Success My Lord!

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Screw-In

Well, I took "DaScrew-Driver" up today with the new Resistor Spark plugs (Autolite 425).

I was very suprised about a few things. First Steve from Great Planes told me I shoud gap the new plugs at 16 thousands (.016). I said ok and gapped the plugs as instructed. When I pulled out the old plugs they were gapped at about 29 thousands (.029). I thought this was strange but relying on good information from the horses mouth, I proceeded to install them.

Usually, I have to choke the crap out of the engine, give it flowers, and hold my tongue just right to get it to fire. Not this time. Six pulls for choke, and she fired right up. I let it run for a while and work itself out. Had a helper hold while I did some power test and all seemed well.

We shut her down and let her cool off, as I started to get geared up and mounting radio gear.

The first test was with the engin off, and I attempted to transmitt. I cut the mic wire inside the radio as Ken J instructed. I plugged and powered up everything and put on my helmit. Keyed up and began to transmitt. I still cannot hear myself when I transmitt, but my habger buddy said I was Lima Charlie.

Next test was to start the engine and see if these new Resistor plugs did the job. Started the engine with no sweat, straped myself in, plugged everything up and powered everything "ON." I could still hear a good deal of RF interference, but was able to eliminate it by increasing the squelch. Again I transmitted and was Lima Charlie. Time to go fly.

Taxied out and departed Spring Valley, very hot and a stiff crosswind. Circled the pattern and noticed the RF intereferance was back. I increase the squelch and it was elliminated again. I transmitted again. Hanger Buddy responded Lima Charlie! We got us a working radio!!!!!!

So, I flew for a while and flew over my hometown of Loganville, and I heard someone else call for a "Radio Check." I answered his call and at first, he said I was breaking up. This could have been due to range, so I re-transmitted and he thanked me.

While I was up, I pulled up "Scott's Place" (Scott Essex of SX days) on my GPS and asumed the proper heading. Given my average speed and his range my ETA would have been 56 minutes.

Now that I have a working radio, and approximately 29+ hours on "DaScrew-Driver," I think it's about time I stretched her legs and take her on her very first Cross Country over to Scotts place.

The only thing that bugging me about the radio, is that I cannot hear myself when transmitting. Is there a cure for this?

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[automan1223]

I believe you need a newer head set with side tone. Side tone allows you to hear yourself when you key up. I have an inexpensive head set that came with my setup. When 2 head sets plugged in and you keyed up the unit would squeal in the headphones. I purchased what I thought was the very same make and model headset only several years newer. When I key up as a single user I can now hear myself in the head set. I believe that is why with 2 units hooked up I was getting a squeal. You should have a newer head set and if you are running 2 they should both be the same thing.

Jonathan

[automan1223]

Closing the gap only provides a smaller spark kernel to help a weak ignition system. and allows a lower voltage to form and jump the gap.

If you have a fat enough mix you will be ok, if it is cold and you have a lean mix due to the cold or the fuel is set up lean then you want to open up the gap 10-15 thous. Most igniton systems in good condition can handle the larger gap. The larger gap forces the coil to generate more voltage before jumping the arc / gap. More voltage means hotter spark and better fire of cold mix.

If you have a magneto or cd ignition then you want to keep the gaps where the mfg wants them. I am no fan of autolite resistor plugs. Get some bosch +4 and you will notice an improvement.

Your ignition noise is coming from an unshielded coil and wires. If your power is coming from the same dirty power from an alternator and ignition system then you will have noise no matter what. Use a separate dedicated power supply. Be careful about using metal braid to shield your wires Your wires insulation must be up to the task. your coil can be shielded in a number of ways but adding more parts around high voltage components must be done carefully to prevent grounding or shorts.

[gyromike]

John,

is your radio equipped with sidetone capability?

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Thanks Jonathan. I did not know these things and they make perfect sense.

Mike, I don't have a clue. I have an older Sporty's JD 200 and a comtronics helmet.

When I was training with Steve, I could hear myself when we talked over the intercom. He did all of the "Ship to Shore" transmitting. Is the Side tone feature a part of the radio or headset?

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[KenSandyEggo]

I believe side-tone is part of the radio or intercom, not the headset, but if I'm wrong....you know......never mind.

[Chuck Irby]

What, not even a Thank you? Glad the resistor plugs helped, JB.

[joeheli]

Mike, We suppost to gap are plugs at .25 thousands with the CDI system.Wright?

[Chuck Irby]

Jose, I'm just trying to help you my friend. 25/1000" = .025" (not .25) .25 = 1/4"

[joeheli]

No problem! Thank you for always helping me! So is .025"

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Thankyou Chuckalicious

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[gyromike]

Jose,

I don't have my CDI installations in front of me, but I think I gapped them at .030"

Maybe Rick will chime in, and set us straight.

[Caribean_gyro]

Ken you are right . side tone comes from the intercom or some radios equip. In the icom dash mount I can use the radio side tone or intercome.

Jose you better get some good grip on the decimal points . Get a caliper and play with it. This is how I force my self to think in decimals vs Fractions.

Now dont do a stair with a caliper.

ChuckP

PS. Read you plugs they will tell you if the gap is wrong.

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Well today I wanted to get a good idea on my range with "DaScrew-Driver."

RECAP:

The last time I went and flew, I pulled up Scott's place on my GPS and headed that way. Given my Airspeed and Distance, my GPS gave me an ETA of 56 minutes. Also, I put about 6 10ths of an hour on the new plugs. Everything was going well.

TODAY:

I took a stopwatch with me today and fired up with full tank. Taxied to the end of the runway and started my stopwatch. Departed as normal and cruised around for 1 hour and 1 minute and 36 seconds. Did not attempt to trim to any certain speed and went out to some fields and had a little fun. Throttle setting varied the whole flight. Pretty much stayed between 65-70 mph.

After landing it took one 5 gal tank to fill back to the origional mark. I'd say that's 5 GPH. Probably get better trimming for say 60 and leave it.

I now know I have the range for a cross country over to Scott's place which is 59 miles from my based airfield.

Ran the radio also, and still had to put in max squelch to elliminate engine noises and I still got a crack every now and then. I had a hard time making out other traffic though and that may be due to range. Hopefully I'll be able to add the external or (Remote) antenna and be able to increase the range of my radio.

I'm gearing up for my first "Cross Country" in a my very own Gyro. I'm so excited I can't stand it.

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