Bill's RV Project

The tracking looked perfect to me. Sweet!

I took the gasolator apart, checked the screen – no debris – then put it back together and safety-wired.

I went under the panel to try and fix the brake fluid leak. I was thinking I could turn the plastic nut with a wrench. But the entire assembly was loose! With dismay, I realized I’d have to drain the brake system. But that turned out easier than I thought.

While I was under the panel, I filled up a couple of openings in the firewall with high-temp RTV.

I sanded the canopy trailing edge with 220 and 400 grit sand paper.

I made the Stick Grips secure using duct tape underneath. On the co-pilot’s stick I had to add a little RTV.

Using black duct tape, I marked the left Flap showing 10/20/30/40 degrees.

I installed pop-rivets in a couple of holes in the baggage compartment.

And that was it. Everything is crossed out on the "things to do list". I'm calling the plane done. Next event will be the DAR inspection.

March 29, 2009 - Last Things
Got another early start and was at the airport by 9:30. Very foggy this morning. When driving over the Key Bridge, I l iterally could not tell I was on a bridge. I couldn’t see the suspension overhead or the water underneath. Few people were at the airport today so I had an extremely productive day. Today was the day when I “finished” the airplane. I started by draining the oil. The oil quick-release worked great. Next I pulled the bottom plugs so I could check the propeller tracking. With no bottom plugs, no compression. Easier to turn the prop and impossible for the engine to start.

The tracking looked perfect to me. Sweet!

For those of you have installing the baffles and wondering what those holes in each rear side are for, here you go. I'm using my new 3/8 extender to get to a socket on the top, aft plugs so I could check their gaps.

I took the gasolator apart, checked the screen – no debris – then put it back together and safety-wired.

I drained about 5 quarts of oil out of the engine. Then I put it back one quarter at a time, marking the dipstick with the vibrating pen as I did so. I added a total of 8 quarts of oil.

I sanded the epoxy/flox filled NACA vent holes, then filled with Rage Gold. Later I sanded. They still need work. What a mistake trying to pop-rivet those!

I secured the two blast tubes so they aim at the alternator and magneto respectfully.

I went under the panel to try and fix the brake fluid leak. I was thinking I could turn the plastic nut with a wrench. But the entire assembly was loose! With dismay, I realized I’d have to drain the brake system. But that turned out easier than I thought.

I drained each brake. Then I removed the two lines from the firewall assembly. I turned the assembly 720 degrees – it's much tighter now. I re-attached the two lines, then recharged the system. We shall see if I plugged the leaks, but I am optimistic.

While I was under the panel, I filled up a couple of openings in the firewall with high-temp RTV. I sanded the canopy trailing edge with 220 and 400 grit sand paper. I made the Stick Grips secure using duct tape underneath. On the co-pilot’s stick I had to add a little RTV. Using black duct tape, I marked the left Flap showing 10/20/30/40 degrees. I installed pop-rivets in a couple of holes in the baggage compartment. And that was it. Everything is crossed out on the "things to do list". I'm calling the plane done. Next event will be the DAR inspection.

Today was a strange day weather-wise. The morning's heavy fog burned off around noon, and then the sun came out. But in the afternoon, it started raining pretty hard while the sun was still out. Check out the raindrops in the following pictures.




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March 29, 2009 - Last Things