Oil is in the engine...Gas however is not...These damn backing bolts have broke on me now 4 different times creating quite the frustration. Each time I have to drill it out, vacuum the tank and then repeat the process only to get most of the way through and another breaks free.

If you can see the backing bolts that hang down, those are the problem...


When I left today all the screws where in...until the last one...check it out...Thats my project in the AM... Needless to say...I am changing them all out once and for all tomorrow. Everytime you pull the screws and plate you need to re-seal, etc. Its a mess..You can see my last problem child here...


So between times (you need to let the stuff set up a bit prior to filling the screw holes again I have been painting



It came out pretty nice...Also got the wingtips..they look great.



Some have asked about my alternator and what I did...here you go. A picture is worth a thousand words. After looking at both pictures, I guess its hard to tell but look at the reflection
I now have almost 3/4 of an inch behind the back bolt on the alt and the firewall.
Before the fix

and now....All this time the bracket for the alt had not been in correctly from the old engine



I can say here honestly, she is ready to go! I need to fix the damn bolts on the gas tank, but thats it.

Anyone ever had the problem with the bolts on the Monarch tanks like this? I would like to say its an easy fix but my last 4 attempts have been ...

We should be able to get it running tomorrow to check for leaks, etc. I feel like I have a plane again now with as close as we are. oh yeah...Bushwheels will also go back on tomorrow...Utah Maule...You send me those 31's yet???

AKT

When you say "backing bolts" - they look a bit like rive-nuts (rivnuts)?
Or are they some other beast entirely?

Those tip extensions look really promising!

Sweet! Get it in the air before September!

Looks great Kevin! Are you going to paint the new leading edge while you're at it? I still need to do something with mine, but it will probably stay like that until the whole plane gets repainted. That might be a while though.

robw56 wrote:Looks great Kevin! Are you going to paint the new leading edge while you're at it? I still need to do something with mine, but it will probably stay like that until the whole plane gets repainted. That might be a while though.

I like the chrome leading edge but will more than likely paint it black again. Its amazing what a $8 rattle can will do...

I know its not the correct paint to use but, I saw an entire plane painted with a rattle can and it looked outstanding. Will eventually paint the plane as well, but the way we abuse them, the rattle can for now is much more cost effective and very simple. The cowling looks like it came from a $7000 paint shop.

aktahoe1 wrote:

robw56 wrote:Looks great Kevin! Are you going to paint the new leading edge while you're at it? I still need to do something with mine, but it will probably stay like that until the whole plane gets repainted. That might be a while though.

I like the chrome leading edge but will more than likely paint it black again. Its amazing what a $8 rattle can will do...

I know its not the correct paint to use but, I saw an entire plane painted with a rattle can and it looked outstanding. Will eventually paint the plane as well, but the way we abuse them, the rattle can for now is much more cost effective and very simple. The cowling looks like it came from a $7000 paint shop.

Don't feel too embarrassed. If we don't have time for the painter, we rattle can some parts on our race bikes. I've done some rattle canning on my big rig on some area's that need touching up. If using the right paint and preped right, usually comes out great.

Looking good!

Battson wrote:When you say "backing bolts" - they look a bit like rive-nuts (rivnuts)?
Or are they some other beast entirely?

Those tip extensions look really promising!

Hartwig (they now own Monarch) calls them "Nutcerts". They replace the rivets. To me they looked like a backing bolt of sorts. Regardless, the "nutcerts are a pain in the tail feathers to replace. You need to drill out the hole, apply new sealant to each screw etc and then place the new nutcert.

http://www.hartwigfuelcell.com/monarchcaps.php

The other thing that is weird, the old "nutcerts had a bottom. Meaning that the screw only went so far and there was a bottom that would not allow the screw to go through. The new ones do not have a bottom (thinking leaks now). It leaves me thinking that you need to fill with the sealant correctly as to not use to much or it drips into your tank making it near impossible to get out unless you remove all your screws and main plate and cap to access the tank. I only learned this as I kept breaking the old nutcerts only to have all new ones now. Each time I removed the cap and gaskets I would see the sealant had hardened and dropped into the tank. No bueno! So ended up putting the sealant on the bottom, let it dry and harden and then fit it into the new hole that needed to be drilled out for fit. Then applied more sealant into the hole and then placed screw.

I am not very good at explaining this type of thing so I hope it makes sense. Tanks are finished now.

Very windy here on Friday and now we have a three day weekend. Tuesday is our day. Weather looks good and plane is ready to go. Suddenly "Jumpy" here is a contender...if we fly on Tuesday am "Yellowbelly" is the winner. If it turns into Wednesday for some unforeseen problem (we still need to do a static run for leaks, etc) "Jumpy" looks to be the winner.

