---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 12/29/17: 16 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 12:06 AM - Re: Re: My Firestar Project Update (Bill Berle) 2. 12:48 AM - Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver (JC Gilpin) 3. 04:14 AM - Re: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver (Lanny Lambdin) 4. 04:58 AM - Re: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver (George Helton) 5. 05:42 AM - Re: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver (John Hauck) 6. 07:01 AM - Re: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver (B Young) 7. 09:14 AM - Re: My Firestar Project Update (Denny Baber) 8. 09:41 AM - Re: My Firestar Project Update (Bill Berle) 9. 09:48 AM - Re: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver (Bill Berle) 10. 03:31 PM - best props (japowell) 11. 04:40 PM - Re: best props (japowell) 12. 05:23 PM - Re: Re: best props (Bill Berle) 13. 05:44 PM - Re: best props (George Helton) 14. 09:07 PM - Re: Re: best props (John Hauck) 15. 10:56 PM - Re: best props (Gerry in Va.) 16. 11:28 PM - Gap Seal...? (Nick Cassara) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 12:06:26 AM PST US From: Bill Berle Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: My Firestar Project Update Richard thank you for your observation and compliments. My work is nowhere near the quality and finish of champion trophy airplane builders. 90% of what I am doing is not for "show quality", but simply to remove as many failure points and potential rubbing, chafing, scratching and abrasion between parts. I spent a lot of time putting pieces of split rubber tubing over the steel frame tubes where I want to attach something with a Ty-Rap (zip-tie), so nothing would start eating into the steel tubes. Hours were spent on this kind of stuff while I was building the fuel system. I used HDPE plastic tube everywhere I could run the lines fairly straight, and used the blue urethane tube only where it needed to make bends or flex a little. Lots of "EAA homebuilder standoff" assemblies in the engine area. These are short lengths of tube with a zip-tie through the tube and around something on either end,which basically prevents lines, wires, tubes, etc. from "whipping" and waearing out prematurely. No rocket science whatsoever, but it makes everything last longer. The direct answer to your suggestion about joining the exhaust pipes behind the main keel tube is that the HKS engine importer told me that the length of the tubes should be 22-24 inches before they join together. That distance, while not "critical" by any means, gives you the best "tuning" of the exhaust pulses helping pull the exhaust gas out of the cylinders. I used this as a starting point, knowing full well that to get the last percentage pof power form the engineyou'd have to do a bunhc of testing and dyno work like race engine builders do. I have no need for that, but I figured if the engine mfg. can give me a basic deimension then I can at least roll the dice on that. BTW today I finished most of the fuel system. I madeup webbing strap and buckle assemblies to tie the fuel jugs down to the fuselage tube. I had glued a rubber strip on the top of the fuselage tube in the fuel tank bay, so the furl jug and aluminum tube would not start working on each other due to normal vibrations. Then, after scratching my head for a while and thinking about what could possibly wear, chafe, rub, or grind... I realized that the nylon webbin strap was directly rubbing on the bottom of the fuselage tube, and eventually might wear through something. So I took it apart and ran the webbing through two short pieces of foam rubber tubing, and reinstalled everything with the foam rubber tubing on the bottom, putting a layer of foam between the webbing and the bottom of the fuselage tube. So now the webbing can't rub through the paing on the fuselage tube, and the fuselage tube can't wear away any of the nylon webbing. THEN, after more insane asylum paranoia, I realized that the plastic buckles that I put on the webbing wereplenty strong enough for any negative G loads on the fuel jugs... but the buckles were too easy to un-lock if someone brushed against them at the wrong angle. So after more head scratching, I figured out a way to use small zip ties as locking devices, preventing anyone from accidentally (or intentionally) squeezing the buckles to un-lock the fuel tank retaining straps. I know that this is paranoid "certified airplane overkill" thinking, but I come from the certified airplane world as much as I come from the experimental world. So I take a LOT longer to be convinced somehting is safe. Bill Berle www.ezflaphandle.com - safety & performance upgrade for light aircraft www.grantstar.net - winning proposals for non-profit and for-profit entities -------------------------------------------- On Thu, 12/28/17, Richard Pike wrote: Subject: Kolb-List: Re: My Firestar Project Update To: kolb-list@matronics.com Date: Thursday, December 28, 2017, 8:58 PM Pike" I hate to sound critical because I always have to redo all my stuff 3 times before I can get it to work right, so that says a lot for my eyeball engineering... (Starting the redo on the gap seal for the forth time tomorrow) And meanwhile all your work in those