Tracy Crook wrote:

Thanks for the clarification on that Tracy.
You have been very quiet lately. I assume you are working hard on
your new 3 rotor powered RV8. Will you make it to OSH with it?
If not OSH how is it coming? Just curious.

Paul Lamar

Been trying to reduce the backlog on gear drives and engine controllers so
haven't had much time to spend on the -8.  Target is to make it to Sun 'n
Fun next year with it.

Just got my Blue Mountain EFIS1 and having fun laying out the panel.  Sure
is a lot easier to fit a full IFR panel in there with this thing instead of
steam gauges.   Other than radios, the only thing else needed is a few
backup instruments.

Flew to a fly-in at Waco TX a few weeks ago and got hit with the dreaded
tension bolt breakage.  Only sign of trouble was a small ring of coolant
stains on the cowl around the flywheel.  The open adapter plate & spacer
system made it easy to spot the problem bolt.  I thought these bolts had the
heat shrink tubing fix on them but it turned out they did not.   They are
the later type with the anti vibration ribs in the middle but that alone is
apparently not enough.  Laura Fed EXed me an old bolt from home and I made
it back OK.

Back home  I replaced all the bolts and put heat shrink tubing in the middle
of each bolt which makes them a nice hand press fit into the housing.  This
is a lot more predictable (and less messy) than the RTV method the racers
use.   Only time will tell if it is a bullet proof fix.

Tracy Crook
tcrook@rotaryaviation.com
www.rotaryaviation.com

 
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