Ercoupe Aircraft Annual Inspection
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2024
- A walk through some of the annual inspection process on my vintage Ercoupe. Guest appearance by Juan Browne! I realise that I’m opening myself up for a lot of criticism when I upload content like this, but I figure enough people find it interesting that it’s worth doing.
Note: All actual work was done under the direct supervision of my IA and no work depicted in the video was actually part of work performed for the inspection.
So, what did you do with the starter bolts and the holes what were boogered?
Ha, I left a hole in the story there, oh dear. I actually bought a starter off eBay, with a perfectly serviceable mounting plate. Then I got two new $15 bolts from Spruce, and a new seal. Good question!
James Good - I know aircraft are expensive but Helicoils shouldn’t ever be allowed and an aircraft even for a starter mount. It’s ok for a plug hole on a VW Bug! That was my first install! Great question.
I think all aircraft owners should be involved with their annuals and not just calling in an inspector! Grate job. I use cloth tie bags for fasteners and tie them to each panel or aircraft section. You can’t kick them over on the ground or bench. Also you can mark the flap piece attached to the bag to identify where the parts go! Cheap too! Keep an eye on the lower push rod tubes you will be changing them next. Cheers James...
@@MrWATCHthisWAY A proper Helicoil repair is certainly stronger than the original aluminum.
Kenny Phillips - it’s on standard temperature materials. But with different coefficient materials and experiencing high temps and add in vibrations they are not for ever application. For a starter housing it should be ok. But it’s only temporary in an aircraft when constantly removing the bolt and should be replaced under proper maintenance especially for a starter plate access point coils tend to loosen over repeated bolt removal applications. One A&P’s opinion.
There no other plane that I want more then the Ercoupe. A real beauty, looking like a sleek sports car from the 40s. Real damn solid and simple as well.
@Zeke and Opie - are you looking to purchase one?
She's beautiful inside and out, James! Love seeing details on your annual.
Small paper cups are a great idea. Add a piece of stick on magnet to the bottom of each cup to retain the screws if tipped.
I think that is the most beautiful Ercoupe I have ever seen! Back in the 50s, when I would go flying with my dad in his Bonanza, he had such scorn for the rudderless Ercoupe, but I now believe it to be a work of genius. Of course, it’s not fast . . . . Thanks for a great video!
Hey John, thank you! It's a clever little machine, for sure.
Love to see the internals of amazing aircraft thanks for the video
Great video, James! Owner assisted annual is the way to go.
hey James... Great video of the inspection etc. My recommendation is to revise your plugs to "Fine Wire" plugs when you wear out the next four. Run the Massive Electrodes on the top and the fine wires on the bottom plugs. Eventually you will really enjoy having fine wire plugs in all 8 places. Glad you were able to do the starter fix. I was hoping you'd buy a new "Lightweight" starter from B&C as a replacement. A little pricey but will last forever and its lighter than the original. Someone in the comments mentioned running the engine at the hangar with the cowling off. That is so Right On... Will save you a bunch of time if you actually find something that needs attention. As far as your pushrod tubes leaking, I suggest a new set of seals from Real Gasket. They developed a Wonderful way to keep those leaks stopped. Not much money at all and a bullet proof solution to the typical Continental leaks in that area. Nice Job on this video..... Had to laugh when you had to take off the plug wire that you had already snugged down. Busted....hahahahahaha.... Just had to jab you in the ribs a bit. I really do enjoy watching your presentations. Keep up the Good Work AND FUN! Thanks, Weav
What a beautiful aircraft James, you can see it has been more than maintained, it has been loved! and that has to be the best plug gapper I have seen, we all use the integrated champion box with grit blaster and spark tester built in. But those old manual tools do the job just as good and never go wrong! Your IA Bill seems like a character, look at the condition of his car, you know he will do the job right?
It is great to see people working on their own planes, as it gives you a much better understanding of what happens when you push/pull the controls in the cockpit. This teaches you to be gentle and where you can use force as required.
I have been watching Juan's channel for a long while now and he seems like a great bloke to have around too!
Would love to spend a night talking with you all over a grill and some beers. 🍺🍺
I am in awe at what a phenomenal plane 805 is! Very informative video, thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas to you and yours, James.
Merry Christmas!
I love the plug gapper!!!!
