Summer is here.

The hay at the flying field is 3 feet high and rising. I got in a flight this morning and called it quits. I've been trying different things to get the engine running properly and finally installed an unmodified head and the metal tank I made. The engine ran like it should. The El Camino is running much better since the rear float bowl stopped leaking. I had to lower the float more to get the fuel level below the sight hole. When that happened the engine ran rough in gear as the idle mixture was way too lean. It's much better now.

The small mower engine that Roy threw away many years ago has finally shit the bed. Every year the first time it was started it took less than 4 pulls to get it running. This year I've had to prime fuel into the cylinder to get it going. Priming the carb. wasn't enough. Yesterday it wouldn't start no matter what I did. I put another mower into service and got the lawn cut. Today I removed the old engine and installed one I got from the dump several years ago. I primed the carb and 4 pulls got it going. Then I noticed I had installed the engine 180 out. Another 15 minutes to set it right. I need the spark plug pointing to the front so I can short it out when I finish mowing without getting off the rider. The fill in mower did a good job and has a bigger cut so the job is quicker. I also adjusted the wheels to get the slop out. I had to use a washer as a spacer and then cut the wheel boss to get the right clearance.

The big stump is still cooking as smoke still rises from the ashes. When that stops I'll set the real big one on fire. I got 3 bags of briquets left.

Warm weather.

I made a trip to the VA this morning for an 0830 appointment. I left at 0710 to give me time in traffic. There was little traffic and I got there 40 minutes early. I was taken right away and was on the road at 0815. I stopped at an Irving station for gas. $3.67 a gallon and it took $105.00 to fill the truck and 11 gallons in cans for the Pontiac. I got gas in Plainfield using a gold coin for $0.20 off a gallon. Another $80.00. That was $3.79 with the coin.

I went to the field after getting home and flew the new plane. With the glow battery attached again. I'll have to put a flag on the battery. The grass is 2 feet high and needs cutting. I hope the farmer is in the mood soon.

I met up with Don Lapointe the other day at the field. I remembered his face and voice but not the name.

Server problems.

For the past few days I've been blocked from the blog. We finally went to safari and got it back.

I've been trimming planes and changing more planes. I think I got it together. The lightning is flying well and got a new fuel tank today. Maybe test it tomorrow. The winds have been very light until I get to the field. No matter which field either. I've made two flights with the glow battery still connected. Looks like a nose wheel.

The fox family was here at noon. I got lots of pictures and videos of the group.

I have to change the oil in the hot rod as it's been in there two years now.

I got the tiller and plowed the garden. It's all planted now.

The bluebirds have left the nest except for one. I don't know why it's still there.

Cloudy and cool, again.

We brought the Dodge to the garage Sun. morning. The problem really feels like the clutch disc is coming apart. Sometimes it shifts fine and sometimes it shifts harder and sometimes I have to shut the engine off, put it in gear and start it back up with my foot on the brake. All fluids are full and no visable leaks. Another thought, a mouse nest.
I put two planes in the El Camino and went to Wrentham, MA for the fun-fly. 51 miles. There were about 20 planes ready to go and a steady stream of flights going on. I chatted with several people and told Dave Cook what I did to the plans he gave me. I should have brought the plane. On the way out at the first stop light there were police blocking traffic. I got there a moment before the two hours long motorcycle rally went by. I was second in line and when it was over I got out at the change of the light.
The hot rod insurance starts today and I noticed the rear end weeping oil. It's been doing that since day one but it's bigger now. Hopefully it's not the pinion seal.

Spare cars? I don't need no spare cars.

After the Dodge problem I still had the El Camino to fall back on. It didn't look like I would be able to make the fly-in today so I packed 2 planes in the El Camino and headed for the Sterling school. The enging was running kinda rough at idle and by the time I got to the school I figured the rear float bowl was flooding again. I went home as people were playing baseball at the school. I removed the sight plug and gas poured out. I removed the needle and seat asm. and went to Central Speed and got a replacement piece. I installed it and set the level on the low side. I took it to the school again and got in several flights and returned home without a problem. Looks like I'll be able to make the fly-in tomorrow.

Slave cylinder again.

