I'm a Newbie!

[Dave Martin]

Hello All! I am new to the forums. My Dad and I recently purchased a Bensen B-80 with a MAC 72. We have not flown it yet, it hasn't been in the air for 12 yrs and needs some TLC first (fuel lines, spark plugs). Only 46.2 hrs on the engine according to the logs! It was stored right and is a beauty! Can't wait to get her off the ground! I'll link to some pics in the appropriate category.
You guys have a great forum, i'm honored to be a part of it!

:plane:

[Timchick]

Dave, Welcome to the forum. Good luck with your gyro. Go through every nut and bolt and replace anything that looks qustionable. Bolts are cheap. Rick Whittridge makes an electronic ignition for the Mac that does away with the points. It's the single biggest improvement you can make. The engine will start a lot easier. I have one on my 72 hp Mac. Where are you going to take lessons from?

[Dave Martin]

Well i watched the Ken Brock instructional videos on You Tube, if that counts hehe. We are thinking about the PRA for that. My dad has flown fixed wing aircraft, and i have flown fixed wing aircraft on my flight simulators. Who would you guys suggest for instruction? We live in SW Michigan, not far from Indiana. It seems there is alot of PRA Chapters in indiana.

The ignition upgrade sounds like a great idea! I'm gonna get one! Do you use MOGAS or 100LL in your MAC?

[Dave Martin]

Here a link to a few pics if it works>
http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3AxxrKUp7BHD7KPfrj%3DQofrj 7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQnexlGlxQGlx v8uOc5xQQQ0eQPeQoQlQqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPlP %7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442
http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3AxxrKUp7BHD7KPfrj%3DQofrj 7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQnexlGlxQGlx v8uOc5xQQQ0eQPePQa0QqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPPG %7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442
http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3AxxrKUp7BHD7Kofrj%3DQofrj 7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQnexlGlxQGlx v8uOc5xQQQ0eQPePQenJqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPlo %7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442
http://render2.snapfish.com/render2/is=Yup6aQQ%7C%3Dup6RKKt%3AxxrKUp7BHD7KPfrj%3DQofrj 7t%3DzrRfDUX%3AeQaQxg%3Dr%3F87KR6xqpxQQnexlGlxQGlx v8uOc5xQQQ0eQPePQa0aqpfVtB%3F*KUp7BHSHqqy7XH6gXPl0 %7CRup6lQQ%7C/of=50,590,442

[pwongkit]

Its does look nice, I used 100LL in my Mac 72HP
pwongkt

[Dave Martin]

Cool thanks, and very nice bird you got! Where did you get that Cowling it is Sweet!

[Timchick]

Dave,
100LL fuel for the mac. There are some instructors in Indiana. Gary Goldsberry is one of them. Look on the www.pra.org website to see which instructors are in indiana. Was that the gyro that was on ebay?

[Dave Martin]

Yes that is the one. The old owner/builder is now in a nursing home with dimensia, poor old guy he sure built a great bird! And we owe it to him to get it in the air and back, again and again. We got it for $4,100ish which i think was a good deal. We picked it up the day after the auction ended. It was the biggest ebay adrenaline rush i have ever experienced hehe.

Do you got the number of the guy that sells the electronic ignition or is he a member here also? Thanks for all the help guys!

[Dave Martin]

Yery nice bird you got also Tim, those pipes are awesome! Where in the world did you find those?

[Timchick]

Rick's a member here. Here's one of his recent threads. http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12796

Send him a message through the forum and he'll be glad to help you out.

The pipes on my gyro are no longer made by man who was making them. I had them Jet-Hot coated to help preserve them.

Another thing to update your gyro would be to do away with the boat gas tank and put a seat tank on it. It helps raise the center of gravity. http://calumetair.com/

[Jazzenjohn]

There is a PRA chapter in Michigan. They met in Fowlerville last Saturday. The next meeting might be in Erie Mi. at Dan Growchowski's shop. If you're interested I'll let you know if it comes together. I fly out of Mettetal airport in Plymouth Mi.

