---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 03/17/10: 31 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 02:45 AM - Re: Rust Dust (Richard Girard) 2. 02:56 AM - Re: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime (Eugene Zimmerman) 3. 03:51 AM - Re: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime (Richard Girard) 4. 04:57 AM - Re: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime (Dana Hague) 5. 05:07 AM - Re: Mk111XtraVW (Rick Lewis) 6. 05:18 AM - Re: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime (Jack B. Hart) 7. 05:49 AM - Re: Rust Dust (Jack B. Hart) 8. 05:49 AM - Wachula Fl. ( KCHN) Kolb guys Fly-in (zeprep251@aol.com) 9. 07:12 AM - Re: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime (Herb) 10. 07:38 AM - Re: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime (Vic) 11. 07:43 AM - Fuel system (william sullivan) 12. 07:45 AM - Re: Rust Dust (Richard Pike) 13. 08:07 AM - Annual Condition Inspection (Watkinsdw) 14. 08:23 AM - Re: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime (Jack B. Hart) 15. 08:29 AM - Re: Kolb-List Digest: 13 Msgs - 03/16/10 (Bob Green) 16. 09:25 AM - Re: Annual Condition Inspection (Richard Girard) 17. 10:40 AM - Re: Annual Condition Inspection (robert bean) 18. 11:09 AM - Re: Annual Condition Inspection (russ kinne) 19. 11:18 AM - Re: Annual Condition Inspection (Ralph B) 20. 02:35 PM - Re: Mk111XtraVW (cspoke) 21. 03:25 PM - FireFly & MZ 34 - First Flight (Jack B. Hart) 22. 03:48 PM - Re: FireFly & MZ 34 - First Flight (robert bean) 23. 03:59 PM - Re: Fuel system (Ellery Batchelder Jr) 24. 04:24 PM - Re: for long distance Kolbers.... with money (russ kinne) 25. 04:50 PM - Re: FireFly & MZ 34 - First Flight (Jack B. Hart) 26. 05:12 PM - Re: Re: Annual Condition Inspection (Eugene Zimmerman) 27. 08:01 PM - goof (russ kinne) 28. 08:23 PM - Re: Fuel system (Dana Hague) 29. 09:00 PM - Re: Fuel system (Richard & Martha Neilsen) 30. 09:44 PM - Re: Fuel system (william sullivan) 31. 09:54 PM - VG's............... (Nick Cassara) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 02:45:56 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Rust Dust From: Richard Girard Richard, I don't know how reactive iron oxide is with aluminum, but iron by itself, if sealed against the aluminum will cause the aluminum to corrode. How about a bottle brush with a piece of cord attached so it can be drawn through the tube for a little mechanical scrubbing action, too? With a little dish washing soap to help dislodge and float the dust away and the tube should be fine. Call me over cautious, just not late for dinner (rim shot, please). :-} Rick Girard On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 8:53 PM, Richard Pike wrote: > > Got a question for you metallurgically-knowledgeable types out there: on > the donor aileron I am using to rebuild the FSII wing, did not like the > looks of the metal fittings at either end, so pulled them off, and sure > enough they were rusty inside the aluminum aileron tube. Cleaned them off, > and they are currently drying under a coat of rustkiller/sealer, but here's > the question: as far down as I can see with the flashlight the inside of the > aileron tube has a lot of "rust dust" in it, left over from what came out of > the inside of the aileron bellcrank at one end, and the counter balance at > the other end. I am inclined to just take a hose, swab it out it out good, > rinse it, let it dry and forget it. > But since I have never encountered this before, haven't read of anybody > else dealing with it either, (and at my age, any learning opportunity is > something good) - so any opinions (good, bad or otherwise) out there of what > might be a better idea? > > Richard Pike > MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290539#290539 > > ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 02:56:53 AM PST US From: Eugene Zimmerman Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime I've tried numerous plunger type primers with mixed results but ultimately they all eventually leaked or stuck. I finally settled on the button type primer which simply works with no leaks and weighs almost nothing and lasts longer for me than any plunger type that I have tried. Here is a link for the button type I use. http://www.jackofmosttrades.com/Rotax_Parts/Primer_Plunger_Button/primer_plunger_button.html Gene Z On Mar 16, 2010, at 7:59 PM, Dana Hague wrote: > At 11:08 AM 3/16/2010, Jack B. Hart wrote: >> > >> >> Put up a couple of pages that might be of interest. The first >> shows a >> method of how to safety a fuel squeeze bulb while saving some >> weight and at >> the same time simplifying the fuel system. >> >> It can be seen at: >> >> http://jackbhart.com/firefly/firefly157.html > > Problem is, it doesn't prevent a leaky bulb or stuck check valve... > the latter nearly cost me my plane on my first flight in it. > > In the end I ditched the bulb and installed a plunger primer. > > -Dana > > > -- > If God took acid, would He see people? > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 03:51:33 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime From: Richard Girard