Engine upgrade

[Don Eide]

Re: Engine upgrade

Lee,
These are good questions for Forest.
The big problem I see, would be getting approval for the A-80.
I just looked up the STC's, and did not find any for the A-75 or the A-80.
The Type Certificate A-696 doesn't show any of these engines either.
Most people say that one time approvals are also hard to get.

Kevin,
What does Forest have to say about your T-craft?
He must know something about it.

Don

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Engine upgrade

SAY what! When the 19 & F-19 had the longer mount WE just relocated the battery for weight & balance, plus those ships had a bit of extra weight aft with windows , fuel, baggage , etc.. The "fixed ballast" shows up on the 1A9 ATC with the F-22 and a bit sometimes on the F-21 series depending upon equipment added forward.... Read the ATC and see location of items.....
The A-75 & A-80 is the same engine basically as the A-65 only it is allowed to turn at a higher RPM... If you really want performance do like Steve Wittman used to do with the C-85 & turn it over 4100 RPM in the air...... the A-75 prop is a 70-38 & I think the A-80 used a 70-36.... Sooooo you have to turn it a lot faster all the time to keep up with the other ships. The increased HP is useful for take-off....... There is no STC for the A-75 or A-80 to my knowledge.... WE have done both here on a 337 ( field approval) ....

[Robert Lees]

Re: Engine upgrade

Therefore weight must be added to the tail to balance the now nose heavy bird.

I'm not sure about that, Kevin. Where is that documented?

Rob

[Yellow Duck]

Re: Engine upgrade

What if you made your A-65 an A-80 and didn't say any thing, just write it up as you would any other major. And keep the engine tag the same.

Just thinking !

[Don Eide]

Re: Engine upgrade

Lee,

How gutsy are you? Your prop would tell anyone that it's not a 65.

Stuff like that is done all the time, but, like a lot of things, there is a risk.

I knew a guy once that had a light weight airplane, but not an ultralight. Too much fuel, too heavy, too fast, but he flew it as an ultralight with no airworthiness, no "N" number, no insurance and no medical. He had a heart
problem. He would come home from the hospital (for his heart) and the next day go fly. He had put everything he owned in his kids names, and said the only thing he had to lose was his cheap airplane. Maybe.

I bought an airplane once that I was told flew all the time, until he backed the tractor into it, and for years it had an annual inspection about every four years. It had been on the ranch.

You must weigh the odds. Do you live on a private strip?

Don

[stormman]

Re: Engine upgrade

What if you made your A-65 an A-80 and didn't say any thing, just write it up as you would any other major. And keep the engine tag the same.

The 80 uses small wrist pins and loose fitting 5 ring pistons that have trouble with oil control.
the 65 has large wrist pins and tight fitting pistons and rings with good oil control.
NOT WORTH the trouble
Spin the engine with a flat pitch prop if you want but can the piston change , its not worth the trouble
How do i know ?
Been there done that
try 40 pitch or maybe a 38
Fly on up to Arkansas and i will let you try one , 40 pitch
but don,t write on the side of your plane :Taylorcraft , 38 pich prop" and on the annuals don,t give it full throttle for the static runup test,
And keep it away from old retired guys like Don who make pitch watching a national pastime !

[Yellow Duck]

Re: Engine upgrade

Just thinking out loud. But was wondering.

I do have a 41 inch pitch prop now. I static about 2000 RPM, and run at 2300 much of the time. Indicate about 90-95 and sometimes 100. But kicking around the house here I usually use 2150 or a little less and get 80-85.

Yes I do fly out of my home. 1700 ft. grass with large trees at both ends. Reason I was wanting a little mor umph. In the winter time it is fine, but come summer, hot and humid, it is a single place operation.

Norm, where on the 38th parallel in AR do you live. We go there on occassion. Good friend lives in Mena.

[Yellow Duck]

Re: Engine upgrade

PS. to Don:

Where in MN are you ? We go there on occassion also. Very good friend in N.Mankato, MN. (Roger & Jacque Menk)

Spoke with them yesterday. 13 Deg. below. Burrr , COLD. Low 70's here yesterday. A little warmer today.

Don, were you with the FAA ? I worked at the HOU Center as a Radar Controller in Houston TX.

Been retired since '92. Just play now. Mostly working and flying old aitplanes riding motorcycles (my wife and I, she has her own) and Old cars. I have an El Camino.

On the Aircraft side, I would like to have a little more power tho. Reason I had ordered a new T-Craft. Wonder if any will ever be built? Really hope so. If they were to come out soon, I may still buy one. Looking at several other options. Kevin Mays in KT is building up an Aeronica Chief that may sound promising. A 75 with a Johnson Bar type manual started. (never seen one,starter that is). Has a different wing than the T-Craft, higher lift,slower but may get out better.