pictures is way ahead of anything I can do in terms of quality control. So I feel like a shade tree mechanic telling a pro how to do his stuff. But - just looking at your pictures, if it was me, I would have your two exhaust pipes come together right behind the rear main fuselage tube, because that is almost exactly aligned with the center of pivot of the engine on its motor mounts. Yours extend down way beyond that. If it were me, I would terminate them there with a Y into a ball joint. By doing that, all the radial movement of the engine would sort of focus at that point. So if you had your ball joint there, with just one pipe going down to the rest of the exhaust assembly, now you have isolated the engine movement from the main mass of the exhaust system, and taken a lot of stress off the upper exhaust pipes. And possibly eliminated some vibration, because you have also removed some exhaust system mass from the engine and it's associated movements, and what movement there is, is now minimized by having it aligned with the center axis of the motor mounts, at which point you have a movable ball joint. Worth what ya paid for it... -------- Richard Pike Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) Kingsport, TN 3TN0 Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and Grace really is amazing. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=476847#476847 The Kolb-List Email Forum - Navigator to browse List Un/Subscription, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS - via the Web Forums! - NEW MATRONICS LIST WIKI - Email List Wiki! - List Contribution Web Site - support! -Matt Dralle, List Admin. ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 12:48:40 AM PST US From: JC Gilpin Subject: Kolb-List: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver Gday All, Not Kolb related, but definitely flying related. Flying Adventures in my Beaver ultralight in the 90's. Priceless memories, almost as good as my memories of flying Kolbs in the USA. http://flyingadventureseagerbeaver.blogspot.com.au/ Wishing everyone great flying adventures in the year to come. JG ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 04:14:04 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver From: Lanny Lambdin JC, You are quite the adventurer! Congrats on the aircraft design and build! Y our activities put you in a very small, elite group of human beings. Thanks for s haring! Safe flying in 2018! Lanny Lambdin Sent from my iPad > On Dec 29, 2017, at 3:47 AM, JC Gilpin wrote: > > Gday All, > > Not Kolb related, but definitely flying related. > Flying Adventures in my Beaver ultralight in the 90's. > Priceless memories, almost as good as my memories of flying Kolbs in the U SA. > http://flyingadventureseagerbeaver.blogspot.com.au/ > > Wishing everyone great flying adventures in the year to come. > > JG ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 04:58:16 AM PST US From: George Helton Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver Great story. I=99m sure they are to be had here in the states too. I =99m looking forward to a few more this coming year in my Firestar. I =99m using the long winter months here in northern Michigan to install a new engine, landing gear and hyd.disc brakes. I flew a RX35 Spectrum Beaver ba ck in the mid 80=99s and gave Flight instruction in a Beaver RX 550 ta ndem two seater for a couple of years out in California. Good times! But, an ytime I=99m flying is a good time. =9CTrue dinkun!=9D I ha ven=99t heard that in a while. Made me smile. Have great day! George George Helton 1986 Firestar, FS100 14GDH Mesick, Michigan gdhelton@gmail.com Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 29, 2017, at 3:47 AM, JC Gilpin wrote: > > Gday All, > > Not Kolb related, but definitely flying related. > Flying Adventures in my Beaver ultralight in the 90's. > Priceless memories, almost as good as my memories of flying Kolbs in the U SA. > http://flyingadventureseagerbeaver.blogspot.com.au/ > > Wishing everyone great flying adventures in the year to come. > > JG ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 05:42:32 AM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: RE: Kolb-List: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver John Gilpin is a man after my own heart. He has had more flying adventures than you can shake a stick at. He has a knack for getting into trouble and getting out just as easy. A few years back John G spent a couple weeks with the gang at the Rock House. He held my attention the whole time I was there. He has a lot of stories to share about his flying adventures. One of the best is when you clipped a power line and crashed somewhere Outback. Few will fully understand the experience of flying solo, completely self supported, in truly remote areas. John G has been there and done that many times. In addition, John G has made several trips to the US to travel and explore extensively in our country in a Kolb. He finds it difficult to sit still very long. Thanks for sharing, John G. john h mkIII Titus, Alabama From: owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of JC Gilpin Sent: Friday, December 29, 2017 2:47 AM Subject: Kolb-List: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver Gday All, Not Kolb related, but definitely