Did everybody get 4 copies of the coupling IGES drawing? If so I am
 sorry but it was not me.

 That may have been done by Earthlink They are having a bit of
 trouble with their email.

 Kevin did you get it?

 Paul Lamar

 Hi Paul, I got the coupling IGES Dave Macandless  in Perth

 Just one copy Dave? Earthlink sent me four.

 Paul Lamar

 I have a copy. I need to print this stuff out and take it to Shaun,
 the company is called Tangent in Smyrna TN. I will let you know next
 week.

 Kevin Alderman

 Are you in Tennessee now Kevin?


 Here are some pictures of the welded steel version.

 It needs to be improved.

 Paul Lamar

 The auto flex plate with the pressed and tack welded ring gear has
 been known to fly apart if the assembly starts to resonate, the flex
 plate had the torque converter bolted to the periphery of the
 flywheel this helped to negate the problem of resonance, the pressed
 plate is only 2mm thick, very light but has caused serious damage to
 an aircraft here in NZ.

 Andrew Campbell

 Yes I know about that. That prompted us to design this coupling.

 This design does not rely on the flex plate. The flex plate's  only
 function is to start the engine. With this design the coupling is
 bolted directly to the rear counter weight with six 10 mm socket head
 screws. Very solid and a direct connection to the e-shaft.

 Tracy bolted his to the flex plate and that failed the flex plate in
 several airplanes. Here is the result.

 Paul Lamar.


 Paul do you or any others plan to make this coupling available to purchase?  If so, will it be retrofit-able to Tracy's RD units?

 Scott Gettings

 I hope Kevin does it. I will work with him on marketing and design if he does.
 I am getting too old to start another biz.

 Kevin is a lot younger than me. Almost everybody is :-)

 Paul Lamar


I think I'm catching up in the age category!  It would be great if this coupler were available in the near future.

Paul, you had previously mentioned that there are some aftermarket manual transmission flywheels available, even though they are somewhat expensive ($350).  It looks like some of these are assembled from more than one piece, and still require the counterweight.

If this new coupler does not come to fruition, would it be feasible (and safer) to retrofit Tracy's RD damper to such a manual transmission flywheel instead of the flexplate?


Scott Gettings

It would work if you have one of Tracy's boxes and couplings. That is what Dave Leonard did.

Kevin was in your neck of the woods Jacksonville.

Paul Lamar




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