Warbird Information Exchange

I know my last topic "merlin nuts" got a few requests for some pics of SUSUs annual. This plane was restored in 95 I believe and has been very well maintained through the years making my job this year a real pleasure. No Kidding! Kudos to all those guys who had their hand in it previously. Also, a gold star to anyone who spots the maintenance whoops. Yeah we fixed it. At least, I hope you can only find one.
Theres also a few pics of "Cripes a Mighty" getting ready to crank up with some short fat guy up there hittin the preoil switch.


Don't let your toes hit the highly polished fairings


Neat little tool we made for the timing plug

This is what happens when you "mesh" your finger between the gears when you're putting the cam rack back on

pullin plugs

Now where did I leave that BS 3/16

A bread pan bolted to the former makes a great holder for tools and hardware. I got the idea from Art Vances "mustangs for idiots" (yeah I are one) booklet.

Lots of plumbing

left wheelwell looking up

BIG hunka lead

Not authentic but it sure is nice to throw your bags in

Spin on filters below and behind oil pressure regulator

Hinz filter. A great add on

Tail wheelwell.

oxy tank looking forward through hellhole

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The more I learn about aircraft, the more I realize I still have to learn.

Pretty airplanes and a great post! Thanks for this!

Does blood make a good lubricant? That's one trick I never heard of...

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Neal Nurmi

---Wingman Photo---

I'll take a stab at this one...the spin on filters are safety wired incorrectly!

-Pat

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Trust me, I know what I'm doing.

In the photo, the diagonal orientation of the spin-on filter safety wire does not prevent them from 'unscrewing' or backing out. The diagonal should be positioned the other diagonal way across the two filters.
Regarding the blood, 100LL makes a great disinfectant....YEEOUCH!
Thx,
VL

Another free safety tip (blood reduction program ), clipping a small corner off of the sheet metal from each corner of the inner exhaust shrouds reduces the tendancy of cuts, gouges, etc. during engine work. Just a very small clip of metal will do it. Filing round the corners works also.
VL

X2

overall, well maintained, dang near meticulous. have some of the air show safety bashers take a look at those pics!!

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Ain't permanent ballast 'suppoda be painted red?

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Someone seems to have stolen your guns
Thanks for sharing the pics.

OK, guys 'n dolls, I will now show my complete lack of aviation intelligence. . .

I never knew that a Merlin was an overhead cam engine!

Dean the clueless

So is the Allison. But much simpler and beefier on the top end.
Rich

Chris,
As something for to consider you might want to move the pickup for the pre-oiler. It looks like it is connected to the drain port on the oil tank. Any sludge or heavy less than desirable pieces will settle to the bottom of the tank and the pick up/ pre-oiler will send them into your engine. We have a kit from Pioneer that features a fitting that screws into a port on the R/H bottom of the tank where the oil dulation was. This special fitting has a stand off to keep above any sludge and is perforated rather than wide open to stop big things like grass or bugs from entering the engine. Also any condensation that might collect at the bottom of the tank won't be picked up as well.
You probably do 25 hr oil changes and the like so build up shouldn't be a problem but I have had engine issues that have taken a few hours to show up and your setup would have pre-oiled debris into the engine.
BTW how has the Hinz filter worked for you?
Sparrow might be able to get you a valve adjusting tool if you don't have one. I have one and it works great. Its a lot easier than the 2 wrench method.
That bird looks good. It is so clean!
Rich

Could one of you 51 mechs post a picture of the Merlin valve adjustment tool? Thanks.
Robbie

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Fly Fast Make Noise!

In the oxy bottle pic.....the longitudinal cables appear larger than 1/8" and the single wrapped safety wire of the turn buckles appears to be less than .057". If a cable is larger than 1/8" then single wrap safetying is permissible with stainless wire of .057" diameter. That's what's in AC43.13 anyway....the manufacturers data takes precedence of course!

The coolant pump elbow attachment nut is the attachment point for a loop of safety wire that anchors the drain plug which is properly done. The small nut on the elbow isn't being safetied.
We must be careful or Chris won't post any more pics. He thought he was showing a great example and we are picking out all these issues.
After all it flew in!
Rich