Twisted Sticks December 2006 Newsletter

 

Well it’s the start of the building season, freezing snowing and cold.  I don’t even think Al Bouda and will be trying to fly for a while! 

 

Recognition

 

I think it being the end of the year is a good time to recognize some of the outstanding contributions some of our members have made to the club.  Here they are in no particular order and in my opinion only.  If you disagree or want to nominate someone else send me an E-Mail.

 

1.  Dale and Barry Kelly for training new members.

2.  Dale for providing a club meeting place.

3.  Tom Mauer, Jerry Johnson lawn mower repairs.

4.  Barry Kelly buying mower parts at a discount.

5.  Les East for lawn mowing.  Jerry and Dale have helped out too.

6.  Les East for organizing and funding our first picnic.

7.  Ken McFarland for being the ultimate airplane authority.

8.  Russ Burkett for the smile every time he fly’s.  Who else would land upside down on a dare?  Plus he pitches in to help train and write meeting minutes while I’m gone.

9.  Jerry Johnson for having more duplicate, new, un-built aircraft than anyone else in the club or in the entire state for that matter! 

 

Time to put em up

 

If you haven’t already it’s a good time to pickle your engines.  My after run oil is a 50 – 50 mixture of Marvel Mystery Oil and ATF fluid.  Use what you want.  Air Tool Oil, 10 weight, sewing machine oil, ATF etc.  Corrosion X or a marine fogging spray in a spray can is good too.  WD40 in my opinion is worthless.

 

I use a squirt bottle I got from Tom Mauer.  For two strokes, open up the carb and remove the glow plug.  Then squirt a bunch of after run oil into the carb throat while turning the prop.  You want a bunch in there not just a couple of drops.  Not so much that you prevent the motor from turning because of hydraulic lock but enough that the oil will coat the bearings.  If you notice the motor is getting hard to turn stop turn it over and drain some of the excess out.  Then put another squirt into glow plug hole.  For a four stroke squirt the oil into the case drain tube with the glow plug removed.  Turn the prop to check for hydraulic lock the same as for two strokes.  Take off the valve cover and soak the lifters and make sure to put some down the push rod tubes to lubricate the cams. 

 

In either case leave the glow plug loose.  Close the throttle.  In the spring before you run the plane, remove the glow plug then turn the prop to make sure the oil hasn’t drained into the crankcase causing hydraulic lock.  Then use a starter to spin the excess oil out of the motor.  It will then start up easily.

 

It’s also a good time to thoroughly inspect the aircraft itself especially for stuff you don’t normally do.  Clean it and inspecting all the seams.  If you have an edge coming apart - use acetone on a Q tip for a degreaser blow it dry and then a drop of CA from a micro tip.  Hold the edge closed using an oiled putty knife that you’ve wiped off.  If you really want an easier clean up next year wax your aircraft with an automobile polish like Turtle Wax.

 

Pay particular attention to your control surfaces.  Pop your clevises apart especially if they are plastic and inspect for wear on the pin.  You should be using a short length of fuel tubing slid on the clevis to keep it closed.  What condition is it in?  Tug on the control surface itself to check for hinge slop.  Are the servo screws tight – don’t crush the rubber grommets completely flat!  If they are loose perhaps remove the servo and put a couple of drops of CA in the hole to harden it.  After the glue has dried reinstall the servo.  Look at the center arm screws are they tight?  If your linkages use stop nuts are they tight?

 

If you use a cowling what shape are the mounting screws in.  If the holes are wallowed out, you can drill out the hole and epoxy in an inner splined section of plastic control rod.  You can use a small slice of fuel tubing to act as a washer to cushion the screw against vibration.  These work good on plastic canopies too.

 

 

Battery packs can be labeled and taken out of the aircraft.  Put them in a baggy and stored them in the refrigerator.  It makes it easier to do a capacity check on them in the spring.  You do check your batteries at the first of the year don’t you?  Check your transmitter packs too.

 

Check everything so that in the excitement of the first flight in the spring you have a good experience.  That first flight while your still blowing the rust off your flying skills is not the time to add more tension.

 

Next meeting

Is at Dale’s house if his health permits or Tom will announce an alternative.  7 PM Thursday December 14^th.