Cool and wet.

I've been to the club field and the school but the winds have been tricky at best. I did get some flightsin and did get to test one of the new tanks. It's labeled 180 cc and that equates to 6 ounces. I fliied one with water and dumped it into a measureing cup. 5 ounces on the nose. Probably 4.8 with the cap and tubing installed. Still that's more than enough for my engines. I sent a mailing tube to LA yesterday with a glow battery and two pieces of .032 wire for the hinges of the plane to be built. Today I sent the fuel tank I tested yesterday.
The river is barely in it's banks and I've been fishing twice with no luck.
I moved the El Camino into the middle bay, the truck outside on the cement pad and got the hot rod started. After moving several mowers, a shredder, a battery charger and a gas grill I was ready to move it. I slid the cover off from back to front and let it fall to the floor. It started right up and I started backing out when I heard a clunk. I got out and found the charger was in the way and got knocked over. I moved it again and backed all the way out. I put it in drive and started forward when I heard a ripping sound. The cover had cought on the license plate and followed me out and then I ran over it ripping it on the plate. I parked it in the drive way, left it running and washed it. Even with the cover it had a lot of dust on it. Anyway all is well and I will put the truck in the open bay when we leave next Monday.
I had flown the Lightning, which I re named Hobnob, for a few minutes a while back. I remember it flew wings level and turned pretty good. I took it to the school this morning and flew a test flight followed by a narrowing of the handle spacing. Then I put up a full pattern flight but the engine quit in the first loop of the last maneuver. I added more fuel this time and got in a whole pattern. The plane is very stable and turns on a dime. I made up a new set of lines for it when I got home and set up it's own handle.
I may have to mow the lawn tomorrow for the first time. Forecast winds are not good for flying but will be on Friday. Saturday I have to go to RI and get the cake for Easter dinner.

A little warmer.

I cleaned the leaves out of the lean-to and put air in the lawn tractor tires. I put the charger on the battery for a half hour too. Just after noon I hit the key and it started up. But something in the engine was banging something awful. I tried to turn the engine over by hand but it wouldn't go through top dead center. I pulled the spark plug out and hit the starter again to blow any liquid from the cylinder but there wasn't any. I started to remove the head and only broke one bolt which didn't hold anything important. The combustion chamber was loaded with carbon and a piece must have broke off doubling the thickness and interfeering with the piston. I cleaned both pieces and re assembled the engine which started and ran normally.I need to get tubes for the tires as they leak down fast.

A little warmer.

After the success with the Evo .36 I got in some trim flights. I put in one ounce of fuel and timed the run. 3 min. 15 sec. each for two runs. Now I got to thinking maybe I should put it in another plane. The ARF Nobler was sitting without an engine so I fitted the Evo where an OS .40 was. I took it and the PT-23 to the club field and it pulled the Nobler very well. The winds were kinda light but switching all over the place. Bumpy too. I got in a full pattern with the PT-23 and came home.

Test flight

I played in 3 horseshoe tournaments this season and lost first place 3 times because of ringer percentage. Twice I got second and today I went from bridesmaid to usher. When I got home I packed up two planes and went to the Sterling school. It was windy but I fueled the Evo .36 with 15% fuel and got in one flight. What a difference. The engine ran steady through the tank. I'm happy.

Finally figured it out.

The Evo .36 I got in the raffle last Oct. has not been running like it should. I changed tanks several times to no avail. I found seepage near the mounting lugs while the engine was running and discovered there wasn't a gasket under the rear cover. I made one up but the engine ran the same. I re read the instructions and installed a smaller venturi and found what I was looking for the nitro percentage of the fuel 5 to 10% it says. I put in 2 ounces of 15% and it purred like a kitten. Nice and steady rpm. Now if it ever stops snowing and the temps get into the 40's and the winds calm a bit I'll be able to test fly it.

Saw a woodchuck.

The weather was good Wednesday and I got in some flights. The cleaned filter on the PT-23 did the trick. I had the Magacian/Evo .36 and new tank so I tried it with both new tanks. It ran fair but fast. I tried to slow it down but couldn't. I found a leak in the metal tank and it didn't seem to help. I may have to open it up and replace the clunk tubing as air bubbles are going through the line. I could fill it so the line is covered and watch if there are no bubbles early on and only appear when the level is below the line. When we first saw the fox he was on the wall watching what looked like a squirrel. But when it moved it looked more like a woodchuck. It went into a hole in the wall in back of the garage. Several years ago I had gotten a scope and put it on the .22. I haden't fired it since so I figured I'd better check it before I got a chance to shoot the woodchuck. I drew a half dollar size circle with cross hairs through it and nailed it to a tree up in the woods. I fired 3 shots from about 50 feet and took a look. Right in the circle. Two are touching and another left a bit. Still I can cover all 3 with a dime. I haven't shot that well since basic training.

Test flight.

I couldn't help myself and made several changes onthe funny running engine. I was going to change needle valve asm's but left it for another day. The weather has been windy and cold but today I went to the r/c field anyway to try the changes. Missed the problem. I fitted the new NVA into the engine and took the fuel filter apart to check for crap. There was a piece of shit in it. I cleaned the filter and put everything back together. The best part of todays test is that the engine ran long enough to get the full pattern in on the tank I installed. it happens to be the one I used in the first place several months ago.
Forecast to be in the 30's all week.