[Dave Martin]

The previous owner/builder of the b80 that i got was a member of chapter 77 which i think is out of Gowen, MI. which i think is just a little NE of Grand Rapids. Is this the chapter that is going to be in Erie? There is also a chapter near Sturgis, which is probally closer for me. I believe their name is Maumee Valley Rotorcraft. Thanks for the info guys, i dont want to risk a 15 second of fame ride, and crash and burn. I do good on Microsoft Flight Sims but this is far more serious than a sim.

[DanielM]

Man that thing is sharp! It looks familiar. Was it listed on Ebay?

Aside from the the Mac ignition and seat tank mods may I suggest that you put a horizontal stabilizer(HS for short) on it . Some will argue this but if I were you I would rather be safe than sorry. Heres a link to a bolt-on kit:

http://www.starbeegyros.com/productdetail.asp?ID=116&kits=1

Their parts are super high quality and are well worth the price. Just remove the old tail and rock guard and this one will clamp on w/ no drilling. BTW it is available, you just have to email them to get put on the waiting list.

Can't wait to see some pics of it flying!

DanielM(fellow flight simulator junkie)

[Dean_Dolph]

Dave, you are correct on some of your chapter info. To see the up to date info go to the PRA web site and click on chapters in the top menu. Scroll down to Michigan and you will see 4 chapters listed. Chapter 70 doesn't have an email address but does have a contact phone number.

The last poll of the chapters shows that, with one exception, what is in the magazine and on the web site is correct. The one exception (not in Michigan!) has me waiting on the chapter for clarification.

But, things change and the chapter coordinator (me!) isn't always informed of those changes. Consequently the web site and the mag can be wrong at times. The web site can be updated fairly quickly once correct info is supplied. It depends on when a change takes place as to how quickly it shows up in the magazine.

[Fl90]

Nice looking machine. That looks like a ST. Croix prop out of Oregon, I think. I had one once, so long ago I don't remember the performance. The prop was destroyed on take off, not the props fault ( I kicked up a cow bone).

I cut the prop guard down the center and mounted it on the vertical stab. It changed the work load a great deal.

Phil.

[Dave Martin]

Yes it is a St. Croix prop 480-48" i believe, haven't had a chance to try it out yet though. :sad: I need some 100LL first :wacko:

[Dave Martin]

Thanks for the info Dean, my dad and I are going to join together.

[Dave Martin]

TY, isn't the thing on the tail boom a HS, or is it just a rock guard? I thought that it was a HS, but i'm a noob. Thanks for the info daniel im gonna check them out!

Man that thing is sharp! It looks familiar. Was it listed on Ebay?

Aside from the the Mac ignition and seat tank mods may I suggest that you put a horizontal stabilizer(HS for short) on it . Some will argue this but if I were you I would rather be safe than sorry. Heres a link to a bolt-on kit:

http://www.starbeegyros.com/productdetail.asp?ID=116&kits=1

Their parts are super high quality and are well worth the price. Just remove the old tail and rock guard and this one will clamp on w/ no drilling. BTW it is available, you just have to email them to get put on the waiting list.

Can't wait to see some pics of it flying!

DanielM(fellow flight simulator junkie)

[Timchick]

The thing on your tail keel is a prop rock guard. As Daniel mentioned and Phil commented on his, adding a good horizontal stab to your tail assembly will increase the stability. I added mine before I flew it so I don't know what it was like without it. Nor do I want to know.

[Dave Martin]

is it possible to leave the rock guard and add a HS or is this not a good idea?

[Fl90]

That'll work. You have to take my posts in perspective....If I can take it off, I do. My machine is simple and bare. And I have flown with and without a HS. The fun factor is enough for ME to have a HS.

Phil.

[Timchick]

Dave,
Yes you can leave the rock guard on and still add a stab. I'd still have mine on if it didn't interfere with the exhaust. I fly off grass strips so I want as much protection for the prop as possible.

[Dave Martin]

cool thanks guys. I'm not sure if i'll buy, one but i may just fabricate one to fit my exitsting vertical stabilizer. :flame:

[Aussie_Paul]

is it possible to leave the rock guard and add a HS or is this not a good idea?