Jack, all, I probably missed this as your work is always very thorough, but how do you pressurize a vented tank? Rick Girard On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 9:10 PM, Eugene Zimmerman wrote: > I've tried numerous plunger type primers with mixed results but ultimately > they all eventually leaked or stuck. > I finally settled on the button type primer which simply works with no > leaks and weighs almost nothing and lasts longer for me than any plunger > type that I have tried. > Here is a link for the button type I use. > > > http://www.jackofmosttrades.com/Rotax_Parts/Primer_Plunger_Button/primer_plunger_button.html > > Gene Z > > > On Mar 16, 2010, at 7:59 PM, Dana Hague wrote: > > At 11:08 AM 3/16/2010, Jack B. Hart wrote: > > > Put up a couple of pages that might be of interest. The first shows a > method of how to safety a fuel squeeze bulb while saving some weight and at > > the same time simplifying the fuel system. > > It can be seen at: > > http://jackbhart.com/firefly/firefly157.html > > > Problem is, it doesn't prevent a leaky bulb or stuck check valve... the > latter nearly cost me my plane on my first flight in it. > > In the end I ditched the bulb and installed a plunger primer. > > -Dana > > > -- > If God took acid, would He see people? > > * > > href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List > href="http://forums.matronics.com">http://forums.matronics.com > href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http://www.matronics.com/contribution > * > > > * > > > * > > ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 04:57:14 AM PST US From: Dana Hague Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime That's the one I was talking about. Works great, and if you tee it off the fuel line near the carburetor, it will draw fuel up from the tank and fill an empty fuel line. -Dana At 10:10 PM 3/16/2010, Eugene Zimmerman wrote: >I've tried numerous plunger type primers with mixed results but ultimately >they all eventually leaked or stuck. >I finally settled on the button type primer... >http://www.jackofmosttrades.com/Rotax_Parts/Primer_Plunger_Button/primer_plunger_button.html > >On Mar 16, 2010, at 7:59 PM, Dana Hague wrote: > >> >>In the end I ditched the bulb and installed a plunger primer. -- 1. Programmers are expensive. 2. Press releases are cheap. 3. Therefore, it's cheaper to explain the bug than to fix it. ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 05:07:34 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Mk111XtraVW From: "Rick Lewis" I'm glad to here that Kolb is finally building the VW version. I knew they were going to do it after they sold there Yellow bird. I'm still quite a ways off from flying mine. I haven't even covered the wings yet, I'm planning on doing that this summer. I have been working on solar panels in between the plane. The Kolb is all wired and all the cooling issues are taken care of, I think. Being water cooled made things harder to deal with but I sure will have great cabin heat. I also had to make my instrument panel much larger as the supplied pod just wouldn't hack it. It all takes time but it will finally get done. I hope we have the Home Coming to go to this year as I won't be able to go to Sun-N-Fun. Rick Lewis -------- Rick Lewis (VW Watercooled Engine) Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290585#290585 ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 05:18:23 AM PST US From: "Jack B. Hart" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime From: Richard Girard > Jack, all, I probably missed this as your work is always very thorough, but how do you pressurize a vented tank? > Rick, Once the bicycle pump is removed, the tire valve stem installed in the tank acts as the vent. Any previous vent must be plugged. Jack B. Hart FF004 Winchester, IN ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 05:49:47 AM PST US From: "Jack B. Hart" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Rust Dust Richard, Dust rust is the most stable form of iron as iron oxide. Since it is resting against the most stable form of aluminum as aluminum oxide, I would not worry about it. If there is tons of the stuff, I would try and blow a string through the tube and tie a round spiral brush on one end and pull it through and see if I could loosen it up and then blow it out, but otherwise forget it. Jack B. Hart FF004 Winchester, IN At 06:53 PM 3/16/10 -0700, you wrote: > >Got a question ............... > ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 05:49:48 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Wachula Fl. ( KCHN) Kolb guys Fly-in From: zeprep251@aol.com All Mid-Florida Kolb Pilots, Just spoke to J.Mylett @ KCHN,and the Sat 3/20 plane wash and cookout is a go. Also fuel specials in effect.Hope to see you all at Wachula,10A.M.