I got to the flying field Fri. and the truck was getting harder to shift. I suspected the slave cylinder was going so I headed home. I made an appointment to have it loked at and headed out for that. As I got in the truck I noticed the rubber mat was under the pedal. I pulled it down and everything was fine.I went to the field again and got in some flights and as I got off the highway in Moosup the clutch started dragging again. I'll bring the truck in on Mon. If it shifts.
I had planned to go to the fly-in but this has screwed things up. Hopefully I can make it on Sun. I probably will have to get Roy's tiller with the El Camino now.
The backplates came in Thurs. I installed two on planes and hope to test them today. They have about .010 deeper plug which helps keep the rod from walking in and out plus better fuel distribution.The stock ones are plastic and these are billet aluminum.

Still raining.

Temps in the 50's rain and mist until Sat.
I made a bunch of trim changes to the Padre. I removed all the wing tip weight as the outboard wing is quite heavy to begin with. I removed the NVA and installed one that had the needle shortened and located the needle on top instead of under the engine so it wouldn't get broken in an inverted landing. The fuel got adjusted for 24% oil and I installed smaller lighter wheels to raise the verticle c/g a bit. I could use a tongue muffler if more is needed.
Around noon the trees wern't shaking too much and the rain was a light mist so I loaded up and headed for the flying field. The mist was heavier at the field but I flew anyway. The plane performed quite well but went over on landing in the longer grass. I relocated the landing gear when I got home to stop that. The new backplates should be coming in soon. Later if the check has to clear first.

Rain, Rain you stink and Buck Ofama.

I got an email yesterday saying no model airplane flying today. There was mention of a similiar message in the Memphis area on one of the forums. That one was for Buck Ofama's visit to the great flood photo op. I figured, correctly as it turned out, that Buck was coming to CT for the Coast Guard graduation. Well Buck Ofama wouldn't keep me from doing what I want but the rain and wind has. Forecast for all week as well. There is a fly-in in Wrentham,MA this weekend but it should be flyable by then.
The fuel I mix has 118 ounces of castor to 3 gallons plus 10 ounces of methanol. (= four full gallons) Then I add one gallon of store bought fuel that has 22% oil to the 4 gallons and mix it up. If I multiply .22 times 128 ounces in a gallon I get 28.16 ounces of oil in the gallon of store bought fuel. Factoring in the home brew oil I come up with a total of 22.8% oil for the five gallon batch. Sound right?

Wind finally stopped.

I couldn't get on the blog for a while. The server wouldn't let me.
The wind has been blowing to 35 since we got home. I've mowed the lawn 3 times since.
I've been working on the maneuver bottoms with the Padre and things are starting to come together. With the lessening of the winds it's been spitting rain. I got in 4 good flights at the new school this morning between peroids of sprinkles. I installed a larger diameter needle valve to choke the venturi down to a more usable range. And that increased the fuel mileage a bit. I use 3 ounces instead of 3.25 to get the pattern in. I have some metal engine backplates coming as the stock ones are plastic and prone to leaking and cracking. The metal ones take up more room inside the crankcase which is better for power. Fox came up with the idea and calls them "Stuffer backplates". I'll start flying the large stab/elev. Twister and see how it goes.
I think I got the choke on the El Camino working right.

Windy trip.

All but one day in LA was windy. I did get the new plane assembled and flown. I figure it needs a bigger engine or just speed up the original. The tank works very well too. On the last day the winds abated and I got in some flights but now the winds were too light. I got good feed back from the flights to make some trim changes.
We got home around midnight and 36 degrees. The next day was windy. Today, Sat., was good to fly so after bringing the grandson home I went to the school and it was loaded with baseball people so I went to Oneco. I got in two flights with the Padre and was thinking on changing to longer lines when some thunder cought my attention. I hesitated a bit but the thunder continued so I packed up and headed for home. I had the El Camino and it got a bit wet but the wipers worked. I have to get the maneuver bottoms in check and will fly the Padre until I get it right. It's the oldest plane in the fleet now sporting a new thicker and larger stab./elev. and an OS .46. I re painted it for the third time too so it looks a little better. It is the best flying plane of the bunch.
The electric choke on the El Camino has been acting up lately. For some reason the high idle cam wont release. I didled with it a while back and made it worse. I re didled with it today and maybe made it better.