Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Gary Gower
Subject: Zenith Carb. I have found a pietenpol for sale, in my area. It has a Model Aengine, and a Zenith Carb. The owner says it is normal for the engineto spit and sputter on takeoff, until in the air. He further statesthis is due to the the uneven grassy surface, and the fuel in the zenithcarb. moving around. It has an aluminum head and turns 2150 static. Isthis alittle high? I believe he said it had a 72" x 44" propeller. Does anyone have any comments or answers? Many thanks... Van Brendle Hickory NC 828 466-3748________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Sayre, William G"
Subject: Zenith Carb. I have found a pietenpol for sale, in my area. It has a Model Aengine, and a Zenith Carb. The owner says it is normal for the engineto spit and sputter on takeoff, until in the air. He further statesthis is due to the the uneven grassy surface, and the fuel in the zenithcarb. moving around. It has an aluminum head and turns 2150 static. Isthis alittle high? I believe he said it had a 72" x 44" propeller. Does anyone have any comments or answers? Many thanks... Van Brendle Hickory NC 828 466-3748________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: walter evans
I have found a pietenpol for sale, in my area. It has a Model A engine,and a Zenith Carb. The owner says it is normal for the engine to spitand sputter on takeoff, until in the air. He further states this is dueto the the uneven grassy surface, and the fuel in the zenith carb.moving around. It has an aluminum head and turns 2150 static. Is thisalittle high? I believe he said it had a 72" x 44" propeller. Doesanyone have any comments or answers? Many thanks...Van BrendleHickory NC828 466-3748I have found a pietenpol for sale,in myarea. It has a Model A engine, and a Zenith Carb. The ownersays itis normal for the engine to spit and sputter on takeoff, until in theair.He further states this is due to the the uneven grassy surface, and thefuel inthe zenith carb. moving around. It has an aluminum head and turns2150static. Is this alittle high? I believe he said it had a72 x44 propeller. Does anyone have any comments oranswers? Manythanks...Van BrendleHickory NC828466-3748________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Van Brendle
Only plane I've ever seen that did this had the fuel float arm bent. Itwould hardly hold enough fuel in the bowl for quick changes to openthrottle. It would also sputter when taking off on rough ground. Thepilot who owned the plane said something like the guy you talked to. Mybuddy and me told this guy we would never fly something that even hintedat sputtering. (I have dead sticked it in before and it aint no fun!) We offered to help him diagnose his problem. An hour and a half latterthe problem was fixed. The guy thought is was much better to roll downa rough grass strip with an engine that purred. Also he tried a abortedlanding and when he throttled up it didn't choke.... Isn't that handy.GY -----Original Message-----

Original Posted By:> Van Brendle
This is why the original intake manifold is modified (to angle the carbproperly) on the engine modification prints. Check to see if it has the originalmanifold (or a log style), if original, check for welding/brazing just abovethe carb (or some other method of tilting the carb). At least that's where I'd start. Bill Sayre

Original Posted By: Greg Yotz
The last time I rode in a Piet it was from a slightly uneven grass stripand there was no hint of irregular operation of the engine. I have watchedguys bounce down our 2200 foot strip for several years now and have neverheard an engine miss a beat during it's takeoff run. Everything fromcertified, to homebuilts and ultralights. As a thought, what if the enginedecides to quit at the moment of lift off? Is there sufficient room toreland? If the strip is that bad perhaps it also might be a good idea tocheck the integrity of the landing gear and the gear's fuselage attachpoints. Be careful........ Randall Reihing > "" Many thanks... Van Brendle Hickory NC 828 466-3748 Randall ReihingUniversity of ToledoCollege of EngineeringMIME Department419-530-8244FAX: 419-530-8206E-Mail: rreihing(at)eng.utoledo.edu________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: jmcnarry(at)techplus.com (John McNarry)
I've seen Ford A engines literally go through hell without sputtering (used to race them). The fellow probably has an electrical problem that he hasn't been able to find, sounds like an intermittant ground. Was he the original builder? Contact Ron Kelley in Royce City TX 972 771-1911 for suggestions.DG________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: Van Brendle
My understanding of the Ford carbs is that they can cause a stumblingengine as the fuel sloshes around. I haven't flown my Ford yet but my"driver" a '28 AA truck does that on really bumpy roads but is muchsmoother with the Model B carb. The float bowl is hinged to the sideparallel to the engine in the B carb and 90 degrees to that in the A.Maybe the 2150 means that it is a strong engine -----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: DonanClara(at)aol.com
> Subject: Zenith Carb.> > > I have found a pietenpol for sale, in my area. It has a Model A engine,and a Zenith Carb. The owner says it is normal for the engine to spit andsputter on takeoff, until in the air. He further states this is due to the theuneven grassy surface, and the fuel in the zenith carb. moving around. Ithas an aluminum head and turns 2150 static. Is this alittle high? I believehe said it had a 72" x 44" propeller. Does anyone have any comments or answers?Many thanks...> > Van Brendle> Hickory NC> 828 466-3748> > ________________________________________________________________________________