- 4 P.M. G.Aman MK-3C Jabiru ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 07:12:47 AM PST US From: Herb Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime My Version has a squeeze bulb plumbed into the top tank using a schrader valve with the internals taken out....to fill the float bowl, I just place my finger over the vent hole and squeeze the bulb... Easy to do on a full tank but a bit tedious on a partially full tank... Simple enough... Jack has me thinking about taking along a tool kit, bicycle pump , tie downs etc..for those times when I venture off the beaten path...Herb At 07:13 AM 3/17/2010, you wrote: > >Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:28:55 -0500 >From: Richard Girard > > >Jack, all, I probably missed this as your work is always very thorough, but >how do you pressurize a vented tank? > > > >Rick, > >Once the bicycle pump is removed, the tire valve stem installed in the tank >acts as the vent. Any previous vent must be plugged. > >Jack B. Hart FF004 >Winchester, IN > > ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 07:38:02 AM PST US From: "Vic" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime My plunger primer ($20) worked great for a while then leaked after just a few hrs. I deconstructed it and was amazed at what a piece of crap it was. Imo your just playing with fire, pun intended. Use of a used certified one would be much safer. I'm going back to a fuel pump. Vic Xtra 912ul ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 07:43:56 AM PST US From: william sullivan Subject: Kolb-List: Fuel system - I need some advice on completing the fuel system on an original Firesta r.- The gas tank is located above the BRS, and is a bottom draw.- I cur rently have only a squeeze bulb.- When I emptied it last year, there was some water in the bottom of the tank.- I bought a Great Plains gascolator and a Rotax primer.- There are no mounting holes or brackets with the ga scolator, so I need some ideas on where and how to mount it.- Also, I nee d some ideas on where to mount the primer valve. - Ellery has recommended doing without the squeeze bulb, and only using t he primer.- If it works for him with his weather, it should work for me. - Ideas, anyone? - ------------------------- ---------------------- Bill-S ullivan ------------------------- ---------------------- Windsor Locks, Ct. ------------------------- ---------------------- FS 447 ------------------------- ---------------------- 45 degre es and climbing, clear, no wind ----- ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 07:45:47 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Rust Dust From: "Richard Pike" Baby bottle brush, dish soap and a cord. I like it. Off to the Dollar Store for a brush! Thanks guys. Richard Pike MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290610#290610 ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 08:07:53 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Annual Condition Inspection From: "Watkinsdw" Hi, Gang, We're about to conduct our Annual, and could use a little help. We've found an A&P, (since we're not the original builders,) and he has extensive experience w/ building experimentals, but not Kolbs. We want to make sure he hits all the hot spots and gives the airplane a thorough checkup. Does anyone have a checklist that you use for the Annual that you are willing to share? Ours is a MK 3 Classic, finished in 2001. We've got a 912ULS and the plane and engine are right at 600 hours. Steven Green updated the gearbox, having Lockwood add the clutch at about 250 hours. We're burning predominently auto gas, w/ occasional 100LL. Any help on-list or off-list would be greatly appreciated. Dave Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290615#290615 ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 08:23:07 AM PST US From: "Jack B. Hart" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Squeeze Bulb Safety & Positive Pressure Prime From: "Larry Cottrell" > Very interesting Jack, However I have a much more effective way to reduce the weight of my airplane, so far I have cut 20 pounds off my Firestar's flying weight, and if my resolve holds out I may loose another 10 pounds off it. Saves on food money too. > Larry, I applaud your efforts to keep the G-loading of your aircraft to the minimum, and to keep the pilot trim and fit. Jack B. Hart FF004 Winchester, IN do not archive ________________________________ Message 15 ____________________________________ Time: 08:29:24 AM PST US From: Bob Green Subject: Kolb-List: RE: Kolb-List Digest: 13 Msgs - 03/16/10 Travis/All: I am making some progress on my MKIIIX that will be powered by a great Plains VW engine. Wings, control surfaces and stabilizers all covered and ready for Poli-spray. Fuselage welded for the VW and making progress on the installations that precede fabric. This has been a great experience. I especially appreciate all the positive input from the Kolb builders and owners and the list, Travis, Donnie, Dennis, Brian, etc. Thanks for all the help. ________________________________ Message 16 ____________________________________ Time: 09:25:33 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Annual Condition Inspection From: Richard Girard Dave, FAR 43 Appendix D has every item he should cover on the plane. ROAN will have all the latest Service Bulletins and Instructions specific to the engine. While you're airplane is experimental and the TBO requirements do not apply as they would