I did that on my VW Bensen way back in 82.

I hope you and your dad enjoy the road to, and the flying of gyroplanes.

Aussie Paul. :)

A bit hard to see the rock guard tho.

[Rick Whittridge]

Welcome to the Forum Dave! I have sent you a private Message about my ignition.
Thanks,
RICK

[Tina]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forum. I wish you and your Dad many fun times ahead learning the gyro. I am a fixed wing pilot myself. Flying and learning to fly the gyro took a lot of discipline and patients, but is very rewarding at the end when it all comes together and your flying.

Just remember flying a gyro is different then flying a fixed wing. You are learning a hole different kind of machine! Put the fixed wing flying aside and remember to start from a new prospective. The gyro will fool you and lure you in to thinking it is like a fix wing till you make a critical mistake then it maybe to late to recover. So take one lesson at a time build on it till it all comes together and it will, so give it time and the gyro will talk to you if you are open to listen ;)

[Dave Martin]

Hello tina thank you for the encoraging words! Paul could you send me a link to some better pics of the HS you made for your bensens? That would be a great place to start. Nice birds both of you!

[John Stahl]

Dave

If you are going to build a HS you may want to look at the placement of the HS.
For the most stable placement of the HS it should be in the prop wash.
If you put the HS on the tail boom it will not be in the prop wash.
Also a tall tail will fix the motor torque roll you get during take off. You may want to consider a crucifix tail like the Sparrow Hawk has.

[Dave Martin]

Hey Timchick does the Elect. Ign setup that you got on your MAC 72 does it replace the magneto or just the points and condenser?

[rcflier]

Hi Dave, that's a very beautiful bird;
the old man did a great job. I think
it's the prettiest Bensen type I've seen.
And it must be a Skywheels rotor.
I have one (23 ft.) for my Gyrobee,
and seeing yours made me think of asking:
Has anyone got pictures and dimensions for
the rotorhead for it? I would like to make it myself
using my mill.

Cheers
Erik

[Dave Martin]

Thank you Erik. Ill go through my box full of stuff it got with it. I may have rotorhead specs. but they will probally be in US measurements (nothing a little conversion wont fix). if i find them i could probally just mail you some copies.

[Timchick]

Dave,
The ignition from Rick will replace the mag, points and the entire ignition housing. You'll remove your housing, send it to Rick and he'll send you a complete housing back with the new ignition in it. It'll also include some external coils with a mounting plate. Does your mag housing have the cover on it? If so, keep the cover for the new housing.

[Dave Martin]

Roger that we have the cover. Thanks for the info Tim. I talked to Rick and he is said it would be a few months before he could get some done but that is fine. We have alot of work to do and i dont expect to be flying this year anyways. Sounds like a great setup, can't wait to get it! Price is kinda heavy but what on aircraft isnt? Well worth the price i'm sure!

[giro5]

When I decided to build a kb2 the first thing I did was buy a used MAC that had been stored but it turned over nicely and felt like it had compression. Upon dissasembly I found the roller bearings had pitted the crankshaft and one cylinder had seized. If your engine has not been run on a regular basis you would be wise to take it apart and check it. Mine was not rebuildable. Rick Whittridge was able to put a 72 hp together for me. The other source is R & D engineering in Caddo Mills Texas. R & D can sell you a rebuilt 72 or 90 hp. Rick may have enough parts for a 72 but I think he does not have enough for a 90. You would just have to contact him to see if he could help.

If you decide to run yours as is I would expect a failure soon and this would not be good for someone with limited experience.

After reading this forum for a year I would recommend getting a 90 if you have to get another engine. Good luck and welcome to the gyro community.

[Dave Martin]

Mine hasn't been run in over 12 yrs. the old guy stored it with marvel mystery lube filled in the crank. Hopefully ill be ok. I would be all for a tear down but it looks like gaskets are real hard to come by...

[Timchick]

You can get gaskets from R&D, 1-903-527-2006. You may want to get a spare set if you order some. They have one set that's an engine gasket set and includes the carb intake gasket also.

[Dave Martin]

Thanks for the info Tim!