I like how they made access to the wing securing bolts readily available, like it might become an eventually in the Aircraft's life that the wings may need detached. Otherwise some of the more well known names in Aviation make it almost impossible to do so, or very difficult, ahem, *Cessna*
I met the designer of the Ercoupe "Fred Weick" at a Ercoupe fly-in in Dardenell Arkansas. Some called it " The Chicken Ranch fly In", because thats what it was. Chickens everywhere. We slept in the hay barn, complete with a huge dinner, plenty of tables, and full country band, steel guitar and dancing on the straw covered dirt. Fred, a very interesting man to talk to. He told me about the time just after WW2 and how they couldnt make them fast enough to keep up with the orders coming in, and how they eventually were able to produce a brand new plane every day. It was about that time he had around a few dozen in stock, and the orders just stopped. He said he didnt know what to do with that many new airplanes, but eventually he sold them all. He was a tall man, well over six feet, too tall to fit in a coupe with the roof up and closed. A very nice man, I enjoyed talking too him. RIP Fred.
thank you for posting this. Great to see the Ecoupe being so well cared for. My Grandpa worked at ERCO in the very early days. Draftsman/ sheet metal work. Someone told him, he put to many zuse fasteners in the nose cowl. : ) 😊
James, I find this so very enjoyable! I always enjoy your content... It’s purely cathartic. You do a great job on your channel!
Thank you very much, Dannie! I appreciate the note.
I always enjoy your Ercoupe adventures James!
They’ve become an invaluable resource as I’m building a realistic static 1/15 model from a vintage Comet balsa kit.
This video in particular has lots of close ups all over the aircraft.
Best,
David
That's great to hear! I would love to see your build. Let me know if you need any particular pics. ercoupetv@jamesgood.com for email.
Ercoupe and a 500e - nice combo! ❤️
We love both of them!
My family had a 57 Nomad we took all over the united states. Thanks for sharing your passion with us!
Nice to see this beautiful bird get something more than just fuel since the Oshkosh trip (when I started following) Thanks for the great videos James :)
Beautiful airplane. Thank you for the video!
Very interesting video. Your Mechanic's 1950's station wagon is a beauty. Your bird looks completely air worthy.
Pretty sure that's a Chevy Nomad, based on the chrome strips on the back. Not certain of the year, though.
So nice to meet Mother. Been watching longer than I have been subscribed.
Another great video! Thanks for sharing. Fly safe!
What a great little plane! 😁
Excellent video. Very well done. The British accent added to your impression of expertise. :)
Ha! Thank you, Terry.
I noticed a few plastic ties supporting hoses and the like to the engine mount, be careful with those things they will cut into the tubing with engine vibration, Adele clamps are a better option. I know this from experience so I thought I would share. Enjoy your videos, always look forward to new ones. Planes looks great, keep up the shine and the good work.
Thanks for the tip, Gino.
Hi James, nice hanger buddy you have. Love your videos, realized that Juan Browne first introduced you to me at Beale Air Force Base 2018 . I was up at Nev. County this summer visiting Juan during the Cal Fire tanker air show!! Great job on your Ercoupe - my favorite very first airplane I ever dreamed about flying in Simi Valley when I was a teenager. Thank you for posting your videos.
Great vid, James! Since I don't own an aircraft (aside from a 2-stroke trike-launch paramotor that I haven't left the ground with yet) nor possess a pilot's license, I only get to see things like this on UA-cam. Since I'm a small engine, motorcycle, and auto mechanic, I've always been curious as to what makes aircraft tick. Interesting spark plugs they use! Pretty smart engineering, since a plug wire sliding off in the air is a much bigger deal than when rolling down the highway. I love how carburetors and points are still keeping aircraft in the sky. I could only dream of working on such simple, easy-to-reach things on modern automobiles with their miles of failure-prone, low-bidder wiring, cheaply manufactured, failure-prone and EXPENSIVE modules, and the general disregard for the folks who have to repair the things after they leave the assembly line. KEEP IT SIMPLE! 😊 Thanks for sharing!
Oh, and to reiterate what someone else had mentioned farther down in the comments here, I highly recommend TimeSerts over Helicoils for any thread repairs - they're a much stronger, more durable repair. Blue skies and tailwinds, James! 👍🍻
Thanks, Smitty! Yes, simplicity is key to these aero engines. Redundancy as well. Doesn't catch everything, but I'm sure it helps.