for an S-LSA, you should check to see if your engine is in the serial number range to qualify. Nice thing to have in the logbook, if nothing else. Is he a Rotax mechanic, too? If not, I would be very wary of letting him touch the engine. Check ROAN, but I don't think he can sign off for the TBO increase if he isn't. Rick Girard On Wed, Mar 17, 2010 at 9:06 AM, Watkinsdw wrote: > > Hi, Gang, > > We're about to conduct our Annual, and could use a little help. We've found > an A&P, (since we're not the original builders,) and he has extensive > experience w/ building experimentals, but not Kolbs. > > We want to make sure he hits all the hot spots and gives the airplane a > thorough checkup. > > Does anyone have a checklist that you use for the Annual that you are > willing to share? > > Ours is a MK 3 Classic, finished in 2001. We've got a 912ULS and the plane > and engine are right at 600 hours. Steven Green updated the gearbox, having > Lockwood add the clutch at about 250 hours. We're burning predominently auto > gas, w/ occasional 100LL. > > Any help on-list or off-list would be greatly appreciated. > Dave > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290615#290615 > > ________________________________ Message 17 ____________________________________ Time: 10:40:18 AM PST US From: robert bean Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Annual Condition Inspection I echo Rick's advice on the 912 but, sensible or not, any A&P can sign off your condition inspection regardless of what engine it has on it. Get the signature and then inspect it using common sense. BB MkIII, suzuki yet to pencil whip my logs for the year. BTW, I have an even more horrible video I could edit for youtube. Should I? heh heh On 17, Mar 2010, at 12:22 PM, Richard Girard wrote: > Dave, FAR 43 Appendix D has every item he should cover on the plane. ROAN will have all the latest Service Bulletins and Instructions specific to the engine. > While you're airplane is experimental and the TBO requirements do not apply as they would for an S-LSA, you should check to see if your engine is in the serial number range to qualify. Nice thing to have in the logbook, if nothing else. > Is he a Rotax mechanic, too? If not, I would be very wary of letting him touch the engine. Check ROAN, but I don't think he can sign off for the TBO increase if he isn't. > > Rick Girard > > On Wed, Mar 17, 2010 at 9:06 AM, Watkinsdw wrote: > > Hi, Gang, > > We're about to conduct our Annual, and could use a little help. We've found an A&P, (since we're not the original builders,) and he has extensive experience w/ building experimentals, but not Kolbs. > > We want to make sure he hits all the hot spots and gives the airplane a thorough checkup. > > Does anyone have a checklist that you use for the Annual that you are willing to share? > > Ours is a MK 3 Classic, finished in 2001. We've got a 912ULS and the plane and engine are right at 600 hours. Steven Green updated the gearbox, having Lockwood add the clutch at about 250 hours. We're burning predominently auto gas, w/ occasional 100LL. > > Any help on-list or off-list would be greatly appreciated. > Dave > > > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290615#290615 > > > > > > > > ========== > arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List > ========== > http://forums.matronics.com > ========== > le, List Admin. > ="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution > ========== > > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 18 ____________________________________ Time: 11:09:16 AM PST US From: russ kinne Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Annual Condition Inspection Sure, air the video! -- there are some masochists amongst us do not archive On Mar 17, 2010, at 1:37 PM, robert bean wrote: > I echo Rick's advice on the 912 but, sensible or not, any A&P can > sign off your condition inspection regardless of what engine it has > on it. > Get the signature and then inspect it using common sense. > BB > MkIII, suzuki > yet to pencil whip my logs for the year. > > BTW, I have an even more horrible video I could edit for youtube. > Should I? > heh heh > > > On 17, Mar 2010, at 12:22 PM, Richard Girard wrote: > >> Dave, FAR 43 Appendix D has every item he should cover on the >> plane. ROAN will have all the latest Service Bulletins and >> Instructions specific to the engine. >> While you're airplane is experimental and the TBO requirements do >> not apply as they would for an S-LSA, you should check to see if >> your engine is in the serial number range to qualify. Nice thing >> to have in the logbook, if nothing else. >> Is he a Rotax mechanic, too? If not, I would be very wary of >> letting him touch the engine. Check ROAN, but I don't think he can >> sign off for the TBO increase if he isn't. >> >> Rick Girard >> >> On Wed, Mar 17, 2010 at 9:06 AM, Watkinsdw >> wrote: >> >> >> Hi, Gang, >> >> We're about to conduct our Annual, and could use a little help. >> We've found an A&P, (since we're not the original builders,) and >> he has extensive experience w/ building experimentals, but not Kolbs. >> >> We want to make sure he hits all the