Author Topic: Parts engine? Nah. (Read 5787 times)

Ty Marcucci · « **on:** April 18, 2016, 01:13:26 PM »

Well it happened when I least needed it to. Third flight today, slight trim adjustment. First two flights were nice to OK and I hoped the third would be better. Stable as on rails, take offs and landings to die for. Plane went where I put it, but I need to do better at putting. Then on the top of the third loop it flew off to the right and then straight in. Seems the bell crank came out of the top hole. It was a suspended crank and I goofed on the installation. No one to blame but myself. Really embarrassed me as this was one great flying model. The Jim Lynch "Volunteer" by Walter Umland kits. . The model had only 23 flights on it, surprised it didn't pull the bell crank out sooner.

Tim Wescott · « **Reply #1 on:** April 18, 2016, 01:20:59 PM »

Well, do you know anyone with a Heliarc welder and a steady hand?

Dane Martin · « **Reply #2 on:** April 18, 2016, 01:25:50 PM »

We had a nice flying ringmaster for this last event. My cousin Butters found out the hard way the importance of the safety thong. The plane flew past the grass and nosed into the gravel. My favorite LA 25....

Motorman · « **Reply #3 on:** April 18, 2016, 03:06:48 PM »

There's got to be some kind of award for breaking every single part in an engine.

MM

Rollin Keszler · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2016, 03:30:40 PM »

As the saying goes, "Any job worth doing is worth doing right". Not a total loss: the prop nut might still be good. Maybe even the muffler.

Dane Martin · « **Reply #5 on:** April 18, 2016, 04:45:13 PM »

Quote from: Rollin Keszler on April 18, 2016, 03:30:40 PM

As the saying goes, "Any job worth doing is worth doing right". Not a total loss: the prop nut might still be good. Maybe even the muffler.

My muffler got scratched up pretty good....

Mine wasn't that bad. I could order a case, and probably salvage most of it. My problem was the little wrist pin discs flew off into the great abyss...

john e. holliday · « **Reply #6 on:** April 18, 2016, 07:40:04 PM »

Been there and done that with bell crank post moving out of the plywood plate. It was my Sheeks Spitfire I was finally getting used to. No more bell crank posts sliding out of the ply plates again. That is unless the rod bores it self thru 1/8 ply and glass cloth with epoxy. At least I didn't destroy a good Fox 35 Stunt.

Target · « **Reply #7 on:** April 18, 2016, 09:10:18 PM »

Ty, or John, can one of you unfortunate guys share with me how this happens? I don't want it to happen to me and I thought the suspended BC was "the hot ticket".
Not so much if it fails.
I have my suspicions, but I want to hear from you what you think happened.
Thanks!
Chris

Target · « **Reply #8 on:** April 18, 2016, 09:38:21 PM »

So, you only had a blind hole in the ply end plates, and the music wire just a snug fit, so not enough meat between the wire and the ply for the side loading?

Target · « **Reply #9 on:** April 19, 2016, 08:58:06 AM »

Thanks for the answer. I hope to be smart enough to avoid learning the hard way.
I'm sure that I'll have my own sharing experience soon enough in C/L that I can hopefully pass on to someone else that doesn't learn the hard way.

Vr,
Chris

Bill Johnson · « **Reply #10 on:** April 19, 2016, 10:04:59 AM »

Geez, Ty! Glad I came by Friday. At least I got to see it once.

Bill Adair · « **Reply #11 on:** April 19, 2016, 03:25:48 PM »

Tye,

Sorry to hear about your crash.

I've busted a few engines flying over concrete runways, but you win the prize for the "Most complete engine demolition" I've ever seen!

Bill

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #12 on:** April 19, 2016, 04:10:16 PM »

Quote from: Ty Marcucci on April 18, 2016, 01:16:23 PM

Since 1952, this is only the third engine I have totally destroyed. Two were in combat. Dinged, yes, but never this bad. We found all but the piston/wrist/ gudgeon pin.