For break in- we have 20-50w mineral oil in now and will be in for the first 10 hours. Will fly hard for 1 hour and check compressions. The fly for another 2 hours and then change the oil and check compressions. Fly it for another with the same oil for 7 hours and then change oil and filter, check compressions, etc. Will then go the Phillips XC20-50w Ashless dispersant if all checks out. Those are Steve Knopps orders at PPonk. Anyone disagree or have another opinion?

AKT

Hey Kevin
maybe a piece of cardboard in the tank,then it can leak
all it wants,then remove.
Might help with the screw debris also

Good luck,
Chuck


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Phillips XC is mineral based. It is the one oil you can run from break in on out. If you are going to end up running XC, you may as well start with it. I run XC, but as cheap as XC is I find you can add Cam Guard and have a better additive package than most 'premium' oil.....

Take care, Rob

Rob wrote:Phillips XC is mineral based. It is the one oil you can run from break in on out. If you are going to end up running XC, you may as well start with it. I run XC, but as cheap as XC is I find you can add Cam Guard and have a better additive package than most 'premium' oil.....

Take care, Rob

+1

XC+Camguard beats all other oils fo-sho

Aww C'mon...

What's a little crud in your fuel tank gonna do anyway??? Just do it and get 'er going on Tuesday (AM!) Meanwhile, I've got problems of my own: do I take the red Marmot fleece or the black North Face?

Hey, AKT, just be careful and look twice at everything. In fact, have somebody ELSE look at everything too in case you have developed blind spots. If it goes to Wednesday, well... who ever thought it would go on this long anyway?

With the possible exception of those gas tank flanges, she's looking very tough. Can't wait to see some pix of her out in the sunshine.

YB

Yellowbelly wrote: well... who ever thought it would go on this long anyway?

Well, apparently this guy...

Jumpy wrote:sep 4, 8:00 PM
sep 5, 8:00 PM
sep 6, 8:00 PM
sep 7, 8:00 PM

Sorry to be such a pessimist!


steve

At least I still have the 23rd. I'm not dead yet!

Well, it looks at though its going to be "Jumpy" who wins the heli trip to http://www.alaskaheliski.com/...

Today we finally completed all projects including, putting her back in the correct shoes... She sure does look good with big ol fat tires! Makes me think of Swingle when I say that... But I am bias of course. She really is a monster. I am alomst afraid of her...

Its amazing the learning curve that this has been for me. We have literally taken the entire plane apart and rebuilt her. The funny thing, I still call a "nut" a "bolt" and vice versa but feel like I know my plane inside and out now and that gives me some real comfort. It seems as though daily I forget and or learn what else is needed to be done before she is airborne. Today we had the engine turning over without spark to build the oil pressure up. We even had a small leak and fixed that quick like... Here is a link to the first rotation of the prop:
http://www.bigtirepilot.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/oilpressure4.mov (you may have to go to my blog and then click the link but hopefully this works here)

In the AM we will get the scales from Minden (they are being flown in) for an actual weight. This is needed before we can fly her as you cannot weigh the plane with fuel, only oil. Any takers on how much she will weigh?

Here is a little contest I will let this run for a couple days prior to giving out the answer (You will get a FREE HAT AND PULL-OVER SWEAT SHIRT FOR THE PERSON WHO COMES CLOSEST WITHOUT GOING OVER...GUESS THE ACTUAL EXACTLY AND YOU WILL WIN THE SAME FOR YOUR WIFE/GIRLFRIEND/MISTRESS, ETC., AS WELL)

Given this thread has over 10,000 views now (I saw it turn over at 9999 and go back to 9100) its the very least I can do...

So, tomorrow will be an interesting day bar any problems but it looks as though we have her ready.

HOW MUCH DOES SHE WEIGH WITH THE 86" MAC PROP THATS ON HER NOW? You can view my blog, this thread to see mods, etc of the entire plane to make a good guess. I am curious to see if anyone can hit it spot on...

I know some ofyou are probably thinking...he should have just bought a 185... Nahhhhh

AKT

A guess is the only way. Anyone that nails that should continue on to the casinos!
Congratulatoins ATK. I'll see you at Reno if not before.
Chance

1867lbs....

Don't be scared, have fun tomorrow!
Can't wait to see the monster fly!!!

So does this mean that by next weekend (not this coming one) you'll be ready to come fly with us?

How much does it weigh??

More than you think it should.

I put a cont io360 on my 170 back in 2000. There were more than a few pounds none of us could account for. and then it needed a 12# lead brick in the tail.

1760 lbs

1695lbs, looking forward to seeing the video, she does look intimidating in the prop turning clip.

Looking great Kevin, best wishes for an uneventful and rewarding break in! I'm really looking forward to your prop shootout.

Weight guess...1820lbs