Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Jeff Boatright
Gene; I have yet to complete the engine swap and start upthe 75. Hope to do that this weekend and will report back.The A65 is back in Cajun country though.Oscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CCnow A75 poweredSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Fri, 31 Jul 2009 17:45:56 -0400

Original Posted By: Jeff Boatright
At approximately 5 PM central daylight time today, August 1,my new A75 engine started its new life on the nose of 41CCwith zero time it its logbook. It took enough pulls of theprop that I'm already sore an hour later, but I figured outwhat the engine wanted and it finally sprang to life and thenpurred like a kitten till I shut it down about 10 minuteslater, due to an oil leak somewhere up front. I'll deal withthat later.The engine starts easily once I figured out the throttle setting that it wanted, and man oh man is it tight! It'sgoing to need some run time to smooth out the high internalfriction until the rings seat and things ease up a bit. I cansure sympathize with Edwin and Corky when they broke in the65.The oil pressure shot right up into the top of the green,higher than I've ever seen it with the 65. The 65 cruised withthe oil pressure at the bottom of the green but the oil pumpcover was faced smooth when this engine was rebuilt so thereis little or no bypass and the pump really works nice.More later.Oscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CC, A75 poweredSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sat, 1 Aug 2009 19:44:04 -0400

Original Posted By: Jeff Boatright

Original Posted By: "Oscar Zuniga"
>From personal experience, flying without a cowling is a drag, and then some. That was what helped me wreck my left gear and prop last year. Be real careful flying without a cowling. Oscar is right about the barn door and vertical landing--Jim Lagowski----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: Oscar Zuniga
Howdy, Pieters;I got the cowlings fitted back onto the engine, confidentthat there are no more leaks or loose things ahead of thefirewall. I snipped out a new opening for the oil filler/dipstick and will fit the edge of that with some of thesame trim material that Corky used on the other cowlingopenings.The airplane flies MUCH better with cowlings back on, andperforms like I'm used to having it perform, except withmuch more power. I am really happy with the additional10 HP and the smoothness of the rebuilt engine. There ismuch less 'buzz' in the seat of the pants, less shakingof the cowlings and windscreens, less vibration in general.Jeff and Doug are really good at balancing these enginesand I'm the benefactor of their overhaul/rebuild efforts.I know my tach reads low but I don't have an optical tachat the moment so the following numbers are probably low onthe RPM. Static runup on the ground with the Culver propis 2475 (and it starts to drag the brakes, which the 65could never do). In level cruise at 3500 ft. and about 80Fat that altitude, the cruise airspeed was just a tad higherat 72 MPH with 2600 RPM showing, but much smoother.Climb is very strong, although I didn't believe the VSIwhich was showing 1200-1500 FPM for awhile. The 75 seemsto be a good match for the airplane but needs a bit morewatching than the 65... I tend to overspeed the engineat times and the airspeed runs away from me much easier ifI drop the nose.Oil pressure is still fabulous, at about 42 psi at cruise,with oil temp hovering around 180F but it did creep up to about 190 after I climbed out after fueling at Castroville.That's the highest I've ever seen on the oil temp gauge,but to be expected until the rings and cylinders smooth out.I think the mixture is a bit rich... I didn't touch anythingon the overhauled Stromberg... just mounted it, hooked up,started up, and ran. Got a bit of stumbling at low speedtaxi and low power settings, and a bit of a stumble whenchecking mags at Castroville. Deanie Montgomery knows howto set these carbs up but I think I need to adjust themixture a bit. I now have 1.54 hrs. on the new engine andonly about 3-1/2 to go till testing is over.Oscar ZunigaAir Camper NX41CC- A75 with Culver propSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: "Oscar Zuniga"
Congratulations on getting your new A 75 up and running. I'm sure you do notice the extra 10 hp. It does sound like your old A 65 was a real dog with all the shaking and vibrations you've reported. Just so other builders don't get the wrong idea about the A 65, I'd like to report that I experience none of the problems you've reported. With my 76 X 38 prop it climbs well, cruises between 72 and 74 mph at 2150 rpm and if I put the nose down with power on it will reach VNE very quickly.Having said all that, would I like 10 more horses to use on a real hot summer day? You bet! (but only if I can get the same fuel rate). I'll be watching for more of your excellent reports as you get the engine broken in.Gene N502RA 65Jay Anderson prop----- Original Message -----