hot spots and gives the >> airplane a thorough checkup. >> >> Does anyone have a checklist that you use for the Annual that you >> are willing to share? >> >> Ours is a MK 3 Classic, finished in 2001. We've got a 912ULS and >> the plane and engine are right at 600 hours. Steven Green updated >> the gearbox, having Lockwood add the clutch at about 250 hours. >> We're burning predominently auto gas, w/ occasional 100LL. >> >> Any help on-list or off-list would be greatly appreciated. >> Dave >> >> >> >> >> Read this topic online here: >> >> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290615#290615 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ========== >> arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List >> ========== >> http://forums.matronics.com >> ========== >> le, List Admin. >> ="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution >> ========== >> >> >> >> >> >> >> href="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List">http:// >> www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List >> href="http://forums.matronics.com/">http://forums.matronics.com >> href="http://www.matronics.com/contribution">http:// >> www.matronics.com/contribution >> > > ________________________________ Message 19 ____________________________________ Time: 11:18:14 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Annual Condition Inspection From: "Ralph B" Here's the one I use. Ralph -------- Ralph B Original Firestar 447 N91493 E-AB 1000 hours 23 years flying it Kolbra 912UL N20386 2 years flying it 120 hrs Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290649#290649 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/annual_inspection_checklist_159.doc ________________________________ Message 20 ____________________________________ Time: 02:35:31 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Mk111XtraVW From: "cspoke" Im also glad to hear that Kolb will be building a VW powered Xtra next. I was hoping to have some flight time on mine already but not yet. There was some interference with the wings and the engine when folding the wings so I had to address that. Also I was not happy with the original exhaust that I had installed so I changed that. Anyway this weekend is the date to take my plane to the airport and I should have some info to post soon. Rick, your panel looks great. That is also something that I will change on mine at a later time. It's time to stop fiddling and start flying.... -------- Craig Spoke Mark 111 Xtra VW Redrive Lillian, AL cspoke@gulftel.com Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290665#290665 ________________________________ Message 21 ____________________________________ Time: 03:25:22 PM PST US From: "Jack B. Hart" Subject: Kolb-List: FireFly & MZ 34 - First Flight FireFlyer's, First flight for the MZ 34. The good news is that the engine can really push the FireFly right along and even though the engine could not be brought up to maximum rpm, had an acceptable climb rate. No handling problems in that the CG actually moved forward a little in comparison to the 447. Although I ran the engine for about two hours on the ground, the first flight was not trouble free, in that, the engine quit at altitude so I had a quiet flight back to the airport. At first I thought it may be an early magneto failure, but it was not, as I could start the engine after a prime, but it would not continue to run. Tomorrow I will get to revisit the intricacies of the Tillotson carburetor. I will be putting up some photos of the assembled FireFly with the MZ 34. I copied out my thoughts and facts from my flight log. A good Saint Patrick's Day and I hope yours was as well. Jack B. Hart FF004 Winchester, IN March 17, 2010 - Flight 742 - 14 minutes, 12 seconds - 267:39 tt, MZ 00:14 - burned 0.60(0.55) gallons. Overall fuel burn rate was 2.54/(2.32) gph. Maximum engine rpm was 5,500 rpm. EGT was 1,200 and CHT was 400 degrees F. Climb at 45 mphi was 300 to 500 fpm. Flew the runway to be sure I could gain enough altitude for a down wind landing if the engine quit. Then dropped the nose and let the FireFly climb at 50 mphi. Circled the airport and continued to cruise climb until 2,500 feet agl. Hands got cold. Leveled off and the ASI topped out at 55 mphi. Was busy watching EGT, CHT, rpm and ASI. Did notice that the FireFly seems to be quieter and fuselage vibrations seems to be less. The combined Lord and bulk head mounting isolators is working out. I need to take the sound meter with me on the next flight. The left thrust offset worked out well in that the ball remained centered. Still have carburetor issues, in that after initial start up, the engine wanted to run very rich on taxi out. This may be due to too rich a prime for start up. Engine smoothed out just fine with advancing of the throttle for take off. Did well for being grounded six months. Engine ran fine for about 13 minutes and then I started to throttle back for decent. EGT and CHT floated up a little. I need to put a tube on the diaphragm static air vent and bring it inside the fuselage to see if it will help. Then the engine quit. Glided back into the pattern and down the length