More trouble shooting.

I found a loose wire in the handle bar kill switch and re soldered it. That didn't fix the problem. I kept the trickle charger on which kept the battery around 14 volts. I found another loose connection on the coil wires. Tightening did nothing. I unplugged the rectifier and the engine ran great. Still it wasn't right. I checked the battery many times and kept charging it. Then I checked it and got 14 volts. That's not right either. I held the meter on the battery and turned the switch on. The voltage dropped to 7 volts. I tried the kill switch and it dropped more. I turned the lights on and the battery dropped to zero. I pushed the riding mower over and put jumper cables on the batteries. End of problem. I need a new battery.

The motorcycle.

I got the bike started today. It started the best ever after a long lay off. Then it started acting up. I checked the battery and it was not being charged. After checking many possible areas I found the engine kill switch not working right. I haven't taken it apart yet but soon. I hope that cures the charging problem. I think there's a short in the switch someplace.

Possible fix.

I scoured ebay today and found several speedometer cables for the El Camino. I did a buy it now and will replace the original after paint. I have the original speedometer as I replaced it with the one that came with the new dash. Both act the same. I connected a drill motor to the spare and it worked very smooth. I have checked the original cable and couldn't find anything obviously wrong. Anyway a new one is on the way.

Replacement stuff.

I priced the parts needed to re build the crashed engine and they totaled more than half the price of a new engine. And that don't count the crankshaft. It may be slightly bent, I can't tell without special tooling. Fox has a trade in policy where you send them an engine and take your pick of any glow engine for half price. This way I have an almost new piston and cylinder and rod asm., crankshaft?, head and venturi as spares. I called the painter and cautioned him about one of the a/c hoses that runs inside the right fender. It's captured by the fender and the wheel well. If they removed the fender with the wheel well attached they may damage the hose. I also mentioned the seat and he will have it upholstered. So far so good.

At the painters.

I paid a visit to the car painter this morning. We discussed what I wanted and what color. It should come out pretty nice but very usable. He will install all the extra stuff I got, interior, chrome strips,etc. 2 or 3 weeks.

Back at the school yord.

I took the Pupster to the school on Shepard hill and got in one flight. The wind was strong and the ball diamond had been readied for the new season. The line between the infield and the outfield was cut neatly and left a 2 inch lip. When the engine stopped I set it down without delay and the plane hit the lip and flipped over. The landing gear got bent back a bit and had to be removed and straightened. After that I backed the hot rod out and washed it. It was very dusty from a winter under the overhang. I siphoned most of the gas out and put in 5 gallons of fresh gas. It was running smoother by the time I finished washing it.

Off to the painters

All went well on the drive to Groton to bring the El Camino to my son-in-laws garage so the body shop can drive over from New London to bring it to his shop. I can't figure that out as New London is closer for me than Groton. Anyway it's off to the painters. I went to the dog track this afternoon with the orange plane with a McCoy .35 on it. It ran very well, I'm pleased. I started the full pattern after days of telling myself my fleet will get a thinning before I get the new pattern down. And that I should practice over dirt and not asphalt. After flying the orange plane I took out the Progeny and got three takeoffs and two landings. During the clover leaf I lost the plane behind me and didn't recover. When I got home I field stripped the hardware and bagged the rest. The engine got bent and I had to scrap the block, main bearing, prop stud and new muffler. Now I got some rebuild parts for the other .40's. I started the hot rod and put that back in it's stall. I have to wash the dust off it some day.

Firewall pictures.

This shows the place where the a/c unit was. The white line outlines the block off plate supplied with the Vintage Air kit. The hoses exit through the vent hole in back of the fender. The wheel well has to come off. One hose stays inside the fender and connects to the condenser behind the battery. Demand a 90 degree fitting for the #10 hose at the compressor and an "S" bend fitting on the heater unit under the dash. Also note how long the hose is. I asked for and received a 90 degree fitting and will shorten that hose when I install the new fitting. The complete OEM heater a/c system is removed including the wiring harness. The dash may not have to be removed to shorten the glove box if you have a small cut off wheel. You may be able to cut it from inside the box. That will save a lot of work. My original engine had a two groove pulley and I had to get a 3 groover. This was an original a/c car. I don't know what happened to the pulley as all my paperwork shows a 3 groove pulley for the original. If everything goes right I am taking it for paint this Saturday. Original cranberry red and a black SS stripes. No it's not an SS.

Another day at the track.

I took the orange plane to the track to try a different prop. It worked well but then the tank started to give trouble. The engine quit and I landed on the roof again. I changed props and got in about 7 flights most were so so. I got a 50th anniversary Fox .35 coming from ebay. $49.99 buy it now. That is half price and the shipping is right on. New in the box too. I'll put it on the orange plane.

More good flights.