flying related. Flying Adventures in my Beaver ultralight in the 90's. Priceless memories, almost as good as my memories of flying Kolbs in the USA. http://flyingadventureseagerbeaver.blogspot.com.au/ Wishing everyone great flying adventures in the year to come. JG ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 07:01:46 AM PST US From: B Young Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver Gday back at ya. I'm with John. Fun memories from the rock house. Also when you stopped by Brigham City for a visit. Boyd Young On Dec 29, 2017 1:50 AM, "JC Gilpin" wrote: > Gday All, > > Not Kolb related, but definitely flying related. > Flying Adventures in my Beaver ultralight in the 90's. > Priceless memories, almost as good as my memories of flying Kolbs in the > USA. > http://flyingadventureseagerbeaver.blogspot.com.au/ > > Wishing everyone great flying adventures in the year to come. > > JG > ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 09:14:50 AM PST US From: Denny Baber Subject: Re: Kolb-List: My Firestar Project Update Two-cycle engines have their exhaust "tuned" to have a low-pressure wave at the exhaust port when the piston moves below the port. This helps pull fuel-air mixture into the cylinder while pulling the burnt gases out. I think it is determined by the length and size of the exhaust pipe so be careful you don't lose a lot of horsepower. Respectfully, Dennis Baber Cape Coral, Fl baberdk@gmail.com Stay Curious ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 09:41:33 AM PST US From: Bill Berle Subject: Re: Kolb-List: My Firestar Project Update The HKS is a four stroke, but I am using this same tuning principle anyway, based on the recommendations of the engine manufacturer. Bill Berle www.ezflaphandle.com - safety & performance upgrade for light aircraft www.grantstar.net - winning proposals for non-profit and for-profit entities -------------------------------------------- On Fri, 12/29/17, Denny Baber wrote: Subject: Re: Kolb-List: My Firestar Project Update To: kolb-list@matronics.com Date: Friday, December 29, 2017, 9:14 AM Two-cycleengines have their exhaust "tuned" to have a low-pressure wave at the exhaustport when the piston moves below the port. This helps pull fuel-air mixture into the cylinder while pulling the burnt gases out. I think it is determined by the length and size of the exhaust pipe so be careful you don't lose a lot of horsepower. Respectfully, Dennis BaberCape Coral, Flbaberdk@gmail.com Stay Curious ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 09:48:02 AM PST US From: Bill Berle Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver JG and any other Kolbers, If your travels ever bring you to the Southern California area, look me up and stop by for a visit. I don't have a fabulous private airport or a big rock house, and our "wilderness" here in LA is a different kind of adventure to say the least. But we do have some damn good flying weather, and I'd be happy to share some flying stories with you. Bill Berle www.ezflaphandle.com - safety & performance upgrade for light aircraft www.grantstar.net - winning proposals for non-profit and for-profit entities -------------------------------------------- On Fri, 12/29/17, B Young wrote: Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Flying Adventures of the Eager Beaver To: "Kolb List" Date: Friday, December 29, 2017, 7:01 AM Gday back at ya. I'm with John. Fun memories from the rock house. Also when you stopped by Brigham City for a visit. Boyd Young On Dec 29, 2017 1:50 AM, "JC Gilpin" wrote: Gday All, Not Kolb related, but definitely flying related.Flying Adventures in my Beaver ultralight in the 90's.Priceless memories, almost as good as my memories of flying Kolbs in the USA.http:// flyingadventureseagerbeaver. blogspot.com.au/ Wishing everyone great flying adventures in the year to come. JG ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 03:31:28 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: best props From: "japowell" I sent the 503 out for a zero time rebuild to Heaven Bound Aviation in Johnstown. After looking at the prop, I found a few nicks and bruises on it and would like to replace it. What is the best prop for the 503? I have researched the achives and am still confused. Thanks. -------- Jim P WAR EAGLE Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=476873#476873 ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 04:40:32 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: best props From: "japowell" Forgot to mention, I am running a b-redrive with 2:58 reduction/ . I know John likes the warp and several others like Ivo but what is the real difference. Jim -------- Jim P WAR EAGLE Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=476874#476874 ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 05:23:14 PM PST US From: Bill Berle Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: best props The Duc brand of propeller from Europe is supposedly one of the more efficient, delivering the most thrust. Definitely not the least expensive route however. Bill Berle www.ezflaphandle.com - safety & performance upgrade for light aircraft www.grantstar.net - winning proposals for non-profit and for-profit entities -------------------------------------------- On Fri, 12/29/17, japowell wrote: Subject: Kolb-List: Re: best props To: kolb-list@matronics.com Date: Friday, December 29, 2017, 4:40 PM "japowell" Forgot to mention, I am running a b-redrive with 2:58 reduction/ . I know John likes the warp and several others like Ivo but what is the real difference. Jim -------- Jim P WAR EAGLE Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=476874#476874 The Kolb-List Email Forum - Navigator to browse List Un/Subscription, 7-Day Browse, Chat, FAQ, - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS - via the Web Forums! - NEW MATRONICS LIST WIKI - Email List Wiki! - List Contribution Web Site - support! -Matt Dralle, List Admin. ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 05:44:53 PM PST US From: George Helton Subject: Re: Kolb-List: best props Props are one of those things that require a lot of thought. Ive run two blade wooden props. (Tennessee propeller) very good at matching prop to specific engines. Real good composite leading edges are available. Reasonably priced. Ive run Ivoprops in both two and three blade configurations with good results, very adjustable. They held up well in sandy and decomposed granite runway conditions. The only downside was that theyre heavy and seem to take a little longer to wind up. The blades do flex a lot and on some Kolb models require a prop extension. Added cost. At the present time Im liking Powerfin propellers. Beautifully CNC machined hubs and light very stiff composite blades. Ceramic leading edges are available. Im sure theyd be great in really abrasive conditions. Extra cost though. They come in two and three blade versions. They are expensive, but worth the it I think. Warp Drives are really good looking props. They look really well made. Ive heard that they are great propellers. Ive been told that theyre on the heavy side too. But, thats hearsay. I have no experience with them, so I have no opinion. I think the two blade props are more efficient for around performance. But, I like three blades simply because I like the climb power and smoothness. I think that I will loose a little on cruise with a three blade. But, Im all about takeoff and clearing trees up here. Just my input. Its worth what it cost you. Just opinions. Have a great day! George George Helton 1986 Firestar, FS100 14GDH Mesick, Michigan gdhelton@gmail.com Do not archive Sent from my iPhone > On Dec 29, 2017, at 6:31 PM, japowell wrote: > > > I sent the 503 out for a zero time rebuild to Heaven Bound Aviation in Johnstown. After looking at the prop, I found a few nicks and bruises on it and would like to replace it. What is the best prop for the 503? I have researched the achives and am still confused. > > Thanks. > > -------- > Jim P > WAR EAGLE > > > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=476873#476873 > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 09:07:41 PM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: RE: Kolb-List: Re: best props Warp Drive blades are solid carbon fiber. Each fiber runs from tip to grip and back to tip. They are tough, efficient, reliable, and perform. Wish you could see all the places my Warp Drive Props have pushed me. Would not have attempted many of those flights with anything but Warp Drive. Most of the other composite props are fiberglass/plastic over a foam core. They won't stand up to the punishment a Warp Drive will. john h mkIII Titus, Alabama -----Original Message----- From: owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-kolb-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of japowell Sent: Friday, December 29, 2017 6:40 PM Subject: Kolb-List: Re: best props Forgot to mention, I am running a b-redrive with 2:58 reduction/ . I know John likes the warp and several others like Ivo but what is the real difference. Jim -------- Jim P WAR EAGLE Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=476874#476874 ________________________________ Message 15 ____________________________________ Time: 10:56:26 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: best props From: "Gerry in Va." I also have a 3 bladed Powerfin F-blade with same engine set up as your own. Has been a reliable and smooth prop for me, it meets the recommend mass limit for the b-box by Rotax. The IVO was just slightly over, and the WARP DRIVE was way over the recommended limit. (It is a very tuff prop though) The POWERFIN is stiffer than the IVO even though the IVO has a little easier pitch adjustment than the Powerfin. I had a IVO on my paraplane. I prefer the Powerfin over the IVO. Just my opinion, they are all good props. Gerry Uebbing Harrison, Mi FireStar ll 503 2.58 b-box Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=476878#476878 ________________________________ Message 16 ____________________________________ Time: 11:28:44 PM PST US From: Nick Cassara Subject: Kolb-List: Gap Seal...? The Good Rev. Pike mentioned redoing Gap Seal soonThe best idea for Gap Seal that I have hear on the list has been Sail Repair Tapein a few months I hope to be confronting this issue. I am wondering what the lasted and great material and application technique is? I am all ears! Thank you all for my continuing education! Nick Cassara Palmer, Alaska 607AK getting closer to done ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.