Houston, We Have Main Engine Start!
Houston, We Have Main Engine Start!
Finally! I got all the little fiddly-bits tied up and was able to start the beast today. I had to repair some issues with a fuel return line, and checking all the fluid levels and all the little pre-start stuff that you have to look after that can turn into whole day-burners was as tedious as expected.
Anyway..engine is running fine. I seem to have an issue with my oil pressure gauge, but I'm sure that is just a bifocal-induced wiring thing that will easily be sorted out. Everything else is working well.
Here is my short list as it stands at the moment:
1. Tidy-up wire and brake line tie-downs.
2. Fix whatever is going on with the oil pressure gauge.
3. Build and install the toe brake pedals.
4. Build and install the pedal stop bracket.
5. Re-hang the rudder/tail assembly.
6. Measure and order the push-pull cable for the rudder.
7. Build the bendix/rotor-steering assembly. (I never liked the old one, even after going through it to make it more stable).
8. Build a new hydraulic reservoir and plumb the pre-rotator.
9. Re-install the rotor-head.
10. Re-pitch and re-install the propeller.
There are probably some "gotchas" hiding in that list somewhere, but the only real chore is #7. I considered buying an assembly from Tom Milton and adapting it for my hydraulic pump, but upon consideration, it will take as much adaptation going that way as it will to just build something that fits my needs.
I think I'm within a few weeks at most of being back in the air again. It's been too long for the Bulldozer, and I miss the beast.