@@JamesGood - Hear hear - I agree!
Thank you! Very informative!
Great looking plane, and obviously well loved to be in the condition shown
Thanks, Steve.
Talked to James at U76 this afternoon, nice guy.
Hey Jaylen, was nice to talk!
One thing that seems never to get checked is the elevator trim cable where it passes under the battery box. I had one break on me because of corrosion.
Thanks, Douglas. I will get a visual on that, and make sure that's on the list for next year.
Another great video James, thank you. If I ever decided to sell my Kitfox, Ercoupe would be high on my list of "new" airplane. I have to say though, I love the maintenance freedoms I have with an "Experimental." There is an Ercoupe for sale at my home airport (KEUL).
Awesome video... Can’t wait to pick one up
Always knew your Ercoupe is clean and sparkly outside, didn't realize the engine compartment is also pristine. Beautiful airplane. Nice update with an alternator too. I bet that works a lot better than a n old generator.
Juan browne.....on here! Awesome.
Wow. How simple the rudder to aileron connection is. Thanks for sharing.
I have flown into and out of that airport many time. There was an instrument shop there that I used.
And then Doug leaves in a bad ass 56 Chevy Wagon! Epic!
Good job James - a true professional
I'm lucky to have true professionals around me!
Doug's car looked like a gorgeous old Mercury - rumble, rumble!
Surprising (but predictable) amount of work - big relief to get it all done - plus a good test run.
Your overalls are way too clean James - they don't get too much use :)
Hey Chris, no not too much use out of the overalls. They also get washed fairly regularly! Doug's wagon is a '56 Chevy Nomad.
Haha - was just funning you about the overalls!
Can't remember the Nomad but certainly some likeness to an early Mercury from 50's. Love the old classics.
Best to you and Dianne. :)
Enjoyed seeing the guts, great vid with lots of cool info.
I am with you, screw driver or speed handle for fasteners going into nut plates. Always used speed handles on the B-2 panels . Electric motors can gall the fastener in the nut plates....at least thats my experience, no fun having to drill fastener heads off to replace nut plates.
What a beautiful fun airplane! How often do you have to polish it? Are those hi-temp nuts holding on the oil tank? One more thing I have to mention, and I see it all the time. When a pilot says clear prop, give someone time to clear the prop. Maybe five seconds or so to let the line service guy or mechanic wake up, figure out what's about to happen, and get out of the way! Thanks for sharing your Ercoupe with us.
Sounds like a valid point on the 5-second thing. I'll try and remember to do that! I don't polish it enough, maybe once a year, maybe 1/4 at a time. Not sure about high-temp nuts on the oil tank; I've never touched them, yet.
Doug has an awesome Chevy Nomad!
We expect Charles and Dianne to be helping with the next annual!!
They have done in the past. I'll try and get them enthused again!
Beautiful airplane!!
A runup at your hanger with the cowling off makes it easier to see, and fix, any oil leaks.
Is that a Continental O-200? Beautiful Ercoupe!
It does have an O-200, yes. And thank you!
Did anyone comment on Doug's killer ride? Thanks for the content!
I love that Nomad! So nice.
Great work and good video!
Excellent video! Hypothetical question: For takeoff, during run up, you go full-rich. You then fly to Leadville, CO, appx 10,000 ft. Prior to takeoff, would you go full-rich or lean to max rpm during run up? I’ll check for an answer, although video posted 2 years ago. Thanks again?
That's a beautiful aircraft
I use to work P/T at KGOO 2012-2014 time frame, wasn't there a gentlemen who had a RV-12 a few down from you. Fire season kept us busy
Harold Wolfe, maybe? He just sold his last year. 2015 was when I started spending time up there, so you were a little before my time. Was Lee Ocker there then?
Lee was my Lt, then later in our career Maj while I was in, and boss while at the airport. Hope that 150 Aerobat isn't still sitting outside and corroding away.
Like watching the scenery in your videos, miss that area, then landing at BAFB, my old stomping ground.
Juan Browne showed up, cool! I was hoping he would show something about the cross wind coordination of the controls with the landing gear though.
I can do something about that in a future video. Will put it on the menu!
thank you. learned a lot. Gaping the spark plugs is very old school, but useful and reasonable! Most of the owner/wharfs replace simply with new ones. oil consumption 1 qt in 20h? unbelievable.. A O360 burns a half qt in two hours!
