---------------------------------------------------------- Pietenpol-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 02/10/12: 10 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:34 AM - Re: impulse mags (Ben Charvet) 2. 08:06 AM - Re: New Model A/Pietenpol pix (tools) 3. 08:27 AM - Re: impulse mags (BRETT PHILLIPS) 4. 08:39 AM - Re: impulse mags (899PM) 5. 10:11 AM - Re: New Model A/Pietenpol pix (Bill Church) 6. 01:03 PM - Fuel Tank and Engine (Michael Perez) 7. 01:32 PM - Re: Fuel Tank and Engine (Jack Phillips) 8. 01:50 PM - Re: Model-A starting problem (BYD) 9. 04:05 PM - Re: Model-A starting problem (Jerry Dotson) 10. 06:12 PM - Re: Fuel Tank and Engine (Michael Perez) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:34:29 AM PST US From: Ben Charvet Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: impulse mags My experience is very similar to Oscar's. My old Baby Ace had the twin Slicks, and was easy to start. Always used both mags, both impulse. My Piet has one impulse mag (Eisemann) and one non-impulse (Bendix). It will definitely kick back if you dont give it a real spirited pull. I usually start it on the Eisemann mag only. I don't have a primer either, and know about how many blades to pull it through to prime it. Usually I can hear the intake start to 'sound' wet. I also turn my fuel off as I taxi in. Pushing the throttle forward as you kill the mags keeps from loading up the engine with the equivalent of about 8 blades of prime. After sitting for an hour or so at a pancake breakfast and additional 2 blades of prime will usually start on the first blade. I'd really like to upgrade to slicks, but as Oscar also said, the mags I have are putting out great spark. Ben Charvet Mims, Fl On 2/9/2012 11:37 PM, Oscar Zuniga wrote: > --> Pietenpol-List message posted by: Oscar Zuniga > > > I flew 41CC behind the A65 with two different mags (left and right > > mags were different). Neither had impulse couplers and the older > > one was a Scintilla "lunchbox", probably as old as the engine. > > Still threw a great spark. > > > The A75 on the airplane now has matched, brand-new Slicks and > > they both have impulse couplers. > > > Honestly, I don't notice any difference in ease (or difficulty) of > > starting, probably because the compression is so low, the prop is > > so long, and I try to keep everything in a good state of tune. I > > can't comment on starting a Ford without impulse coupling, but my > > experience with my Continentals has been fine with or without. > > > That plus the key to hand-propping these engines is finding the > > right starting routine and following it exactly, every time, and > > including whatever types of sprinkling pixie dust in the air or > > swinging a dead chicken make it work for you. There is also an > > importance to what you do when you shut the engine down, too. If > > you shut off the fuel valve as you taxi up to your hangar and then > > let the engine sputter and die as it runs out of fuel before you > > kill the mags, it will start differently than if you leave fuel on > > and shut it off with the mag switch, leaving fuel in the > > carb bowl. It will also start differently if after you turn off > > the mag switch and as the engine is spinning down you roll the > > throttle forward (open) instead of leaving it at the idle stop. > > I do not have a fuel primer; I pull it through a couple of blades > > with the throttle back at the stop so it will pull fuel through > > the idle circuit (Stromberg carb). It will usually start on the > > first or second blade after I go through the proper motions. > > > Sprinkling the pixie dust works for me ;o) > > > Oscar Zuniga > Air Camper NX41CC "Scout" > Flying Squirrel N2069Z "Rocket" > Medford, OR > website at http://www.flysquirrel.net > > -- Ben Charvet, PharmD Staff Pharmacist Parrish Medical center ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 08:06:08 AM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: New Model A/Pietenpol pix From: "tools" Thinkin' 'bout puttin' the Continental in the Ford? Think it'll cool alright? Seriously, need a cool oversized warbird style towbar to use your new accessory to move the Piet into and out of the hangar! Ok, maybe that's not so serious either... My dad is finishing up a Model A restoration, would be cool to get a pic like that. Tools dna Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=366031#366031 ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 08:27:33 AM PST US Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: impulse mags From: BRETT PHILLIPS My experience with a non-impulse equipped Model A is similar to Ben's. As long as you snap it through like you mean it the engine will start fine, even when timed at 30 deg. BTDC with a 6:1 head. With a long prop, it helps to keep your hands a little closer to the center than you ordinarily might. This makes it pull a little harder, but increases rpm for the same hand speed. Brett Phillips NX311GP Strasburg, VA ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 08:39:52 AM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: impulse mags From: "899PM" One important difference to remember in this whole discussion is that the head mounted mag is turning at cam speed whereas the crank mounted mag will be much easier to coax a good spark out of. -------- PAPA MIKE Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=366034#366034 ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 10:11:57 AM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: New Model A/Pietenpol pix From: "Bill Church" Tool, After reading your post, I was wondering what "dna" represented at the end of your message. Then I thought that maybe it stood for "do not archive". If that's the case, your abbreviation isn't going