Lindy
3/31/2010
Today was the big hangar shuffle that I've been waiting for for the last couple of months for...the weather is starting to turn for the better (80 degrees today!), and I want to get back down to my hangar. While the shuffle of airplane's was happening, my 7 had a few moments with another airplane I've had the privilege of flying quite a bit (now with brand new paint!!), 361GB, a Pilatus PC12
I'm still staying in the big hangar at work until I get the engine pre-oiled (tomorrow, I think), but I am up front so I can move to my hangar anytime the wind/weather allows.
Time on the airplane has been very limited lately, but tonight my A&P bud Ray stayed late after work to help me time my magneto. Ray is very methodical about his work, and being the one who has helped me with all my engine stuff so far, including helping me take it apart, inspect it, and put it back together after I painted it, I'm very happy to have his watchful eye over this task...actually, I watched him do it to teach me a little something. He times mags with at least three checks, and gets the timing to within a half degree of 25TDC, if not spot on. The leads for the timing box were hooked up here...
The timing box has two lights that stay on until the points close-
Ray put a bent cotter pin in the hole of the starter to line up the 25 degree mark...
After Ray did his thing with the mag (getting it and it's internals positioned EXACTLY right), we slowly bumped the prop toward the mark, and got the red light to go out at 25 degrees.
He had me do this at least three or four times, each time making small adjustments to the mag to get it tightened down properly, and keep it in time.
To verify, as the light went out, we measured from the case half to the flywheel 25 degree mark. Perfect!
Timing the Lightspeed is a whole different ballgame, and Rob Johnson is the man to help me with that since he has the same setup. So, Rob, if ya read this...expect a phone call for some help soon! LOL!
Next on my list tonight was to get the top plugs installed for good. Since they are automotive plugs for the LSI, they use a brass adapter, and they get torque'd to 25ft-lbs first (with anti-seize).
Then the Denso auto plugs get installed, torque'd to 15ft-lbs, also with anti-seize.
The bottom plugs will get installed after the pre-oil is completed...hopefully tomorrow.
2.75 hours