Barnstormer wrote:

mtv wrote:Phil,

I would go with a Reiff engine preheat system, vs the Tanis system....Finally, run a wire to your battery heater (You do plan to install a battery heater, right?)

Uh, yea, battery heater, uh of course (forgot I live in Alaska now).

I considered Reiff but was concerned that the cylinder bands would restrict the cooling fins where they mount. Have you never seen an issue, even in the heat of down south?

I've done a couple Rieff's they mount on the smooth barrel at the base of the Cyl. They are nice because they don't interfere with any CHT probes.

Just put the Turbo XP on my cub. Heats up fast. Got the sump, cyl and oil cooler pads

Tom wrote:

Barnstormer wrote:

mtv wrote:Phil,

I would go with a Reiff engine preheat system, vs the Tanis system....Finally, run a wire to your battery heater (You do plan to install a battery heater, right?)

Uh, yea, battery heater, uh of course (forgot I live in Alaska now).

I considered Reiff but was concerned that the cylinder bands would restrict the cooling fins where they mount. Have you never seen an issue, even in the heat of down south?

I've done a couple Rieff's they mount on the smooth barrel at the base of the Cyl. They are nice because they don't interfere with any CHT probes.

Just put the Turbo XP on my cub. Heats up fast. Got the sump, cyl and oil cooler pads

Tanis finally figured out that mounting their probes in the CHT holes doesn’t work with graphic engine monitors, which a lot of folks are using now. Their new probes replace a screw instead.

MTV

Here's hoping Reiff has a "show special" price next month.

So today I managed to get the water rudder mechanism out of the plane, removed the Garmin aera 500 (anyone interested in buying this?), installed the inReach mount and the Ram X-brace (temporary) for the iPad mini.

Are you selling the water rudder rigging?

Phil, since you were unaware of the SureFly ignition, what electronic ignition were you considering?

RockHopper wrote:Are you selling the water rudder rigging?

Sure. What I know I have is the operating lever and mount that goes on the tunnel, and the pulley that goes on the firewall. I haven't yet opened the floor to see what is in there but I can post all the items that remain once I do.

DeltaRomeo wrote:Phil, since you were unaware of the SureFly ignition, what electronic ignition were you considering?

ElectroAir or alternatively a field approval for PMag if I live long enough for them to offer it for sale.

I surely wish the FAA would get out of the way and allow us to modernize legacy aircraft with tried and true products. On another forum I was reading a thread about guys who run their spark plugs to the point where they will no longer start their engine. That sounds safe. Ancient expensive massive electrode spark plugs or uber expensive ($100 ea) iridium plugs, I get it. Electronic ignition and $10 automotive iridium plugs equals easier starting, far longer life, better performance, cleaner burning (which means longer life for the engine), greater safety and far less expensive. But NO, the FAA prefers we stay in the past, 100 years in the past.

"100 years in the past."

I feel your pain...

I'm up against a 500 hr interval on my mags and I'd rather put that money into an improvement instead. I will say that operators and pilots are resistant to change as a whole (with us as exceptions) which is why its difficult for better technology to be developed and amortized over robust production and sales curves that justify the R&D. I find that resistance puzzling since the technology is 100 years old. Yes it works but it's maintenance intensive with numerous mechanical points of failure. I have driven and maintained lots of cars with this type of ignition and I don't miss it at all...

The next mod? A full set of Alaska Wing Covers minus the prop blade covers (I'm not keeping it up here during the winter), and the engine cover which I have but left in the 185. I've bought Alaska Wing Covers for my SQ2 and the 185 I had previously. Love them.

Installing a Mountain Wave Aviation cargo net is today's mod. This is a quality product and under new ownership the turn around time is under two weeks, which is just a bit faster then the old six months to a year.





I removed these from the upper net mounting holes and much to my surprise they weigh nearly as much as the entire net and all its mounting hardware.