to do the job. The Matronics server only recognizes the exact phrase (no abbreviations, or fancy-schmancy rewording will work). If, on the other hand, it's just the short form for Deoxyribonucleic acid, I see why you would want to use the short form... but I have NO idea why you would want to sign off with that. Just letting you know before Larry (Top Curmudgeon) gets on your case. Bill C. do not archive Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=366039#366039 ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 01:03:41 PM PST US From: Michael Perez Subject: Pietenpol-List: Fuel Tank and Engine Attached are two pictures of my fuel tank in work. The tank is now finished and on it's way to Greg K., (noted in last news letter) for welding and pr essure testing. - I may also have an engine in hand by the end of the weekend! I'll report ba ck on that if it pans out. Michael Perez Karetaker Aero www.karetakeraero.com ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 01:32:10 PM PST US From: "Jack Phillips" Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Fuel Tank and Engine Looks good. How much will it hold? Jack Phillips NX899JP Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia _____ From: owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-pietenpol-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Michael Perez Sent: Friday, February 10, 2012 4:01 PM Subject: Pietenpol-List: Fuel Tank and Engine Attached are two pictures of my fuel tank in work. The tank is now finished and on it's way to Greg K., (noted in last news letter) for welding and pressure testing. I may also have an engine in hand by the end of the weekend! I'll report back on that if it pans out. Michael Perez Karetaker Aero www.karetakeraero.com ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 01:50:11 PM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Model-A starting problem From: "BYD" UPDATE: First, Id like to thank my fellow lovers of the blue for sharing their experiences related to my current struggle. Some I have experienced before posting like using the spark-plug at the front of the plane (rear of the engine) as #1 the first time I was setting up the ignition to discovering plug wires 3 and 4 swapped while checking the plugs to see if they were wet (I blame that goofy firing order). I dont believe to be 180-degrees off since the rotor is pointing at the #1 contact inside the cap when the engine is at top dead center. To be clear I use the following procedure to set the timing, which I have used on regular aircraft engines and have reviewed with an IA that I trust: With the #1 plug removed (usually all of them and yes, #1 is the rear one on a Piet) I move the propeller with my thumb on the #1 spark-plug hole until I feel the compression poofing on my thumb. Then with a popsicle stick (the piston isnt directly under the spark-plug hole), I rock the propeller back and forth until I can feel that the piston is all the way up and between the connecting rod rocking on the crank I declare this position top dead center (TDC). Next, I turn the blade backwards watching a protractor with a pendulum pointing to a scale of degrees until it is indicating the amount of advance I want. At this point, I connect a buzz-box to the magneto and rotate the base until the light and buzzer just come on where I set the locking screw to hold the base at that position. I have come to learn that 30-degrees is the maximum advance to be shooting for and because my Vertex magneto has 12-degrees advance built in (between 700 and 1000 engine RPMs) the maximum I should be setting my static advance is 18-degrees. I have received suggestions from that range clear down to 0-degrees to see if I can at least get a pop. I also was looking at dyno reports from Synders website and another source and noticed they listed 0-degrees static and 28-degrees maximum advance as the normal setup for running their tests. I have been to the airport and set the static advance at 5-degrees following the procedure above but the weather here is rainy, and my trusted assistant is off goofing around in the snow up in the mountains. I dont wish to prop it alone on a wet ramp so I wait for the situation to improve. Stand by, film at 11. Bill Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=366053#366053 ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 04:05:05 PM PST US Subject: Pietenpol-List: Re: Model-A starting problem From: "Jerry Dotson" Bill I have been following your thread and now I can't help but add my 2 cents. I learned a trick from an old junk yard man that sold used engines. Put about 2 tablespoons of oil in each cylinder. On the Piet I would block the tail up level. Then pull it through several revolutions.Let the tail down and crank it. The oil seals the cylinder and make it easier to turn. It will blow blue smoke for a minute or two. do not archive -------- Jerry Dotson 59 Daniel Johnson Rd Baker, FL 32531 Started building NX510JD July, 2009 now covering and painting 21" wheels Lycoming O-235 C2C Jay Anderson CloudCars prop 76 X 44 Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=366055#366055 ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 06:12:09 PM PST US From: Michael Perez Subject: RE: Pietenpol-List: Fuel Tank and Engine I believe it to be close in size to Mike C's. His holds around 16-17 gal.(? )- Once I get it back I'll fill it up and get a better idea. Michael Perez Karetaker Aero www.karetakeraero.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message pietenpol-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Pietenpol-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/pietenpol-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/pietenpol-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.