I went to the dog track again today with the Primary Pupster and the Magician. I made some changes to the pupster's controls, fuel and the handle space. They worked well. The Magician flew it's best ever too with the added nose weight. The handle kept loosening up and messing the adjustments. I dialed in more down bias and the handle took it out during the flights. I finally used a wrench and it made a difference. The mufflers I ordered from Fox came in as well as the El Camino radio. I installed one muffler on the Projeny model as well as a bullet spinner for an added 2 ounces in the nose of that plane. The radio has plug jacks for a portable CD player. I may get two more speakers as the radio has wiring for 4 speakers.

Stable flying.

I added 3 ounces to the nose of the Primary Pupster and an ounce or so the the orange plane. I took them to the dog track and got in 5 flights. The pupster is a lot more stable and looks good in the air. Same for the orange plane. I need to get more down and moving the down line further out on the handle is showing results on both planes. The orange plane ran out of fuel in the overhead eights twice. I was able to catch it both times and suffered no damage.

One to go.

I think I've found all my planes and set them up to the parameters in their plans/instructions. I have one to go and need to find whatever plans I have left for the .20 size ugly stick. I used the wing to build the "Pupster". I think I will add some nose weight anyway as all my planes needed some. Maybe cut down the elevator throw a bit too. I got a heads up on the El Camino paint job. I should be getting a call next week. The radio is due in Monday but I wont install it yet. The temperature is in the 40's today and should be better tomorrow. maybe get in a few flights with a re-trimmed plane or two.

Learning may have taken place.

After reviewing the successful first flight of the new Ringmaster I figured I would go through my fleet and adjust all models to the plan specs. I set the balance where it should be, the leadouts where it should be and put in the recommended amount of tip weight. Some planes are a tad lighter and some are a tad heavier, that is until I got to the Magician. Tip weight and leadout position were a snap. The balance point is 1 and 1/4" back from the leading edge. This is really forward. I started adding lead to the nose until it balanced where it is supposed to. 6 ounces in the nose. That is the easy part. Now to shape the lead and attach it to the engine cutout so the engine will fit back in. I planned to make a form and melt some lead into it. Then I remembered the stick on tire weights I didn't have. I bought 3 strips, 6 ounces each. After 3 or 4 hours of carving and fitting I got 5 ounces to fit under the engine. And then another brain storm. The back plate of the engine is cup shaped and could hold more lead. I took an old back plate and melted lead into it until it was full. I weighed it and got 1.3 ounces. I had to remove some to get it to fit the engine and tapped it into place. I was quite happy that the model was a light weight at 35 or 36 ounces when I built it. I haven't weighed it again yet. The old Fox .35 should pull it as I installed the "hemi kit" into it. It's a hop up kit for the engine sold by Fox.
I will try to put in some pictures of the new Ringmaster. I used some leftover paint from the hot rod on it. The paint has been sitting since 1999 in an epoxy thinner can. It is just as good now as it was then which really suprised me. Still it needs bright sunlight to see the green.

60 degrees.

The temp. got up to 60 something today. Lots of snow melted. I put the 3 groove crank pulley on the El Camino this morning. The 2 belts fit with the new pulley. It's a tad larger than the 2 groover. I need to get another belt to finish the deal. I went to the dog track and got in 7 flights with two planes. Trying to decide which to fly this season. The new Ringmaster is almost ready to fly. I need to install a fuel tank after some more drying time on the paint. No more tissue on the wings for me. It's just not worth it.

In the things not to do again and again section...

I bought a can of Dupli-color spray paint for the newest Ringmaster. I shook it well and prepared the plane for painting. First time I pushed the nozzle a stream came out. I changed nozzles and finished the job. I then took the bad nozzle and started to clean it. I sprayed my glasses pretty good. After doing that several times in the past I remembered not to it again.
The snow isn't melting much as the temp has been below freezing since Mon. Today it got into the high 30's but not much melting yet.
The wheel well trim came in today and they fit pretty good. The 350 emblems came a bit later and they fit nicely and look good. Pulley, mirrors, bed rail trim and radio to go. Paint too.

8 Inches last night and a 3 groover.

I slapped a $25.00 bid on the 3 groove pulley 90 minutes early and went to bed. I got the pulley as someone bid it up to $10.50. Cheaper than Summit anyway. And on top of that it snowed a lot overnight. This is the first time I had to use the snow blower to clear the whole driveway. I always push the crap to one side then use the blower to clean up. To make it interesting the wind is blowing and changing directions so I got most of the snow on me. 25 degrees too. I ran out of 4 letter words and had to dig into my supply up to 16 letters. Most of those I learned from my Grandmother. Like "prickamisery",sonofatwobitches". I used that one after getting a face full of wind blown snow. She had colorful names for me.
Anyway, I think I have most everything I need for the El Camino. I may need some windlace for the headliner though. Seat upholstery too. The painter has a big job spread all over the shop and when he finishes that I'm next.