I need to learn these things from the masters, like Doug. An hour to two here and there in Doug's hangar is time very well spent!
@@JamesGood Hi, operated for many years a O200 engine in a CP301. Pls. verify your oil consumption, it seems impossible to me, but interesting anyhow.
Holyshit he's driving a nomad
Ya I noticed that also, so cool. Haven't seen one for ages.
This was fun to watch and compare things to my coupe. I like your system for keeping the engine side cowls open, have never seen that before.
Your oil consumption is way low! That’s great, but typical of low time SMOH. I also had not seen that aluminum shield in front of the oil tank before, not sure of the purpose?..compressions are great. As far as your discussion about the rudders, mine has none. I love it that way. And yes, I have landed many times in fairly strong x-winds and the trailing link gear ( invented for this purpose by Weick) WILL handle it just fine. Just land 8n a crab.
Thanks, Joe. Yes, that little cowl prop is very useful. How do you keep yours open?
My IA and I are keeping a close eye on the engine right now. It's doing good, but we are weary of the field overhaul that was done about 800 hours ago. We're watching on the oil analysis to keep an eye on the internals. Everything checks good, but a 'factory overhaul' is coming up at some point....
Well, I have to use a bungee from one side over the top to the other side cowl, a PIB. I’d love to see a closeup of how that little “arm” is attached. Your compressions and oil use are very good, so I’d not get too excited unless oil analysts say otherwise. I do realize mine is a C85 so not exactly the same engine but similar. I’m alway picky about the cleanliness under the hood, it seems to reflect the overall frame of mind of how an owner takes care of their airplane. And you obviously do a great job. Love the vids a lot.
Great video...........like your dog the best though👍
Congratulation for making Video of the week with Barnstomers.com
sorry > Barnstormers.com
Thanks, Larry!
well done Video Thanks
Thank you, Gene!
That is nice Ercoup!
There's something about that airplane
That draws you in, the style, the front end of it, the visibility in it is talks to you, it tells you things, I'll bet you when you're flying it it just takes you away God that is a sexy beautiful Stand Out airplane , I would give anything to own it but mechanically it wouldn't work for me.
When doing ANY repair on CERTIFIED aircraft, always refer to the "Structural Repair Manual"(or eng mfg). The biggest problem is ALWAYS non-adherance to torque values. Thread pull-up happens when overtorqued. Im a retired 71yo ap/IA . My cessna 401 had a oil leak on #2 turbocharger oil line due to some adzwhole overtorque issue. Cessna reccommended a helicoil. Whwn PROPERLY installed I prefer them over threaded aluminum any day. nice coupe ya got kid....
Small paper cups for fasteners - cloth for pieces on hanger floor - folding table - please …
Whenever a spark jumps the gap between the spark plug’s center electrode and ground electrode, one of the electrodes loses a trace amount of metal because of ionization. This occurs 75,000 times per hour, and this loss of electrode metal gradually increases the gap, eventually eroding the electrode to the point that the plug becomes unserviceable.
Center electrodes start with a circular cross-section, and gradually become football-shaped in service because of erosion. When the short dimension reaches one-half the long dimension, it’s time to retire the plug. Looks like a number of your plugs should be retired.
John, All 8 plugs were replaced in Feb 2018, 230 hours ago. They were cleaned and rotated in 2019. I find it interesting that 2 of them were so much worse than the other 6. Any comment on that? From now on, I will be removing them and checking every 50 hours, when I change my oil. BTW, as can be seen in the video, I only reused the very clean looking ones that came off the top. I put 4 brand new ones into the bottom positions.
The biggest issue I see is that you are running Champion plugs.
A Few years ago, they outsourced their component manufacturing to China and subsequently their quality control went into the toilet.
The primary issue is the center resistor (suppressor). Ideally, this resistor should have a nominal value of 2500 ohms +/- 1000 ohms measured from the well of the plug to the center electrode.
With Champion plugs, this resistance can vary from 0 (leading to radio noise and increased electrode wear) to 1M + ohms (leading to arcing damage in the magneto).
Anytime a Champion plug comes off, it should be checked with a multimeter. Discard any plug with resistance below 600ohms and above 5000ohms. The typical plug “bomb” tester will still fire a plug with resistance outside of the recommended values, so be sure to check resistance.
