Winter covers on the air intakes.

[Len Petterson]

Previusely I posted an answer to keeping the engine warm in the winter.
It looks like we last it, so would like to post this information about the winter covers I am using.
They are the same shape as the grills over air intakes and have the edges rolled to create a stiffer edge.Mountted veticaly in the center are a small aluminum angel, 3/4*3/8*4", 2 sheet metal screws and tinnerman nuts.This angel grabs one of the center bars in the grill. In six places around the edges are are dubble saftey wire, with a short pice of tygontubing over the wire,
to protect the grill from being cut by the wire. You may get away with using only the wires?
There is 2 holes in eash of the covers, 1 infront of the carb heat and cabinheat intakes and are of the same size as these inlets.
The second hole is in front of the cylinder head with a diameter of 3.5".
A slolid plate is placed over the air intake under the center of the engine.
The top of this plate is being held in place with a lip under the upper cowling,
and the bottom has two holes what matches the 2 center duz fastners in the lower cowling. It slips in betwen the upper and lower cowling.
I did fly with the covers on for the first time today: Outside airtemp was
32-35 F.
Results: Cylinder head Temp: 350 - 375 degF.
Oil temp 150 degF, 160 on climbout.
It seams like summer temperaturs.

There was NO hesitation then I gave her trottel as she did without covers.
Last time I was flying it was about 45 degF and she did NOT take trottle well.
I did copied the covers after friends T-craft and I seen similar once on a
C 120 and Fleet Canuck with C 85's.
I will post pictures then I get a chance to take some.

Len Petterson

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

Her in alaska it gets pretty cold. I havent ever coverd my grills but i cover the opening above the intake. Havent ever seen that done up here. I have also used the insulated oil pan and tube covers. keep us up to date on how they work.

[Len Petterson]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

Here in southwestern Ontario we have milder winters with high relative humitety.
Yes, I have been told about the blankets for the oilpan and intakepipes.
I am not useing them.I will keep posting to let you know how I make out then it gets Realy Cold, if it does. Minus 5F or 20C is just about as cold as it gets.
If one runs a little richer mixture in the winter would it eleviade the lack off trottel respnse? Consider the fixed mixture Sromberg carb.
Len

[mhorowit]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

Lance - do you tie her down outside?
How do you stay warm when flying? lot of layers?- Mike

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

I do tie her dow outside. I have a full set of covers and a good pre heater. I have duel heat so i am toasty warm down to zero deg. I use that silver bubble insulation that gose from the roof to the back of the seat to block off the baggage comp. So i only haft to heat the front cabin what a diff, that makes. I did fly her for ten years with no heat bunny boots and about 5 layers.

[crispy critter]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

Lance,
What is the heat bunny boots and how do you install a duel heat system.This is a new one to me.Please tell me more about the duel heat?

[jdlowrey]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

I read the previous posts on winter flying with great interest. Still being a student pilot with limited experience, I wanted to still be able to fly in the winter and not have to put the plane in hibernation until spring. I mentioned the baffle system for the grills and what I read here to my mechanic and he mentioned that duct tape across the gills had always worked for him plus it was easy to install. As for keeping warm, long johns and bunny boots would help.

Jeff

[Richard Boyer]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

I just decided to live in central Texas. We have about 2 months of real "winter" where the temps flirt with the mid 30's.

Trade off, is it is a bit warm in the summer......but if you fly high enough, it gets cool again!

Richard Boyer
N95791
Georgetown, TX

[crispy critter]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

Jeff,
You want to close off the hole over the bottom of the crank case(if your t-craft has one).You do not want to close off the grills because your cylinder head temp will go through the roof and cause major problems.

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

Kevin. How i did the duel heat. First i had the cessna 150 mufflers put on. then i bought two supercub heat boxes installed on each side. I ran the heat fron one muffler to one side then used a y pipe off the otherside. One side of the y went to the carb heat. the othe side of the y pipe went to the other heater. it works real well both for the heat and the carb heat is ex, also even when the heat is on.. I got a 337 without any problems. Plus each heater has its own control so i can use one or both......

[Len Petterson]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

Ok I reed all the replyes to my suggestion about the winter covers, so I removed the once over the cylinder intakes. Same cylynder head temp 350 375F @ 12degC outside temp.
Now the tempreature droped and the snow is coming down sa let see if she will caogh or take the trottle?
Len Petterson

[paulp]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

Lance,

Sounds like a great idea! But I am curious as to how you got the 150 style mufflers to fit under the cowling. I have a set of Hanlon-Wilsons, with the shrouds, but I couldn't get the cowling to fit without modifing it or the exhaust manifolds. Please tell me the secret. :confused

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Winter covers on the air intakes.

Paul I did haft to modify the cowling.. I had to cut a small half moon shape in the cowling on both sides where the muffler cans hit. then i made covers to cover the holes. also you haft to cut two holes for the new ex, pipes to come thrue the bottom of the cowling. I did not haft to make any other modifications. the exhaust manifolds fit fine.