 11X4-5 tires are concerned, I don't see them as junk as I put 200 hours on my first set and there was more life left in them. I replaced them about 100 hours ago with the same tires and these still look like new.

I fly off of pavement and my plane is a Corvair powered taildragger so it's likely a bit heavier than standard. But I will say the the wheel alignment on mine is absolutely spot on. I had a great building mentor that I worked with when building this plane.

In another thread discussing tire life Art reported 457 hours on a set of the "junk" tires. I began that thread in hopes of discovering why some pilots get long life from tires and others can't ... but it didn't get much participation.

viewtopic.php?f=38&t=7084&p=53508&hilit=tire+wear#p53508

Bryan

I upsized my tires to the 5.00 x 5 and have no regrets. Flying without the wheel pants for the past two years. Do not miss them a bit.