It's possible I'll put in another net further forward like I did with my previous 185, but we will see.

I'm slipping in another mod that is in the product collection/prep phase and that is replacing the four aftermarket Monarch Fuel plates/caps with Cessna's raised plates/caps which is what was originally on the plane. Total cost will be around $2,500 which I would have preferred to spend elsewhere but the Monarchs have to go.

I've also begun researching new panel ideas and I should be able to mount a Dynon Skyview HDX with an STC (within 12 months or less) and my iPad mini, Dynon radio, plus some new fuel gauges, and a transponder (okay and a compass...really?). Exciting.

Barnstormer wrote:

DeltaRomeo wrote:Phil, since you were unaware of the SureFly ignition, what electronic ignition were you considering?

ElectroAir or alternatively a field approval for PMag if I live long enough for them to offer it for sale.

I surely wish the FAA would get out of the way and allow us to modernize legacy aircraft with tried and true products. On another forum I was reading a thread about guys who run their spark plugs to the point where they will no longer start their engine. That sounds safe. Ancient expensive massive electrode spark plugs or uber expensive ($100 ea) iridium plugs, I get it. Electronic ignition and $10 automotive iridium plugs equals easier starting, far longer life, better performance, cleaner burning (which means longer life for the engine), greater safety and far less expensive. But NO, the FAA prefers we stay in the past, 100 years in the past.

I put P-mags in my RV-7. Love them! You need a good battery if you are going to use them (I bought an earthx lithium). They produce their own power at 600 RPM. I also installed an EI Commander to monitor them and watch the advance. Seems a lot safer to me... No idea why the FAA wouldn't approve them.

This is what 1 AMU looks like. Off to paint they go.

Notice a big difference from your old 520 powered 185 to the 550?

Tom wrote:Notice a big difference from your old 520 powered 185 to the 550?

Don't know how much I can equate to just the 550, but yes a big difference between the IO520D w/ 86" two blade, and the IO550D w/88" three blade. Both motors are Lycon builds. The 550 3-blade is turbine smooth at all rpm. She drinks a bit more fuel then the 520. But she drags those 29" bushwheels through the air easier then the 520 did.

Barnstormer wrote:The next mod? A full set of Alaska Wing Covers minus the prop blade covers (I'm not keeping it up here during the winter), and the engine cover which I have but left in the 185. I've bought Alaska Wing Covers for my SQ2 and the 185 I had previously. Love them.

Are these the mesh ones, the classic polyester, or the vented polyester? I'm looking at these for a possible Christmas present for my dad's 185 (saving my pennies now!)... How much do they weigh?

GORGEOUS 'Wagon, btw!

CapnMike wrote:Are these the mesh ones, the classic polyester, or the vented polyester? I'm looking at these for a possible Christmas present for my dad's 185 (saving my pennies now!)... How much do they weigh?

GORGEOUS 'Wagon, btw!

Thanks. These are the solid, non-vented ones. Up here vents aren't the best idea because rain can go through the vents, get under the cover, and then freeze the cover to the wing. For my other 185 I had vented covers as it was always down south. I also had a set of mesh ones at that time (still do I think) but never used them. The mesh ones are just for taking advantage of the spoilers. I probably haven't used them because 1. they are annoying to install (throw over the wing-less mass), and 2. they don't use bungees but rather straps to cinch them up tight which seems like a lot of work in the wind- albeit they'd be tighter.

The covers don't weigh very much, you'd be surprised how little they weigh, the engine cover being the heaviest because it's insulated. And they pack down pretty small.

And they have them or can make them for all configurations including with WingX or with Sportsman STOL or both.

Even though I had a Tanis on my last 185 you guys talked me into a Reiff on this one and she came in today.

Lots of win in this thread. lol.

Barnstormer wrote:Even though I had a Tanis on my last 185 you guys talked me into a Reiff on this one and she came in today.

Now, how else can we help you spend your money? Haha.

Titanium landing gear.