Or better yet, buy a set of Tempest plugs. Their massive electrode plugs have much better resistance stability over the operating temperatures of the engine and they are cheaper than champion’s crappy plugs.
Rotate your plugs top to bottom to even out the electrode wear.
John Van Camp Thank you for your plug explanation, he did not show the end of one of the new plugs. I was wondering if the center started out oblong or it wore away.
@@fattyman9133 Why would the bottom ones wear more? Any idea? I can't think why that is? More oil on them? Lead deposits?
the alon had rudder pedals
Didn't talk about the brg inspection under the gear hub caps ..........
That's true. I'll try and do a more complete coverage for the next one! And funnily enough, I currently have a slow puncture on my nose wheel, so I have a new inner tube on it's way to me right now.
Hello James. Wonderful videos! And even though I’m an happy Archer owner, your Ercoupe is quite a nice plane. Did you add the rudder pedals or was this installed when you purchased it? Could it be converted back to the old configuration if you so desire? What a shame the four place versions (I believe there were two attempts) never made it. I’d definitely have to look into one of those! Continued safe flying to you and your family!
You'd think after 20 years of working on B-52s and Kc-135s I'd get over little oil drips, but they still drive me crazy. I'd have to replace those push rod tube seals.
I can understand that. I really want to put a new tube kit on there with spring seals.
Barry, I'm like you (I used to hang around C130s and C141s...they leaked on my ramp all the time). I hate the oil drips that lead to oil streaks in my Coupe. My IA says to deal with it..."ain't leaking, it ain't running". I'm with James, I want spring seals.
I know it’s probably too late, but you can repair the plate with a time-cert, it’s more substantial than a helicoil, it’s a steel insert with a set of wedges that keep the insert from coming out...
www.threadkits.com/time-sert/
Yep, those are where it's at. Very strong. They don't give those away, unfortunately. My kit I bought 20 years ago cost $500 back then. I can only imagine what they are now ...
Nice vid. Considering an Ercoupe myself. What were the oil drips you found near the end and how did you fix them?
Those were probably from the push rod tubes. They were fixed in a later annual when it was discovered that an exhaust valve was sticking, and we changed the number 1 cylinder for a new one. I don't think it's possible to fix all leaks from these engines, BTW!
J. Good, at 5:30, where you commented about the gap in the grommet, is there a chafing condition there with so many lines going through it? Thanks for this video. I am thinking about buying a '46 Ercoupe and am enjoying your video. Thanks again!
Glad you enjoyed! That's a good point you make. I'll have another look when I'm up the airport next, and also ask my IA's opinion. I think it's been like that for a long time, but always good to question these things!
Looking to buy a nice playing like this
As a AI, I wish mechanics would not use .032 wire to safety wire the propeller bolts, the book says, the prop won't fall off 70% of the bolt hole should be covered with wire, .041 is the correct wire. The prop won't fall off, it's the little things that AI's should know if you are going to say the aircraft is airworthy
James, Don't recall you checking tire pressure? Great video. Stay safe.
Hey Keith. I actually check them every few flights, I really have to keep that nose tyre exactly at the correct pressure. It's more prone to shimmy, if it gets away from the correct number. But yes, that was another thing I left out!
@@JamesGood I was looking at my tires (American English - LOL) the other day and can't find the pressure for the nose gear tire. I have a shimmy that I'm thinking is inflation more so than balance because it didn't have it a month ago. What TP do you use?
@@randybranson1009 Hey Randy, I use between 15-17 on mine. 16 is about the best for no shimmy on mine. What pressure is yours at?
@@JamesGood I think it's around 18-19 maybe (my guage is crappy)
Hi James , what aluminum polish do you use . Do you want to make a clip on your polishing process. Enjoy your content .
Hello James. I have been watching some of your videos. Am buying a ercoupe for the wife and I noticed you were in California and we need a instructor to get her light sport certificate. Do you know of a instructor in the Northern California area she can go up with?
Gary, I actually trained with Sunshine Flyers in Auburn, in my own Ercoupe. He would probably train in your Ercoupe.
Are the prop bolts left handed?
New follower after that episode with Juan Brown it looks like his medical will be held up a bit because of this crazy virus situation. Looking forward to more of your flying.