Ummm fourth engine. Don't forget the LA-46 in the Pathfinder at KOI that one windy Saturday morning. Bits of the motor tinkled over the asphalt for hundreds of feet from the point of impact from that third inside loop.

Terrence Durrill · « **Reply #13 on:** April 19, 2016, 05:24:08 PM »

I guess I am a coward........I've flown over grass since 1953. The only engine I lost in a violent incident was a K&B .35 greenhead that threw a rod during a training flight for a new student.....no impact with asphalt involved. I have crashed a few planes in my time, but have never destroyed an engine. Flying over grass is a small price to pay to protect your engines, but again, I am primarily a sport flier with no interest in competition.....just fly for the pure enjoyment of it.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #14 on:** April 20, 2016, 09:50:20 AM »

This is why I flew Fox engines. If an engine was damaged or blew up(came apart) send it in and it would be replaced or repaired. The most it cost me was 1/2 the price of a new engine. Had several combat and rat race engines replaced or repaired. No other manufacturer would do that.

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #15 on:** April 20, 2016, 11:38:21 AM »

Any pictures of the bellcrank installation?

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #16 on:** April 21, 2016, 11:33:52 AM »

Put that busted up OS on eBay, Ty...I bet somebody will buy it. With any luck, there will be a bidding war, and you'll get some good bank!

Steve

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #17 on:** April 21, 2016, 12:44:32 PM »

No. The collectors won't bid unless it comes with the original box and papers.

Floyd

Rollin Keszler · « **Reply #18 on:** April 21, 2016, 04:55:41 PM »

OK, buy it now with free shipping (I need a spare prop nut.)

Chris Fretz · « **Reply #19 on:** April 21, 2016, 06:36:20 PM »

What is it about suspended bellcranks that everyone likes about it?

RknRusty · « **Reply #20 on:** April 21, 2016, 07:13:52 PM »

Quote from: #Liner on April 21, 2016, 06:36:20 PM

What is it about suspended bellcranks that everyone likes about it?

Read back about half way up the page.

... sorry, feeling a little snarky this evening. Here's my backup for next weekend after today's wind practice:

mike londke · « **Reply #21 on:** April 21, 2016, 07:28:01 PM »

Quote from: RknRusty on April 21, 2016, 07:13:52 PM

Read back about half way up the page.

... sorry, feeling a little snarky this evening. Here's my backup for next weekend after today's wind practice:

Oh man Rusty! That sucks, what happened?

RknRusty · « **Reply #22 on:** April 21, 2016, 07:50:22 PM »

After getting beat around by the wind, I gave myself the cut throat signal to just fly it out. A lull came along, so I got back in to it with a pretty confident V8 and HG. I pulled up into the OH8 and, as I sometimes do, turned into the first loop too soon and bled off enough power for the wind to slap it hard. I caught the lines too late and it was flying full speed straight down vertical.

It had been a good plane and won me a couple of trophies and a fair placing at last May's Joe Nall. It had been busted and fixed before but nothing like this. This was the fp.40 that I'd finally l got back running well with Bob Z's help. One of the tab's bolt holes broke off, but with a Windy bar mount, the fp can live on.

At least it simplifies things, I only have one plane to worry about next weekend. I possibly could have run harder and faster and caught it, but it all happens so fast, it's hard to know. I'm not too bummed except that I really liked flying that plane. I think I'll get a Cardinal or profile Oriental kit to pair with the upcoming Twister. I'm done with full fuse planes for the skill level I'm at right now. But despite this, I feel pretty good going into next weekend.

Did you see someone else posted they're entering Int. on Sunday? I urged him to enter Profile too.
See ya,
Rusty

john e. holliday · « **Reply #23 on:** April 22, 2016, 12:28:29 PM »

Quote from: #Liner on April 21, 2016, 06:36:20 PM

What is it about suspended bellcranks that everyone likes about it?

They can be put in the center vertically in the wing or higher or lower. Plywood plates go on surface of wing allowing more room for a ball link.

Now Ty, you might be surprised at the bids you might get on the engine. At least they don't have to tear it down too much.