Sparrowhawk 1/2/3 build

[CLS447]

Every Saturday Andy & I work on his SH. We now mounted the ECU behind the seat & are going to start the wiring process.

I suggested that we run PVC conduit from the rear of the cabin to the front & attach it to the"feet" that hold the cabin to the keel.

It would have taken alot of heating & bending. I then produced a section of this flexible blue plastic conduit & we decided to use that. Possibly 2 seperate pipes on both sides of the keel , under the toe plate, and curled right into the back of the instrument pod.

I stopped a Lowe's yesterday morning & the had it on clearance !!! So I got 3 lengths of 3/4" for Andy, & 2 connectors. I think it will work out real nice & we could paint it black if he wants to.

I wonder how others have run their wires ?

 

[n613hh]

No Title

 

[CLS447]

I looked for your real name.....no luck. Mine is Chris & I am helping build Andy's SH. Thank you for the pics of your machine.

I am guessing this is not the Subaru engine management system. It seems to me that SH has complicated the wiring pretty good.

The way I wired my SxS with 2.5 was as simple as I could make it. I don't even use a master solenoid. They even have us switching the ECU controlled fuel pump (primary). I told Andy that there are hundreds of ways to wire this stuff, but I like to keep it simple.

What are the metal "straps" that lead to the seat belt attachment points ?

How did you "fix" your fuel tanks ? (fuel proof )

We will be using a small breaker & switch panel (barely fits ), Skydat ? RRPM & small radio & transponder.

Thanks for the interest & I will keep you posted on progress.......here are some photos before wiring.....better ones to follow.

 

[n613hh]

No Title

I looked for your real name.....no luck. Mine is Chris & I am helping build Andy's SH. Thank you for the pics of your machine.

I am guessing this is not the Subaru engine management system. It seems to me that SH has complicated the wiring pretty good.

The way I wired my SxS with 2.5 was as simple as I could make it. I don't even use a master solenoid. They even have us switching the ECU controlled fuel pump (primary). I told Andy that there are hundreds of ways to wire this stuff, but I like to keep it simple.

What are the metal "straps" that lead to the seat belt attachment points ?

How did you "fix" your fuel tanks ? (fuel proof )

We will be using a small breaker & switch panel (barely fits ), Skydat ? RRPM & small radio & transponder.

Thanks for the interest & I will keep you posted on progress.......here are some photos before wiring.....better ones to follow.

Stephen, Cedar City, UT
ECU is the SDS EM4F. I used the originally specified fuse panels but also used in-line button breakers on the front panel by the switches. The fuses are rated higher than the breakers so they blow only if the breaker fails. Also have electric trim so I had to prototype a relay system instead of spending big $ for a manufactured.
The straps are seat belt extension brackets to allow using more standard racing type belt options. Quite a distance from the attach points.
All fuel tank fittings are external, ref Sparrowhawk II and III instructions. My tanks were Groen Bros prototypes that are Ethonol safe but I still use 91 non ethanol fuel.
Let me know if you want other information. [email protected]

 

[Vance]

Thank you for sharing your fine workmanship with the Rotary Wing Forum Stephen.

I find it inspiring to see such thought and care put into the construction of a gyroplane.

I look forward to following your flying adventures.

 

[n613hh]

Thanks Vance. We met each other in Brigham City 2 years ago. Has airworthiness completed and is at Pegasus in Nephi for test flying. Hopefully Mike and Mark will have it ready soon!

 

[CLS447]

Saturday is almost here again ! This week we plan to mount the battery & the master solenoid & start making the main cables.

The terminal ends supplied are the right cable size but not the right bolt/mount size......so we are going to DEKA battery to get what we need.

The above sentences were started this morning, then I got sidetracked & left for the day..... I just got back on the puter & saw I never posted. The new forum saved my post, How nice is that !

Then I saw some responses to the thread I was gonna post on.

Nice work Stephen ! I am sure Andy & me will have some questions for you, but right now I am on my 2nd Margherita & I am tired !

I also think I tracked in some dogshit & I am trying hard to find the source of the smell.....how nice is that ?

Good Night all, I will call Andy & tell him to absorb your post......Thanks alot & I mean it !

