Problem with t craft

[ricky]

Hey gang, my t craft is finnally flying,have two problem,first
I have engine vibration from 600-2300 it shake like hell,has 69 on engine,
second problem,you have to use alot of right rudder to keep plane
straight,wash it out,it not nose,rear heavey, any suggeston on what to do..

Little history on plane,it did nose oveer in 2005,bent the flang,the crank
read true,pilot siad engine was stop,siad the plane fly straight,fin was
bent at top.

[Pearson]

Re: Problem with t craft

Ricky,

Have you thoroughly inspected the inside of your wings? You mentioned that your plane flipped over. Unless you have checked to make sure the spars aren't cracked and the fuselage is not bent, you will never get it to fly straight. Is the vertical stabilizer put back in place correctly-vertical and square?

Same with the engine vibration. You have to have a straight propeller for it to run smooth. With the vibration you described, I would NOT fly the plane. Check your prop tracking.

[ricky]

Re: Problem with t craft

my wing came off my other 46 bc 12d,left wing was rebuilt,right wing is
in great shape,both wing recovered,prop is new,72ck43,fin was brazed,ame
remove brace,replace with propper weld,
back in late 70,plane was damage,behind cabin,was damage,an nother
t craft was was use,old section remove,other section was install,that
the extend of what been done.
When I did the prop track,it show true,rotate prop 3 time,hit the marker right on every time.

[Pearson]

Re: Problem with t craft

Wow! For the vibration, check the rubber engine mounts.

For flying crooked get a copy of the Taylorcraft service manual, or find someone who knows how to adjust the washout in the wings. There is an adjustment screw at the top of the rear wing strut. You would want to adjust the screw inward on the heavy wing side. But there is really more to it than that. You need to do the full procedure for your plane to fly correctly.

I have pictures somewhere on my computer of how you do this, but right now I can't find them. I will look more later.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Problem with t craft

You need to start out by doing a good trammel of your whole plane. First get the tube behind the seat back level (just use a bubble level) by putting shims (old magazines work pretty good) under the tire on the low side.
When the fuselage is level, put a level on each stab and see if they are level too.
Make sure the fin is vertical and not twisted.
Take a metal tape and measure from the tip of the fin hinge tube to each trailing edge just outboard of the ailerons. They should be the same.
Measure from the wing strut attach points on the wing to the ground (with a plumb bob to mark exactly under the attach point). Both sides should be the same.
Pull a line from tip to tip on the wing and check to see if the line is level at the center over the cabin.
Use some wood stand off blocks to check the wing angle of attack on both sides at the root, the wing struts and the outboard edge of the ailerons to check for wing twist.
Now go back and make sure you didn't knock any of the earlier measurments off taking the later ones.
If EVERYTHING shows as symmetric and straight (it won't) you will next need to start looking at things that may be shifting under load. Does the wing have any funny "pops" or "clunks" when you GENTLY twist it at the tip? Does it return to the same position after you let it go, or does it take a new position that could indicate some broken or worn parts inside?
Trameling is actually kind of fun, till you see how bent these old birds really are!
Hank

[Len Petterson]

Re: Problem with t craft

Would the vibration come from worn engine mounts?
Is the engine mount bolted onto the fuselage propperly?
Is the propp-hub on solidly?
Len

[ricky]

Re: Problem with t craft

Thankeverybody for your help,just talk to my ame,where going to be flying a cub into my strip,he has no prop,so where going to put my hub,prop on his cub ,find out if the hub is problem,in the mean time I bought new mount for my other t.Craft ,going to put them on this plane,see what happen.
My AME think it might be internal,since the guy I bought it from,rebuilt the
the engine,he think it might be the piston,or push rod,as soon as my owner
maintance is finalize, where going to trade engine,an do slow tail down of
this engine.
For the right rudder,ame think that when it flip in that wind accident,
ame that work on it,didn't line of the tube properly,so were going to see
what happen when we put washer on the top an bottom of engine mount
on left side.

[jim cooper]

Re: Problem with t craft

A pal bought an 85 hp engine from a fellow down south two years ago who said "Its just been overhauled, runs "nice". So my pal, an AI, bought it and put it on his Champ which he had just rebuilt. First time off the ground it seized up in the pattern. It was a boat anchor. It seemed to have been run with no oil. Anyway it was an expensive fix and if he had not been an excellent mechanic it would have been a disaster. In todays world it seems to be "anything goes", especially in a bad economy with people trying to unload dogs. I am always suspicious of "yellow tagged" (by WHO?) and an airplane that has not CAREFULLY gone over before purchase, unless you really know the person and their reputation. Logs are also often times not the true story, with inspection signatures signed in such a way that they are illegible, including the AI's number and location. (this should be a LAW! but the FAA would rather hassel you about one accident and struts!)jc

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Problem with t craft

I had to completely re-overhaul an A-65 with one of those rebuilds. We called it an "Aerosol Overhaul". Everything painted to look brand new with JUNK inside. All the logs looked great, except the IA who built it and the name and location for his number were different.
I did a full major on it with a local IA overseeing all my work. Second chapter of the "bad news" is my IA died of Cancer. When I got back my logs from his family he hadn't filled any of them in yet. Now I have an engine with logs that say it has a fresh major (by a non-existent IA) but a major (by me) with no paperwork. You want temptation? If I just kept my mouth shut I could probably get away with flying that engine till it came up for it's NEXT major. Who would check?
OK, that just doesn't work. My current IA has agreed we can tear it down and rebuild it for the cost of new seals and some hardware. Should be able to do the whole job in a weekend. This time (when we get around to it) the paperwork will be done as we do the work.
Hank

Be REAL careful when you buy an engine from someone you don't know REALLY WELL!

[ricky]

Re: Problem with t craft

Hi Jim,if you seen what bean done on this plan,you would wonder where these guy got the lisence,the brake on this plane was switch to tri pacer
brake system,the parking brake lever was install backward,the oil line ran right threw the firer wall,with no adpter install on firer wall,when we stared
engine up,oil was going every where,a leak at the wall,so there was alot of work done to clean up a ame work,so now where down to the two problem
just waiting to get home so I can replace engine rubber,see what happen
,fly problem,going to treet the engine mount on left side,hope this will be
it,
Thank for your import, Rick

[ricky]

Re: Problem with t craft

Hi Hank,thank for the inport,im working with a ame that bean around since
60,where really great friend,an he teaches me alot,how to do fabric work,
how to work on mag,he also show me how to do proper inspection on
anual,I like getting info from taylorcraft poeple,cause they bean around,
like hank,pearson,forrest,they .all have info to give out. RICK

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Problem with t craft

A good local A&P and IA who knows our planes is worth his weight in gold. I'm really lucky. I have an IA who loves our old planes and my plane is based at the airport where the Fighter Factory maintains and restores their war birds. We are crawling with knowledgeable folks who share our passion for old birds. Combine that with the Tribe always being available and I have better support than the guys I know flying new factory Cessna's.
Hank
Of course, I still really miss my old IA. He was a good man.