[Don Eide]

Re: Engine upgrade

Lee,

I'm at a little place called Webster, MN. Live on a airpark called Skyharbor.
Its on the Twin Cities sectional. Look up 1MN8. Or http://members.tcq.net/mdolan My house is not one of the pictures, but the red and white Champ is mine. The Champ has a 115 Lycoming in it.

Mankato. Go there offen. We have very good friends in Mankato. One hour drive or an 18 minute flight in my 182


Yes it's been a little on the cool side, but my work shop is heated, my hanger can be heated, and we just put on more clothes if we go outside.

I did not work for the FAA, but I probably talked to you. I flew for North Central/Republic/Northwest (merger mania) and flew into Houston many times.

I retired the last day of October 1997, and finished rebuilding a Champ, just finishing an L-4, (military cub) and have two T-crafts to rebuild. I started on one T-craft before the cub showed up (owned by my daughter and son-in-law) but now will get back at the T-crafts. I owned a T-craft back in 1959 60 61, and one of my T-crafts is one N number lower than that old T-craft.

I still think the best way to go is with an STC. The Harer STC for a BC12D-85 and one of Don's Dream Machine engines, which dyno at 97hp, but is still a C-85. All you have to do is beef up the wing fittings and have one wing tank. That would be the lightest with the most power. Of course I'm not going that way with the first T-craft. I,m going to update it to a Model 19. I Know, lots of work, but thats what I want. (what I really want is a starter) Maybe on the second T-craft. Time will tell.
Don

[stormman]

Re: Engine upgrade

Hello Lee
I live in Cherokee Village .- Ash Flat area about 1 driving hour out of Jonesburo . 40 minutes to Batesville. 5 minutes to Ash Flat airport.
As you were thinking about buying a new T , i would listen to Don and think about buying a F19 or a 21 and get her done.
I believe i static at 2300

PS Don your not really old

[Yellow Duck]

Re: Engine upgrade

Norn, need to stay with the "Sport Plane" . I have a current medical, but do not intend to take another medical. So need to stay in the 1320 gross wt. What is the F-19 ?

Thanks , Don. Probably did speak with you. I worked mostly the HOU sector and for a while I did the South Texas Area. Been flying for 50 yrs now. Man time passes. Owned many different airplanes over the years. This is my fourth T-Craft. May well be my last, if I could get the extra HP and like you a starter would be real nice.

Getting ready to start my annual next month. New SS (already purchased) exhaust and a little cleaning up on the firewall and engine.

I had spoken with Don in Griffen GA. a while back. Also think that is a good way to go also.

[Carl Ellis]

Re: Engine upgrade

[QUOTE=Yellow Duck]Norn, need to stay with the "Sport Plane" . I have a current medical, but do not intend to take another medical. So need to stay in the 1320 gross wt. What is the F-19 ?


The F-19 has a 1500 lbs gross. I really feel that the FAA did us all a real disservice by not including aircraft from the 152 on down.

[NC95842]

Re: Engine upgrade

hi yellow Duck

if don't mind me asking... how much was your New SS (already purchased) exhaust.

[Yellow Duck]

Re: Engine upgrade

SS Exhaust from Sonny Porch in FL . About $500 as best as I remember. Bought them last Feb. He had some made already and knew I would need them now. Didn't want to get here and have to wait. Did not include muffler or carb heat muff. Looks really nice.

I had purchased a set for my L-2 and they were really nice (as are these) and fit perfect. I have his phone no. if you need it, but he is on the L-2 site and may well be here also.

Lee

[Rich. Anderson]

Re: Engine upgrade

I have been flying my 85 hp for over 40 years in a bc12d. An old time CAA inspector signed it off after a 100 inspection in Salt Lake City. No mods to the fuel sytem or anything else. Have the same metal prop from the 65 and it turns up within specks. Am allowed a few hundred more takeoff RPM and cruise if I want it. Used to fly out of dirt strips above 8,000 elevation in western Wyo. Find with carb heat on I still have the climb of the 65 without carb. heat. The ship has the two wing tanks Which I need here in the wild west. Some fuel stops in the intermountain area are few and far between. No electric system. Frequently fly above 10,000 feet and ship has been up to 15,000. I am happy with the 85. Sorry it was only a one time field approval. My high altitude flying is done in the early mornings or late afternoons in the summer. At times with Temp. around 95 to over 100, and a passenger, climb has been nil until a mountain updraft is found. Hope this helps. Richard Anderson