Hello I'm back

[ginge]

Hi many years back I used to post on the old forum, after poking my nose into it I decided to rejoin and then it disapeared, sorry folks I have that effect on electronics.
As an intro. I have been flying microlights since the early nineties and did a little bit of gliding before that. I fly 3 axis and for preference open cockpit taildraggers although I have flown a fair number of different types. As you can see this makes my choice a bit limited, but I'm very happy to fly my old Thrusters and nothing else I've found suits me as well.
My flying is a mixed batch of flyins, flyouts (within 100ml) and bimbling just to enjoy the delightful feel of the aircraft.

 

[Roger Mole]

Wotcha Ginge, we never did get the chance to meet up while I was in the UK I'm sad to say as I'd have loved the chance to chinwag with you. I've still got a link on my blog to your Tiger Cub project but it died when you and the missus retired I guess. Do you still have it or did you pass it on to someone else?

 

[ginge]

Hi Roger, no the Tiger Cub project was shelved while we were working as Saxon, The bit spare time I had was spend flying the TST. I have just restarted Cub work and am experimenting with coverings. I've had a little go with one type and am waiting to talk with with a chap who finished his restoration last year and has been getting some hours in, his is a standard Cub. I heard that he had a problem with coverings and I want to learn from him before spending amounts of cash.
As we are now SSDR with the Cubs I have also considered useing a 503, cos I know a bit more about those, instead of the Robin 440 which raises a few questions to be thought about.
So plenty to think about and plenty to do. Also I have got to get a load more flying done, it has been a realy odd year.

 

[Roger Mole]

An odd year... you can say that again Ginge. 503 sounds a good idea but I guess it'll be quite a bit heavier though as the Robin presumably had a belt drive? Anyway good luck with the project and it'll be great when you get the old girl back in the air again.

 

[ginge]

I must admit that I like 503s and the Robin is to me, more of an unknown qualtity. I am also told that the Robin 440 that I have would benifit from new bottom end oil seals, it seem a known problem if they have been out of service for a while, i've not yet located where I can get some. It must be solvable though 'cos there's a good number of Robins still buzzing happlily out there.
The 503 that I wieghed up, minus gearbox, is slightly lighter the the Robin minus belt drive. The reduction gear for the Robin is fairly heafty looking but I've not yet dug it out to wiegh it and see how it stacks up to the wieght of a "B" box. There is an excellant belt reduction for a 503 available from Quad City in the States, however I expect that would be a tad pricey. The reductions on all are very similar.
Meantime I have been playing with coverings, the one that I was intending to use the adhesion to the blue foam seems to not as good as hoped. So I'm now trying to balance costs and benifits of Ceconite Lite and Oratex. I'll then do some test pieces and see how it goes. I like the sound of Oratex but a chap I know has good results with Ceconite and has been flying his Cub for a couple of years now. So everything is a bit of a balancing act at the moment.

 

[Roger Mole]

Interesting. Look forward to updates when things move forward Ginge.

I like 503s too. A pal over here has just knackered his old points fired 407 - hole burned in top of a piston. He hoped (ha ha) that he'd get away with a rebore (possibly) and new pistons but has just been quoted for a full overhaul inc crank. I told him about a 503 I saw advertised (it's still there) completely overhauled in 2001 but never refitted and kept in storage, single ignition, with gearbox and twin carbs, 600€ negotiable (probably get it for 500€ or less right now). He said he wasn't interested, I think he's daft.

 

[ginge]

I don't know the 407 is it similar to the 447? My preferance is the DCDI 503 although we once had a a single ignition job. We had just had a new set of points fitted as part of a regular maintenance and a few miles from base one cylinder cut out. We couldn't maintain hieght on one but made it back, gradualy descending all the way, we landed and the engine quit as we taxied. The problem turned out to be that the point contact had detached from new set, I found it stuck to the flywheel. The engine had given its all and was pretty well shot, however we were reinbursed the cost of the points about £5 or so from memory. We replaced with a new DCDI and it iis nice not to grope though the, very magnetic, gap in the flywheel with a set of feelers that are determined to stick to it as you try a fine adjustment. Happy days, but do like my 503.

 

[Roger Mole]

I meant 447. Finger trouble. Yup, I also prefer the DCDI but I think he'd have done well to go for the single at that price.

 

[ginge]

I agree with you there it sounds a good buy at that price

 

[Roger Mole]

He's just left after our regular Sunday morning coffee* and is beginning to see the light I think. He's worried about our current Covid 'confinement' and getting caught driving up to Clermont Ferrand, which is not that far in French terms, but I said I'd at least make contact with the seller to express interest and if it all sounds OK I'd then risk it producing a 'valid' reason to travel and pleading ignorance as an 'elderly foreigner'
Our lockdown ends on Dec 2 like yours and if he's made contact he could at least get first refusal and it'd be reasonable to negotiate the price as (a) he has no guarantee on how it's been stored and (b) he can't see it running, while waving the cash in front of the seller. A risk worth taking I think.

* the story being that I'm a vulnerable person who might be in need of assistance as I've 'twisted my knee'

 

[ginge]

Yes travel restrictions do complicate things. If he can't see it running if he can get there he can check compressions, bearing clearances and sparks. That'd give him a reasonable idea. With bearing clearances it might be a good idea to rotate the engine to run checks at differing positions in case of a patch of corrosian, not perfect but better than going in blind.

 

[Roger Mole]

Good advice Ginge