RV7A Maintenance Work – Spark Plugs – 350.5 hours

7/18/18
Good news:
Decided to remove and regap all 8 sparkplugs which made a big difference in ease of starting. Most had gaps bigger than 0.022. Reset to 0.016.
Bad news:
While working around the plane the led work light stand tipped into the wing and put a dent on the top side of the leading edge of the right wing outboard of the fuel tank. It’s smaller than a dime and doesn’t affect airworthiness but I’m feeling pretty bad about it. I plan to research options for removing the dent via auto body service like dent masters or filling the dent with bondo and recovering with a small vinyl patch.

(Sold) Cessna 150 M For Sale @ KHEF

My friend Harry sold his beautiful Cessna 150. Here are the details:

1976 Cessna 150 MIMG_0583

  • N714BC
  • 3993 TTAF
  • Continental 0-200 487 TSMOH
  • Factory installed original extended range tanks (38 gallons, up from 24)
  • All original logbooks with excellent maintenance record
  • Upgraded McFarland fuel filler overflow system installed for clean fueling
  • Mechanical condition airframe & engine: 10/10
  • Exterior paint / cosmetics: 7/10
  • Interior cosmetics 5/10
  • 1999: Newly painted exterior
  • 2004: Top overhauled #1, #3 cylinders
  • 2011: Top overhauled #2, #4 cylinders
  • 2013: Both mags overhauled, overhauled carb, overhauled alternator
  • 2014: New magneto harness installed; new ELT installed
  • 2016: New starter&battery contactors installed, new voltage regulator, new battery
  • 2017: Compressions: 73/80, 72/80, 78/80, 74/80
  • Next annual due: Jan 2018
  • Regularly flown and professionally maintained 150M; based at KHEF
  • Here’s your chance for a great airplane in top notch mechanical condition

IMG_0593

IMG_0592

IMG_0587

IMG_0579

IMG_0577

IMG_0602

IMG_0605

IMG_0604

IMG_0608

IMG_0611

IMG_0612.JPG

IMG_0606

IMG_0596

RV7A Maintenance Work

3/3/17 Tach 162.6, Total Time 182.5

  • Fixed screen over fuel vents
  • Checked engine timing, good
  • Oil weep @ oil cooler hose fittings, upper & lower – tightened
  • Fixed air filter pop out from starting backfire
  • Fixed alternator wire chafing

3/26/17 Tach 170.3, Total Time 191.1

  • Changed oil; took oil sample; changed oil filter. Did not inspect oil suction screen.

4/12/17 Tach 172.5, Total Time 193.8

  • Changed 4 bottom spark plugs for new
  • Gapped 4 upper spark plugs
  • Installed lower cowl heat shield material

6/27/17 Tach 202.3, Total Time 227.9

  • Removed wheel pants
  • Removed wheels
  • Changed tires to new Dresser retreads, Goodyear Flight Custom III, & new tubes
  • Replaced both brake pads L & R
  • Repacked main wheel bearings L & R
  • Re-installed new tires & wheels
  • Re-installed wheel pants
  • Flew test flight to Winchester & back with John A.

7/1/17 Tach 203.9, Total Time 229.7

  • Larger retreads cracked wheel pants again on landing, so wheel pants were cutout more, and re-fiberglassed
  • Added white vinyl to nose gear leg fairing
  • Changed oil, filter, and checked oil suction screen

7/8/17 – 7/9/17 Tach 203.9, Total Time 229.7

  • Removed empennage fairing, painted with gloss white spray paint
  • Re-installed wheel pants
  • Oiled the exhaust stacks with mouse milk
  • Re-glued screen over L & R fuel vents

Miscellaneous ongoing maintenance

3/3/17

Replaced and re-glued the screens over both left and right fuel vent intakes.

There was a small weep of oil at the oil cooler / oil hose connections. I used steel fitting in the oil cooler (instead of aluminum) and did not get the oil lines tightened enough. I tried tightening them just a bit more while holding the steel fittings with another wrench. This seems to have stopped the slow weep.

I re-installed the engine air filter which had popped up from a small engine backfire during a previous start.

The alternator wire was chafing a bit. Fixed.

4/1/17

Changed oil. Took oil sample (was from end instead of middle of draining by accident). Changed oil filter. Did not change or check suction screen during this oil change.

4/12/17

Removed all 8 spark plugs. Determined 3 of 4 bottom spark plugs had lead build ups and decided to replace them (200 hours). Gapped the 4 upper plugs to < 0.020 and > 0.015 quickly but not very precisely.

Installed lower cowl heat shield material from Vans on the inside of the lower cowl to protect the fiberglass from the exhaust areas where it was starting to discolor.

First Annual

Aileron travel limits: section 15, page 15-2

Max Up/Down= 32/17
Minimum Up/Down= 25/15

Elevator  travel limits:

Max Up/Down= 30/25
Minimum Up/Down= 25/20

Measured 2016-12-10:

Ailerons: LU: 30, LD: 17, RU 32, RD 17

Elevator travel: 29 Up, 23 Down

max end of the range. i.e. 30* up and 25* down

Changed Oil

SB 14-02-05 Elevator Spar Cracks – Inspected – None found

SB 14-01-31 HS Front Spar Bend Cracks – Inspected – None found

 

http://www.precisionairmotive.com/servpubs.htm

 

Found wet B-Nut on rear side of fuel pump
Found loose spare AN365 nut under passenger seat pan
Found rivet junk in footwell area
Found plastic cap in footwell area
Removed passenger stick, cut zip ties
Removed left and right gear tower carpet covers
Found cracked engine baffle near oil cooler mount on #4 cylinder, added reinforcement
Each aileron trailing edge droops 3/16 when opposite aileron/flap/tip are in alignment
Routed GDL cable to dash top through hole
Added pin #15 on roll servo via spare white wire (CWS Disc) and spliced it into green CWS Disc wires for sticks under right passenger seat pan
Added prop leading edge tape
COMPRESSION TEST

/80        HOT_______COLD__Y__1._76__2._78__3.__78__4.__78__

 
SERVICE OR REPLACE SPARK PLUGS, GAP 0.016 TO 0.021

1B: 0.018 (Original)  1T: 0.018 (Newer Tempest)

2B: 0.018 (Original)  2T: 0.018 (Newer Tempest)

3B: 0.019 (Original)  3T: 0.018 (Newer Tempest)

4B: 0.018 (Original)  4T: 0.018 (Newer Tempest)

Install bottom plugs to 360-420 inch lbs torque (30-35 foot lbs)