of the runway and slipped it down so that I only had to push it 100 yards to the hangar. At the hangar I primed the engine and pulled the starter and it fired right up and then died. I may have gotten a bug in the diaphragm static air vent. Also, my radio and gps would not power up. I suspect the connector below the seat needs to be checked. Will check things out tomorrow. At 5,500 rpm the engine at the top of the torque curve and the engine is developing 23 HP. I really don't want to cut the propeller any smaller. Need to call Compact Engines to see if they can provide a higher ratio reduction unit. I need to get the engine up to 6,200 rpm where it can develop 27 HP. This should improve climb rate. Over all a very satisfactory first flight. It was great to get back into the air. It is nice that 23 HP will push a 213.5 pound dry FireFly 55 mphi in level flight, and climb at 300 to 500 fpm. How will it perform when the engine can develop 27 HP? ________________________________ Message 22 ____________________________________ Time: 03:48:13 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: FireFly & MZ 34 - First Flight From: robert bean Jack, did it quit during climb or after pulling the throttle back? BB On 17, Mar 2010, at 7:20 PM, Jack B. Hart wrote: > > FireFlyer's, > > First flight for the MZ 34. The good news is that the engine can really > push the FireFly right along and even though the engine could not be brought > up to maximum rpm, had an acceptable climb rate. No handling problems in > that the CG actually moved forward a little in comparison to the 447. > > Although I ran the engine for about two hours on the ground, the first > flight was not trouble free, in that, the engine quit at altitude so I had a > quiet flight back to the airport. At first I thought it may be an early > magneto failure, but it was not, as I could start the engine after a prime, > but it would not continue to run. Tomorrow I will get to revisit the > intricacies of the Tillotson carburetor. > > I will be putting up some photos of the assembled FireFly with the MZ 34. I > copied out my thoughts and facts from my flight log. A good Saint Patrick's > Day and I hope yours was as well. > > Jack B. Hart FF004 > Winchester, IN > > > > March 17, 2010 - Flight 742 - 14 minutes, 12 seconds - 267:39 tt, MZ 00:14 - > burned 0.60(0.55) gallons. Overall fuel burn rate was 2.54/(2.32) gph. > Maximum engine rpm was 5,500 rpm. EGT was 1,200 and CHT was 400 degrees F. > Climb at 45 mphi was 300 to 500 fpm. Flew the runway to be sure I could > gain enough altitude for a down wind landing if the engine quit. Then > dropped the nose and let the FireFly climb at 50 mphi. Circled the airport > and continued to cruise climb until 2,500 feet agl. Hands got cold. > Leveled off and the ASI topped out at 55 mphi. > > Was busy watching EGT, CHT, rpm and ASI. Did notice that the FireFly seems > to be quieter and fuselage vibrations seems to be less. The combined Lord > and bulk head mounting isolators is working out. I need to take the sound > meter with me on the next flight. The left thrust offset worked out well in > that the ball remained centered. > > Still have carburetor issues, in that after initial start up, the engine > wanted to run very rich on taxi out. This may be due to too rich a prime > for start up. Engine smoothed out just fine with advancing of the throttle > for take off. Did well for being grounded six months. Engine ran fine for > about 13 minutes and then I started to throttle back for decent. EGT and > CHT floated up a little. I need to put a tube on the diaphragm static air > vent and bring it inside the fuselage to see if it will help. Then the > engine quit. Glided back into the pattern and down the length of the runway > and slipped it down so that I only had to push it 100 yards to the hangar. > At the hangar I primed the engine and pulled the starter and it fired right > up and then died. I may have gotten a bug in the diaphragm static air vent. > Also, my radio and gps would not power up. I suspect the connector below > the seat needs to be checked. Will check things out tomorrow. > > At 5,500 rpm the engine at the top of the torque curve and the engine is > developing 23 HP. I really don't want to cut the propeller any smaller. > Need to call Compact Engines to see if they can provide a higher ratio > reduction unit. I need to get the engine up to 6,200 rpm where it can > develop 27 HP. This should improve climb rate. > > Over all a very satisfactory first flight. It was great to get back into > the air. It is nice that 23 HP will push a 213.5 pound dry FireFly 55 mphi > in level flight, and climb at 300 to 500 fpm. How will it perform when the > engine can develop 27 HP? > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 23 ____________________________________ Time: 03:59:24 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Fuel system From: Ellery Batchelder Jr I really dont think it is safe to put any inline squeze bulb in any airpla ne as I have never seen a good quality one, Check valves sticking ,rubber getting hard or cracking or the whole thing falling apart even if you hav e a loop