 

[CLS447]

Well, we got a little sidetracked ! Andy needed more instrument pod space.....so to make life easier....HA ! He found another SH instrument pod to mount side by side with his existing one. Slightly damaged but no big deal. We are just going to have 2 separate pods mounted side by side.

We cut 2 longer pieces of angle to mount them on. I did not like the way SH had you make rubber mounts for the pod so I am searching for some thick rubber cushions to mount them on.....what a pain in the ..... The best thing I can find without spending a fortune is rubber washers on ebay.

Anyone have any better ideas ?

Andy could you post your pics ?

With the washers we can use a bolt with a fender washer , some rubber, through the mount, some more rubber and so on & we can vary the thickness of the entire sandwich.

Can you believe SH had you cut cushions from a sheet & make your own barry mounts.....I mean that is just ridiculous !!!!!

They really wanted you to scream ! I AM !

They should have just sent you the motor in pieces so you could build your own engine too !

Then you would be sure to meet the 51% rule.....what a joke !

 

[Gman]

For isolation bushings, I use post style shock bushings. You can get them almost anywhere.

www.gethuskeyparts.com/part/shock-bushing-kit-for-club-car-precedent-and-ds-e-z-go-txt/

 

[CLS447]

Hey Gman ! Thanks for the reply ! Good thinking.....We probably have 8 mounting points , maybe less ? 4 sets & we're good to go!

What size bolt do they take ?

They look a bit heavy for my application ?

Where did you apply them ?

 

[skyking]

No Title

Progressing nicely thanks to Chris! It is so nice working in a heated shop and working with a craftsman. I look forward to our weekly build mission.

 

[skyking]

No Title

Last one for now.

 

[Carolinabrnstrm]

Looks great guys but I have flown several Sparrowhawks and one thing that I will NOT be putting in my build is that large view obstructing pod. NO NO and heck NO. I am going to be building a low profile gauge surround that does not get in the way of the front windscreen. If I wanted to fly a panel I would have bought a fixed wing. Seriously You might rethink the pod, let alone TWO of them.

 

[CLS447]

Jonathan, I will make sure Andy reads that.....I told him about view obstruction & joked about a see through floor.

Really, one pod doesn't leave you much room to see around the sides of so 2 just finishes the block.

He has a real nice radio & TX that need a place, the skydat ,that I did not really get to check out yet, the ignition, the mini breaker panel & he needs a place for his Ipad nav system.

Thanks....how is yours coming along ?

 

[CLS447]

Hello & Merry Christmas to all !

We finished the mounting of the dual pods & Andy took them along for some fiberglass remodeling. So next we took a good look at the Skydat instrument......only 4 wires go to the dash display ! Power & ground & 2 data wires !

Well where do all the sensor wires go ? Turns out that there is a data capture module that remotely mounts....this was news to me.

Sooooo...next we are going to get all the sensors installed & wired to it !

Fuel level sender.....float mech....calibrate & install in fuel tank.

Oil pressure.....VDO sender needs to be installed with bolt , rubber, clamp

Oil temp.....VDO sender install in place of stock dummy light switch (btw how do I fix oil temp ? I am not going to have that on my 2.5 )

2 EGT senders....for why ? Fuel injected.....what can you adjust ?

Coolant temp ......cant find the sender ?.......Maybe they want us to use the stock Subaru one. OK which wire ?

Looked at the rotor tach ......small seperate display needs to be mounted & sensor needs mounted up top.

They give you a piece of aluminum (that we can't find) that needs to be bent, drilled & fitted to torque tube.....that should take a whole day ! Then you must drill & mount the magnetic part to the ring gear....PITA ! Did they later simplify this ?

Now Andy has homework......dig through all the drawings, check the disk & print out missing info & figure out what they want !

HELP! ...I need somebody .....HELP!...not just anybody....HELP!.....you know I need someone.....HELP !

Maybe we should call GROEN BROS ! ?????? YEAH RIGHT ! I could have simplified this entire kit ! I guess that they wanted to make sure that you built 99.9% Ha....

I thought it was 51%

I would love to assemble, let's say a Calidus.........I have a hunch it would be a lot less work ! But still must be 51% ???????

 

[CLS447]

Anyone out there with a SH1/2/or3 That can help ?