Winter Practices

[dkenney1]

As a brand new owner of a Tcraft in western NY, it's getting cold and I want to do the correct things. Even when the temps are in the upper 30's and 40's the oil temp barely moves and in the 110-120 range and would like to heat that up a little more especially when the outside air temps go lower. Should I close off the nose bowl inlet that's just below the prop? How about the cylinder inlets? I'm hearing all sorts of things but mostly from those that are long on opinion and very short on actual Taylorcraft experience. So far the family has been having a blast with the little bird, so we want to take good care of it.

Thanks for your advice

[M Towsley]

Re: Winter Practices

I block the crankcase inlet and it helps. I don't have any way to measure head temps so I leave the cylinder inlets alone, though I know some guys will partially block those. I am sure more will chime in. Welcome to the forum.

[astjp2]

Re: Winter Practices

Do not use something that screws in or bolts on without some kind of paperwork.... duct tape does good for some but is not approved. Tim

[jmvolpp]

Re: Winter Practices

Here's my rig for preheat, both before and after electricity was available in the hangar. Being cold natured (the engine), I preheat whenever it's below 40 degrees and it starts like summertime. The cylinder air inlet plates are in place for preheat only, the crankcase air inlet plate stays until springtime. It is held in place with the cowl fasteners. I also put the long underwear on the oil tank and air inlet tubes. Remember to turn the idle mixture screw out 1/2 turn for the winter to help prevent the engine from stopping when you power back to idle on short final.

Mike V.

[dkenney1]

Re: Winter Practices

Thanks for the comments and help. I really liked the preheater. The plane now is hangered in sort of a large museum hanger and they are restoring another PT-19 at the far end, so they keep the hanger no less than 50 degrees, so I luck out there. N95938 shares hanger space with Stinson L-5, Fairchild PT-19 and PT-26. It may be small, but I can fly for hours on the fuel they use to taxi to the runway. Good point on the idle adjustment. It's starting to get cold enough that it blurbbles a bit when I add power from idle. Anyone use low weight oil, or is Philips 20XC ok? Here's a few pics that don't do it justice or show the 3 coats of wax my 9 year old son put on it. Yes I believe in child labor to learn responsibility.

Sorry, guess I can't get it to insert a pic here.

[M Towsley]

Re: Winter Practices

Use the manage attachments feature and make sure the photo is small enough. Also, please refer to the pdf in my post on this linked page.

Link: http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread...ht=engine+quit

[dkenney1]

Re: Winter Practices

Showing my ignorance again and I don't even work for the Govt. :-) Not sure what "manage attachments" is. When I click insert image from the toolbar just above this window it asks for a URL not a locatoin on my PC to get the pic. Actually I think I just found it. We'll see if it uploads. Thanks

[M Towsley]

Re: Winter Practices

Hit the Reply To Thread button and then the Go Advanced button. Scroll down to Additional Options you will see Manage Attachments. Hope that is a little clearer, sorry, so used to doing it I forgot about the Advanced button. Good luck!

[Carrieve]

Re: Winter Practices

I tried duct tape one winter and I couldn't get the residue of the tape off the nose bowl when spring came.

[M Towsley]

Re: Winter Practices

Use naptha, (lighter fluid), not the stuff from the hardware store. Takes all the residue off without harming paint. Check first, though. You can use this on all sorts of stuff to remove adhesive residue, even plastics. Same spot remover as Energine, which isn't made anymore.

[Pearson]

Re: Winter Practices

Naptha will work fine if your paint is some form of Polyurethane. But if you use it on something like Polytone, you will probably be removing some of the paint. Even then, if you use very light pressure with a rag you will still be able to buff the paint back to a nice gloss. Another product that is made for removing tape residue is Goo Gone. I don't know what is in it, but it works well. If it is pretty cold, you can also just use the tip of a finger and roll the residue into small balls and remove them.

[dkenney1]

Re: Winter Practices

Someone told me they apply the tape before flight and remove afterward. That way it doesn't harden or leave a sticky residue. I'll give it a shot, but don't want to mess up my fairly new paint job, my wife will kill me.

[M Towsley]

Re: Winter Practices

I've never had a problem. My plane is red, so I just buy the red duct tape and it sort of disappears from a distance.

[dkenney1]

Re: Winter Practices

In other words, if the FAA can see it, fly higher and/or faster? LOL

[M Towsley]

Re: Winter Practices

Naw, it's just a character flaw in that I like things to match.

(Beautiful plane, by the way).