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<DIV><SPAN class=682343121-09082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>Here's
another good one. I fly IMAC and was getting ready for the Nats. My plane is a
37% Aeroworks Extra 300L with a killer 150 cc 3W engine. This plane goes
ballistic easily. Early in July I noticed that the power was down a bit and my
friends commented on it also. I was practicing out in PA and it was hot so I
figured it was the density altitude. The power was noticeably off in Muncie and
some of my pattern buddies commented to me that they also lost power because
the elevation is 1100 feet and the humidity was 100 percent. Yet I noticed
that other pilots in the Unlimited class were not having the same
problems. So I figured I needed to order a smaller prop and tuned pipes.
Yesterday was the first day I flew since the Nats and the engine definitely
sounded sick. I sat there depressed thinking of what could be wrong since this
engine had been recently rebuilt, it <FONT size=2>is a killer 150 that
I have 300 flights on and that the dealer recently serviced under warranty
with a new case, rear bearing, carb block, gaskets, etc. I couldn't think of
what could be wrong but I remembered having the same problem in 1986 at the Lake
Charles LA Pattern Nats wit a piped Rossi .60 engine, it turned only 12,000 down
from 14,600 (remember those days? :). The problem was that the Rossi's
pipe had a baffle come loose and it restricted the exhaust. I noticed that the
head temps on the 150 were way off, one normal at 187 and the other very hot at
237. I checked the Pefa canisters and voila! the one on the hot side had a
broken baffle which was restricting the exhaust. I flew the plane on open
headers and what a joy it was with the power back to where it was during the
Spring. The plane was it's usual ballistic self, straight up at high roll rate,
O-O-S rolling. Another tough lesson learned, PITA.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV><SPAN class=682343121-09082004><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2>Rich </FONT></SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT
face=Tahoma size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>
discussion-request@nsrca.org [mailto:discussion-request@nsrca.org] <B>On
Behalf Of </B>Don Ramsey<BR><B>Sent:</B> Monday, August 09, 2004 5:26
PM<BR><B>To:</B> discussion@nsrca.org<BR><B>Subject:</B> Enlightening
Experience<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Some things you hate to admit
especially when you are the dumbest link in the chain. Hope this might
help someone.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Thursday I changed transmitters on
my plane. Also, on that day I changed to a new type of fuel.
During practice, the plane seemed to be a little low on power but not too
bad. I only did 2 flights.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Friday we left for the contest in
Lubbock. Wind that day was quite strong and I only got one flight on the
plane because of a problem. Power was down but it was a little
hot, the altitude was 3500 feet where I normally fly at sea level and the
strong wind really didn't let me see the power profile.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Saturday is gorgeous, cool with
only light winds. On the first round I realized my power was far off
what I needed. The verticals almost stopped at the top and I was
struggling. Before the second round I added half Magnum 1.5
to the new fuel I was trying. Still no power and struggling thought the
tops even with smaller maneuvers. Third round, change prop without any
help. Fourth round change props again and add some Mag 2 to the fuel
mix. Some help but not enough. Sunday, I'm discouraged and still having
power problems. Fly poorly.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Today I'm looking over my plane
and thinking about the contest. For my backup
transmitter I have all the setting recorded that are different from
the other trx. There is nothing about the throttle there so it
must be the same. I got the trx and opened the throttle while
looking at the engine. You guessed it, it's only open about 3
quarters. </SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">I'm still trying to learn the
obvious. If you've got a problem, first check the
obvious.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">Don</SPAN></FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>