REFLECTOR: Great Flight!

[Scott Derrick]

Almost decided not to fly this morning because of forecast winds and 
existing low ceilings.  It started to break up around 9 and it was just 
a bit breezy so I decided to give it a shot.  The wind was 13 knots 
right down the runway when I got to the airport. Perfect!

I had made 4 significant changes since last flight, which I can't 
remember how long ago that was.

1.)  Fix oil leak.  I have been plagued with leaks. Bad hose fittings, a 
rolled "O" ring on a case through bolt, improper instructions in the 
overhaul manual for the oil pump top plate, etc..  This last one was 
very hard to find but I finally decided it was leaking either where the 
oil pump or starter adapter mated to the case.  It required the engine 
to be removed and reinstalled to fix it.  I did two full warm ups 
followed by a 1 to 2 minute full static run up.  No evidence of the 
nefarious leak!

2.) Replaced the intake lifters.  Somebody had replaced the intake 
lifters with exhaust lifters in this engine. This is a shade tree 
mechanic trick that is supposed to provide better cooling for the 
exhaust valves.  The valves are oil cooled, the exhaust lifters are what 
is called "full flow" lifters meaning they flow oil 100$ of the time. 
The intake lifters are partial flow, basically about 1/6 of the time.  
So the theory is the increased flow through the intake lifters will cool 
the exhaust valves better. TCM says balderdash. Sac Skyranch says the 
only thing this will do is lower your oil pressure(12 lifters flowing 
all the time vs 6 is like a big leak inside the engine) and raise your 
oil temp(less oil flows through the oil cooler).  So I replaced them 
with stock intake lifters.

3.) Added a single center position cowl flap in the lower cowl to see if 
that would lower the CHT temps which at 2700 rpm cruise are running 
400/410. Way hotter than I like.  I cut and made a cowl flap and 
installed it in a fixed full open position for testing.  I tried to take 
a picture this morning but the sun wasn't co-operating so later for 
pics.  If it works I can/may make it in flight adjustable.

4.) Shaved a 1/16 to 1/8 off the outer half of my Catto prop and faired 
in a reflex angle to match.  My static RPM's are still way to low. 
2230-2250.  I was going for at least 2300 to see how that felt.  After 
the mod I got 2310 static! Felt much better about that!

So put 20 gallons of gas in her for a total of about 35 and lined up. 
Wind now 15 knots at 280, on runway 31.  Full throttle, lean for best 
power(density altitude was about 7500) and let her roll. Felt much 
better, though had to use a few jabs of left rudder to keep her near 
center line, passing 60 kias rpm was up to 2400, at 80 kias I rotated 
RPM as at 2450 and climbed out at 2,000 ft per minute climbing at 110 
kias.  Leveled off at 8500(2,000 agl) because of the clouds, CHT's 
between 370-320, once the speed picked up to 170 kias(200ktas) the 
CHT's  migrated to 350-330, wow! what a first!  Oil temp never exceeded 
190 after flying around at 2700 RPM for 30 minutes. Last flight it was 
hovering 210-220!

It was so bumpy.  I really wanted to play around but not today. I called 
the airport and the winds had shifted to 240 degrees up to 20kts and 
gusting to 25.  No wonder I couldn't find any smooth air at 8500! Took 
off with the wind near down the runway, landed 35 minutes later with it 
almost across the runway and gusting to 25!  Thats NM for ya!  25 knot 
crosswind is cake in the Velocity.  Landed couldn't see any evidence of 
the oil leak but will de-cowl and verify.  I'll fly a bit more and see 
if I need to shave a bit more off the prop, seems like I should be 
accelerating better.  But its much much better than it was!

I finally feel like I have a flyable airplane.  Now to finish my test 
sequence so I can put this thing back into phase 2 flying and go somewhere!

Scott

-- 
I don't believe in a government that protects us from ourselves.
Ronald Reagan