Do you need an IA to do the annual or can an A&P do the job? Not sure if your coupe falls under lsa rules or not🤔
Mine is not LSA, so I need an IA sign off.
I’m about to give up on restoring mine I thought it was possible but after seeing all this I’m worried mine won’t get close to inspection
Why not, Kai?
@@JamesGood well aside from time and money I’m worried all the work I’ve done to it will be rejected, the more I’ve been seeing in this hobby it seems like only IA’s or ect’s can do the work so that’s my worry and I have been teaching myself entirely and I just don’t know if they will accept any of it because I’m willing to admit I know almost 0about airplanes ✈️ work on cars and am an industrial tech
What's the timeframe between parts request and receiving?
Aircraft Spruce are pretty quick, that's who I use for most things. Normally comes within a week.
so did you address the oil leaks you found at the end?
Has anyone ever put retractable landing gear on a Ercoupe ?
Factory did one, gained about 10 mph in cruise-alas ran out of $$.
I understand if you meant you were waiting for your IA to arrive, so you could take off all the panels. I hope you understand, taking off panels is not something you have to wait for an IA approval. You are a pilot and aircraft owner which allows you to do preventative maintenance
Hi Cessna. Yes, I understand the list of things I can do as preventative maintenance. I do my own oil changes, spark plugs, tires, etc. My IA is super awesome, and I just like to involve him (and learn from him) as much as I can. I shudder to think of the time when he stops working at the airport.
Indeed... as owner /operator he can remove ANYTHING...
but he has to have the IA present to put things back togeather...
also... as to modifying the engine... one must have the manufactures approval... while 43.13 allows a lot of leeway... if you go modifying anything... you need manufactures approval... and it goes into the log book as part of the work performed... Remember all work must be approved by the grand aukie thumper... (administrator) or the manufacture... those are the only two who really authorize work to be perfromed... we IA's and inspector are just field reps.. so to speak... that are deligated the power to return aircraft to service if and when the work performed is to the approved standards... Our job is to keep YOU alive and safe... and not a case of attitude and power... we hate to see people crash and burn.. kinda thing.. as most of us too enjoy the flying...
I have had a lot of owners IAs just put... gave the aircraft a 100 hr /annual inspection... atttt that is not good enough.. i.e the first question I ask as a inspector is... oh you didn't have to do any work on the plane... I see you only have the compression no's... amazing no other parts needed or work done... really??? SO indeed you need to put what was found.. what work was accomplished... what was approved... and what was inspected IN the logbook or a related work order No. before return to service /flight.... anything less and its not a complete annual... after all what the law people want to see is what YOU did... we want to see the work performed... to make the aircraft airworthy as in the FARs... and ....you can only make the aircraft as good as or better than the manufactured .... as mechanics and owners .. you may not modify it..to your liking... and with a plane this old... because the manufacture is no longer around... if you modify it you have to again do more paperwork... submit it and get approval from the FAA in the form of 337 MAJOR REPAIR & ALTERATION (Airframe, Powerplant, Propeller, or Appliance) before return to service/flight.
So lots to be conserned about...
in addition anything added such as a new radio or inst. you must also make the statement that it was found to conform (weight and balance)and not interfear with other parts systems of the plane or its operation...
... after all pilots that jump in... hate mechanical suprises... that put them into the trees...
So don't look at the annual as a "I have to do it because the regs say so" remember the fAR's and AD's are written in blood... someone died ... and they are their to keep you safe and alive...
Something I noticed also.... is the altimeter was bouncing around... you should have noted that to the IA and have it removed and tested for hysteresis... play in the readings.. by a certified inst shop.... they are not supposed to be jumping around 100 ft or more...
Just some other observations.... that will keep ya safe and long life... as you have fun with the plane... be safe...
That's a lot of screws to unfasten and refasten; how about a power screwdriver with torque adjustment?
If you're offering... :) I've always been wary of electric screwdrivers on the aircraft, but I'm coming around to the idea. I should probably invest in one.
@@JamesGood
I prefer to break fasteners loose manually, then power them out. On tightening, gently running them in just snug with power, then manually tighten to completion.
What year is your Ercoupe? My dad had one and it had fabric covered wings. O believe the rudders were also fabric covered too!
