Anyone know how to contact Tom Milton? Is he OK?

[Monarchist]

I've been trying to contact Tom Milton, we have a brand new seat tank that burst and we were working with him on trying to get it replaced. My last communication with him was that the manufacturer wanted to see the seat and they were going to send us a shipping container to get it back to them, but we haven't seen it and now I can't seem to contact Tom via e-mail or phone.

I know he had some medical issues a while back, so I hope he's ok.

Have any of you ever had this problem with a brand new seat tank?? My brother was working on another part of the gyro and started smelling gas. Thankfully he was not taxiing it.

-John

[JMCHFranklin]

Hey John,
Can you tell me more about the seat tank failure? I'm building an Aurora too with the 10 gal seat tank and want to learn from your experience.
Thanks,
John

[barnstorm2]

His account on this forum shows that he logged in today.

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[GyrOZprey]

Originally Posted by JMCHFranklin

Hey John,
Can you tell me more about the seat tank failure? I'm building an Aurora too with the 10 gal seat tank and want to learn from your experience.
Thanks,
John

John .... To the best of my knowledge Tom's tanks are only the 7.5 gal ones ... and you can get nice seat covers for them!
I did an internet search trying to find Larry's source for the 10 gal ones as he had them SO overpriced!!! ( I think he gets them from Canada)??? - my computer search skills are pretty pathetic - so no joy ... I decided the 2 x 5gal side tanks were much better value & have since found them available from aircraft parts suppliers ( Aircraft spruce, Leading Edge/Waggaero ) be better to buy them direct yourself & plumb them the way you like with GOOD quality fittings!!!
You'd just need to ask Larry for a price on installation hardware( minimal) & say you already have the tanks & plumbing! Same deal with the oil cooler & get the thermostat - a big help in getting quick operating oil temp in cooler weather!
A lot of Larry's kit "options" ( some not really optional in my opinion) are very overpriced & you can source your own components & fabricate hardware!
Keep asking .... lots of advice & opinions here!!!

[Monarchist]

Hi Chris: I was planning to add the side tanks when I bring the gyro to Texas. For local flying, 7.5 gallons is plenty, but I'd like to venture out a bit and the Aurora isn't going to set speed records, so I want to make sure I don't get stranded in a field. :-)

John: It's just a weird split that appeared out of nowhere. No cold temperatures, it happened early in the summer sometime. I think the seat had 3-4 gallons of fuel in it. It is the 7.5 gallon seat tank.

I'm a bit alarmed by this, because I've never heard of this happening. These things have been around a long time.

Here's a picture of the seat tank.

[JMCHFranklin]

Thanks Chris. Yeah, the 10 gal just looks so similar to the 7.5 and I think has the same mounting bar that I figured they were both from the same manufacturer. I didn't get the two side tanks but will probably at a later date. Didn't get the oil cooler either but will now definitely after your endorsement and other research I've done. The rest of the options are already in route (except nose(sorry to read about your split)). I don't mind paying some extra if it's to Larry's support but of course don't want to pay too much. I received my rotors on Saturday and the shipping company squished the top blade. I was so bummed. Ernie has been way cool in pursuing the claim though.

John, yikes! I hope there is a clear reason for the failure and you find it out to tell the rest of us. I fly Thursday with Chris Burgess in that same seat and of course I'll be thinking of this...(uncomfortable lol).

BTW - what's the "curvy" seat tank I've seen and what are the reviews on it as an alternate option?

[Timchick]

The curved larger seat above is a Jazz dune buggy seat. You'll have to add a fill neck & cap and drill holes for the outlets. Lots of people use them and seat covers are available for them, too.

[JMCHFranklin]

Thanks Tim! I'm probably over thinking things prior to really getting my hands dirty on the build. I just hope John's instance was due to unknown hanger rash or something rather than a flaw.

I just got the forum app for my phone so I'm sure I'll be using you all for hanger talk more as the newbie.

John, I hope I didn't take your post over...:-)

[Monarchist]

No worries. :-)

Definitely not hangar rash in my case...

[Monarchist]

Still have not been able to get a call in to Tom, nor a call back from him despite several voice messages.

[barnstorm2]

Originally Posted by Monarchist

Still have not been able to get a call in to Tom, nor a call back from him despite several voice messages.

He, or someone with his account information accessed the forum last night / this morning.

It is not uncommon to have difficulty contacting Tom on occasions.

You can check when he was on the forum (and see some posts from other people that have been trying to contact him) here:

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/member.php?u=400

He has had some health issues in the past which account for some lack of contact but if he is checking the forum, I hope that is a sign that he is OK but just busy.

My bet is that he has locked himself in the shop to get caught up on orders. He is a 'one man band' for wunderlick and seat tanks so he can't man the phones all the time.

.

[Monarchist]

Thanks, Tim....I received a call from him a couple of hours ago, a new seat will be heading my way tomorrow. Very good news!

-John

[gyroplanes]

Sorry, I didn't see this thread until today.
I don't have much time to linger on here like I used to. Just too darned busy.

The seat tank molder that I used got too big for me and my paltry quantity of runs, so the kicked me to the curb after 10+ years. New owners were t he factor.

This once-so-far failure would have best been cause determined by them, but they never followed up after repeated tries and many promises. I received the failed seat tank recently, but I have been too busy to look at it yet.
I smashed my finger and it has slowed me down a bit.
I will try to determine the cause and will also show the tank to my new supplier, when I find one.

[gyroplanes]

Originally Posted by barnstorm2

He, or someone with his account information accessed the forum last night / this morning.

It is not uncommon to have difficulty contacting Tom on occasions.

You can check when he was on the forum (and see some posts from other people that have been trying to contact him) here:

http://www.rotaryforum.com/forum/member.php?u=400

He has had some health issues in the past which account for some lack of contact but if he is checking the forum, I hope that is a sign that he is OK but just busy.

My bet is that he has locked himself in the shop to get caught up on orders. He is a 'one man band' for wunderlick and seat tanks so he can't man the phones all the time.

.

I have a bad habit of not checking my missed calls on the cell phone (and it doesn't remind me to).
I never check the private messages here on the forum. E-mail is still the best way to reach me as my phone displays the messages well.

Sorry, it is tough being a one man show, and to end that plight I am breaking in a very promising new guy that is also a forum regular (he tipped me to this thread) I forgot what his screen name is.