2011 in San Diego

[W.J.Langholz]

Bruce
I'll leave a case of oil for you at the end of my runway.....that's about 1/2 way



W.

[flyguy]

WHAAAAAAAAT??????????????? WILLIE - - DIDJA KNOW WON OF URE WHEELS MITE HAVE FELL OFFFF?

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Hey W thanks a lot I appreciate that. But I have a confession to make. After conferencing with an expert...

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I determined that if I reswaged all 12 push rod tubes, replaced all 6 valve cover gaskets, replaced one 0-ring beneath a thru bolt and retorqued my F&M oil filter adapter the engine would run practically dry for at least 2 1/2 hours before a drop of oil could be detected on the inside of the engine cowl.

This is the driest this motor has been since I overhauled it 214 hours ago. To re-wage the push rod tubes I borrowed the same swage tool I'd borrowed to install the new push rod tubes to begin with. We discovered the swaging tool was bottoming out early and not really swaging the tubes as it should have explaining the loss of oil out the tubes. I should have fixed this a while ago but was just to disgusted with all the leaks after a careful rebuild. And pouring in oil was to easy.

I'm actually in denial that it seems I've nearly sealed up this motor. Time will tell.

I guess might have to hose the belly down with WD-40 like George to continue the anti corrosion treatment that area of the airframe has been getting. And I'll probably hose the cowling a belly down with oil just before convention to keep up the Rat Plane appearance.

[W.J.Langholz]

Darn-it, why did ya go and do something like fixin it! When I would tell my friends about this chopper-head flying this ol plane all the way from Pa. and he had to stop every hour or so to add oil.....well you know that's how I came to meet him the first time .....he landed right out in my pasture, walked up to the house wanted to buy a couple quarts of oil to put in his "rat plane".................

The story was getting pretty good. oh well. BTW if you leave the oil-filler cap off and fly around a little bit it will look the same way



W.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Don't tell them about the oil cap rat plane secret.

You know, there are a lot of folks out there that secretly want to have a Rat Plane. But it takes years of careful attention to detail in order to achieve an airframe worthy of it. A true Rat Plane enthusiast will know the difference between a "loose" oil cap and that of carefully placed oil drops over time. The major difference being the amount of black grim and bugs mixed with the oil evenly distributed from firewall to tail. You know when you've got the oil leak thing down when your tail wheel tire has that Armor All shine but you don't own and wouldn't think of owning a bottle of Armor All.

Pulley had a nice example of a Rat Plane going even without the nearly required oil leak. He slipped up and began hanging around a self proclaimed "nut" with a modified "almost stock airplane" in Texas. Ended up following him into a maintenance shop and it was all over. Another fine example of a Rat Plane gone. If my engine continues on this dry running streak I'm pretty sure my plane will still be competitive in the category.

And for those that were wondering, yes I did check and double check that there was indeed oil in the engine after I found no leaks.

[GAHorn]

You'd better buy a gallon of WD-40, Bruce.
The difference between having a rat-plane with oil leaks...and one without leaks.... is a corroded rat-plane.

[170C]

No need to worry Bruce. No amount of working on oil leaks will keep your engine/cowling/belly clean. Continentals must come from the factory with oil leak kits installed Not really sure why they do all that leaking. Bet your Cub doesn't leak that way. Oh, by the way, be sure to add some MMO in there just so you can keep George fired up

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Well about 3 hours total and still dry with the exception of one drop. Frank my Cub has a Continental which has the same leak capability. Never put MMO in my oil. Will it stop leaking?

[hilltop170]

Pulley had a nice example of a Rat Plane going even without the nearly required oil leak. He slipped up and began hanging around a self proclaimed "nut" with a modified "almost stock airplane" in Texas. Ended up following him into a maintenance shop and it was all over. Another fine example of a Rat Plane gone.

Bruce-
It was a tough decision to restore the plane after a 36 year relationship with it as it was. I haven't seen the final product yet after 15D has spent nearly a year in Mena getting fixed up, but give me another 35 years or so and it'll be back up to prime rat plane quality again.

[Bill Hart]

I am fairly certain I can beat anyone in the Rat Plane category.

[4-Shipp]

You'd better buy a gallon of WD-40, Bruce.
The difference between having a rat-plane with oil leaks...and one without leaks.... is a corroded rat-plane.

Why don't you just mix the WD-40 in with the engine oil - about 4 oz per 10 gallons ought to do it. Then she will clean herself as you wing your way west!

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Bruce that is an excellent idea. But at this point it looks like it would require me to go loosen up a few of my push rod tubes again. Anyone know were that procedure is in the maintenance manual. Want to keep it legal you know.

Bill, with the oil leaking seemingly solved I've lost a step but not my confidence to win that category in most judges mind. Your on.

[jrenwick]

Bruce that is an excellent idea. But at this point it looks like it would require me to go loosen up a few of my push rod tubes again. Anyone now were that procedure is in the maintenance manual. Want to keep it legal you know.

Bill, with the oil leaking seemingly solved I've lost a step but not my confidence to win that category in most judges mind. Your on.

I believe all that's required to make pushrod tubes start leaking again is to say in public that your oil leak problems are solved.

You should be good to go now, Bruce!

[170C]

Bruce, I don't know if that MMO will stop leaks or not, but if you find that it does let all of us know. Ole George might even become a convert if that would work