plumed around it when it falls apart you will lose fuel to the carb I like a GA style Fuel primer much better quality and I think it is much safer than the cheap ones you can buy at a snowmobile shop they have there problems also But this is just my opinion on how to keep thing safe for me Ellery Batchelder Jr. -----Original Message----- From: william sullivan Sent: Wed, Mar 17, 2010 10:39 am Subject: Kolb-List: Fuel system I need some advice on completing the fuel system on an original Firestar . The gas tank is located above the BRS, and is a bottom draw. I current ly have only a squeeze bulb. When I emptied it last year, there was some water in the bottom of the tank. I bought a Great Plains gascolator and a Rotax primer. There are no mounting holes or brackets with the gascola tor, so I need some ideas on where and how to mount it. Also, I need some ideas on where to mount the primer valve. Ellery has recommended doing without the squeeze bulb, and only using th e primer. If it works for him with his weather, it should work for me. Ideas, anyone? Bill Sullivan Windsor Locks, Ct. FS 447 45 degrees and climbing, clear, no wind ======================== =========== -= - The Kolb-List Email Forum - -= Use the Matronics List Features Navigator to browse -= the many List utilities such as List Un/Subscription, -= Archive Search & Download, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, -= Photoshare, and much much more: - -= --> http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List - -======================== ======================== =========== -= - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS - -= Same great content also available via the Web Forums! - -= --> http://forums.matronics.com - -======================== ======================== =========== -= - List Contribution Web Site - -= Thank you for your generous support! -= -Matt Dralle, List Admin. -= --> http://www.matronics.com/contribution -======================== ======================== =========== ________________________________ Message 24 ____________________________________ Time: 04:24:17 PM PST US From: russ kinne Subject: Re: Kolb-List: for long distance Kolbers.... with money Pat, Ladd Glad to see you're back! -- from your MOST extensive trip. In re bad puns -- "Sorry"? if we had to apologise for them I'd have no time for anything else. Always wondered about penny-farthing braking, but assumed you'd feel you were nosediving & let up on the pedal. Anyway, good to have you back. Fair winds, Russ PS Wanna help me bring a 37' sailboat from Bermudah to CT? Dint really think so. You're smarter than moi, & I must be as crazy as people say. On Mar 14, 2010, at 2:40 PM, pj.ladd wrote: > > long distance Kolb flyers, if you have lots of extra money "" > > Hi Thom, > thanks for putting that clip on. Very interesting concept but the > `penny farthing` small wheel behind design very smartly gave way to > the `safety bike` design, more or less as we know it now for a very > good reason. When you put the brake on you nosedived into the > ground. I see that the guy has fitted ABS but I doubt if that is > enough to stopthe nosedive. > The design as far as the folding capacity is concerned was very neat. > I ride a folding electric bike and it certainly is useful. I can > stick it in the car when travelling and the power takes the sting > out of the hills to a certain extent. If you don`t turn the pedals > in my model you get no power so you can`t just sit there. You have > to exercise but with the pedals turning the power assist kicks in. > There is a much more upmarket version than mine which folds into a > small and light enough pack to take on a train. > Unless this guy has come up with a breakthrough in battery power I > think he is re inventing the wheel. bad pun. Sorry. > > Thanks > > Pat > > ________________________________ Message 25 ____________________________________ Time: 04:50:12 PM PST US From: "Jack B. Hart" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: FireFly & MZ 34 - First Flight At 06:47 PM 3/17/10 -0400, you wrote: > >Jack, did it quit during climb or after pulling the throttle back? >BB > Bob, I was trying to descend. I was fighting the dilemma of increasing CHT and EGT due to unloading the over propped engine. I had dropped the engine down to about 4,300 rpm and both the CHT and EGT had fallen away from the upper limits. The carburetor may have iced up and it quit. From experience on the ground, if the high speed jet had plugged the engine would have continued to run at a little over 4,000 rpm. So I suspect it may have been ice. With the muffler mounted up overhead, it may be possible that I can add carb heat. Tomorrow, I will check it out some more. Jack B. Hart FF004 Winchester, IN ________________________________ Message 26 ____________________________________ Time: 05:12:07 PM PST US From: Eugene Zimmerman Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: Annual Condition Inspection Ralph, Good list. Don't forget to check all cables, cable thimbles and tangs ? Perhaps you included that and I missed it. On Mar 17, 2010, at 1:15 PM, Ralph B wrote: > > Here's the one I use. > > Ralph > > -------- > Ralph B > Original Firestar 447 > N91493 E-AB > 1000 hours > 23 years flying it > Kolbra 912UL > N20386 > 2 years flying it > 120 hrs > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=290649#290649 > > > Attachments: > > http://forums.matronics.com//files/annual_inspection_checklist_159.doc > > ________________________________ Message 27 ____________________________________ Time: 08:01:48 PM PST US From: russ kinne Subject: Kolb-List: goof My apologies, List, I goofed again. Should have been off-list to Pat. ________________________________ Message 28 ____________________________________ Time: 08:23:39 PM PST US From: Dana Hague Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Fuel system Bill, as I said I'm using just the primer, no bulb. The primer pump is mounted on a bracket behind the seat, so I can reach it in flight, and draws fuel from just before the carburetor so it will fill the line. How's the rebuild going? You must be close if you're working on the fuel system. -Dana At 10:39 AM 3/17/2010, william sullivan wrote: > I need some advice on completing the fuel system on an original > Firestar. The gas tank is located above the BRS, and is a bottom > draw. I currently have only a squeeze bulb. When I emptied it last > year, there was some water in the bottom of the tank. I bought a Great > Plains gascolator and a Rotax primer. There are no mounting holes or > brackets with the gascolator, so I need some ideas on where and how to > mount it. Also, I need some ideas on where to mount the primer valve. > Ellery has recommended doing without the squeeze bulb, and only using > the primer. If it works for him with his weather, it should work for > me. Ideas, anyone? > -- When only cops have guns, it's called a police state. ________________________________ Message 29 ____________________________________ Time: 09:00:04 PM PST US From: "Richard & Martha Neilsen" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Fuel system Bill The Great Plains gascolator is a good one but they don't sell a mount for it. I have seen mounts that will work but don't remember where. Check other aircraft supply houses. I have seen them listed and they look much better than the mount I fabricated. Also be sure to install a drain valve like a Curtis drain valve. Mount the gascolator so the drain valve is assessable out the lower side of the fuselage. This will allow your to sample your fuel before each flight. The plunger primers work well but can leak. Install a shut off valve between the primer and the fuel system. This will eliminate the likely chance that the primer will allow air to enter your fuel system. Rick Neilsen Redrive VW Powered MKIIIC ----- Original Message ----- From: william sullivan To: kolb list Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2010 10:39 AM Subject: Kolb-List: Fuel system I need some advice on completing the fuel system on an original Firestar. The gas tank is located above the BRS, and is a bottom draw. I currently have only a squeeze bulb. When I emptied it last year, there was some water in the bottom of the tank. I bought a Great Plains gascolator and a Rotax primer. There are no mounting holes or brackets with the gascolator, so I need some ideas on where and how to mount it. Also, I need some ideas on where to mount the primer valve. Ellery has recommended doing without the squeeze bulb, and only using the primer. If it works for him with his weather, it should work for me. Ideas, anyone? Bill Sullivan Windsor Locks, Ct. FS 447 45 degrees and climbing, clear, no wind ________________________________ Message 30 ____________________________________ Time: 09:44:17 PM PST US From: william sullivan Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Fuel system - Dana- If I put the nose cone back on and fill it with fuel, it would be flyable in an hour.- Besides the fuel sustem changes, I want to cover th e pod with Stits and put a windshield on it.- Also, take off some weight by switching the struts from steel to aluminum; switch to Firefly landing l egs, and maybe add brakes.- I also acquired a trailer and have started to modify it.- Weather put an end to it for the winter.- Remodeling the h ouse is interfering with recreation. - ------------------------- --------------- Bill Sullivan ------------------------- --------------- Windsor Locks, Ct. ------------------------- --------------- FS 447 ________________________________ Message 31 ____________________________________ Time: 09:54:08 PM PST US From: "Nick Cassara" Subject: Kolb-List: VG's............... Hello Kolb VG users, and enablers, I flew in a brand new Boeing 737 -900 a couple weeks back. I had a seat just behind the wing. The wing had the now standard invert droop tip on the end, But it also had eight VG's spacer out on the wing ahead of the flaps. What do you make of that? All Ears, Nick Cassara Palmer, Alaska ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kolb-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Kolb-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/kolb-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kolb-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.