Hi Donald. N94805 is a 1948 E model. It originally had fabric covered wings, but they were 'metalized' in the 60's. I don't believe any Ercoupe's have fabric covered vertical surfaces, they were always metal.
James, ours was also the same year. We bought it with sever storm damage. We replaced the entire tail boom and built a new horizontal stabilizer. The vertical stabilizer parts were good. This was 45 years ago. It was sold in 1981 and now lives in Tennessee last we heard. When we restored it we recovered the wings with Fabric. I wish I could send photos but all I can do is send text through here. This was my senior year project at the Votech school in Salina, Kansas.
ok? what about those torque tube leaks? I'm not an Ercoupe pilot, in fact I'm not a pilot at all, last took lessons 3 years ago, but could you explain why you think that those little oil leaks are (relatively) insignificant?
Push rod tube leaks. They are apparently quite common on these engines. A few drips in a flight is not really significant; measurable quantities certainly would be.
@@JamesGood My Coupe, a 1950 G model, I have the Real Gasket Push rod tubes STC on mine, no more leaking push rod tubes
You would flunk A&P school when you put the plug wires on with just the single wrench... that puts a twist on the ignition wires... you need to keep a second wrench on the wire nut... so to keep the leads from twisting... and what about the brushes in the starter... didn't see any checking of them etc... also... noticed when you were in flight... that the right gear wobbles... did you check the bushings on them... wheel bearings... cleaning and greasing ? boy your IA needs to be their also... its a NO NO if he is not in direct visual of you doing the work etc...
Thanks for the comment. I'm about the take the plugs off again, so will see if I can see what you mean about the ignition wires twisting. Thanks. Lots of the annual left out, it's very hard to document and do work at the same time, plus other things were done by my IA when I wasn't there. The video is intended to be entertainment, not a how-to or educational resource! As an owner/operator, there's a lot I can do without my IA, I follow those rules carefully. I will be checking the the right gear wobble.
@@JamesGood You are right James
Air traffic control does not say to go Port 30° they go right 30°
Port is to the Left......
Mr. Brown lol follow you to
I always thought that was a "air" coupe not an "er" coupe
Hey John. The original ERCO machines were all 'Ercoupe's. Mine was made by Sanders, in the original factory, and was also an Ercoupe. When Forney bought the rights in '55, they changed the name to Aircoupe. I think both ways of pronunciation are acceptable to most people!
To many young pilots, it's not an Ercoupe,or Aircoupe, it's a What the heck is that?
True, Douglas!
It is scary how great majority of GA fleet is basically 1930s technology with Garmin screens slapped on top ...
Your statement may be true, not sure it's scary though. A little sad (innovation, refinement, technology stopped/slowed down). One thing that's good about this old tech, is that nearly every single part can be easily repaired. Unlike my modern car. Mixed blessings, I guess.
@@JamesGood That's why my "toy" is a '65 Porsche 356C. There isn't anything on it that I can't repair myself, including a complete engine rebuild a few years ago. Not so on my more modern vehicles.
It's not starboard and Port it's left and right
Port is Left..... Nice try though.
And port and starboard remain the same whether you look toward the nose or the tail.
I think port and starboard seem appropriate, more exact than left and right. Lots of nautical terms in aviation... Left and right is quicker, and less confused, when talking to ATC. I've only just learned which side port/starboard are, I'm going to use them now, even if it don't strictly have to!
@@JamesGood when I was learning nautical (Dad made us use the correct nautical terms as kids), the way I remembered which was which is that Port is 4 letters...so is left. Right has more letters, so does starboard. Heehee.
@@randybranson1009 ha! I know which wing light is red (it's on my left), and port=red like port wine.
beam torque wrench, I'm cringing, literally!
Properly calibrated (easy to do) why would it bother you?
@@UncleKennysPlace because they stay in calibration for about 10 minutes. Run a beam torque wrench on half a dozen bolts, put it back in its container in your toolbox then open and close the drawer five or six times. Now go back and check how close the torque values are.
Armor All the tires and your ready to go. My wife insists we have shiny tires on our Stinson. [women]..........
I think the tire manufacturer says 'no shine compounds'. Not sure how real the risk is. I've never used one, although you are right, they would look better...
What my wife insists and what I really do are two different things. I just keep them wiped off clean but at the same time I'm really checking for nicks or gouges from soft field landings.