Engine cover

[Idleclamp]

Hi All,

I wrote a post a month or two back about buying a Super Cub in Alaska and flying it back to the Midwest. Well, that didn’t happen, but I did find a Super Cub in Ohio and made the purchase, flew it to Wisconsin this week. So, now I’m in the process of getting the things I need. An engine cover is on my list, and I did the obligatory internet search, but I found much of the info dated. I would like to know if there are any new makers of relatively easy to compact engine covers, or stuck with the ones that have been around a while (I’m looking at a Kennon now) I’m installing a Reiff preheater, so possibly I could get away with something that won’t take up a lot of baggage space??

Eric


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[cubdriver2]

If your in an unheated hangar you need a heavier cover to hold the heat in over night. Problem is that bulky cover is a pain if you playing and stopping on and off all day. It will fit in a compression stuff sack but that takes time to stuff it in and you have to get down on one knee in the snow to push it in. I'm going to try Stewartb idea and make a travel one out of the heavier space blankets that fits tight. When playing you only need to keep the wind out and minimal insulation because your only parking for less then 2 hrs. Find someone who sews

Glenn

 

[Charlie Longley]

One of the vendors at my airport does covers for Stoddard in Anchorage. It’s very light, thin wind proof material that insulates pretty well. I am going to get one for my 12 at some point.

http://www.aviationcovers.com/-.php

 

[stewartb]

http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthread.php?23444-Engine-covers

Different strokes for different folks. Synthetic fiber insultion is way better than it used to be. I have three engine covers for my Cessna. Kennon, AK Wing Covers, and the skinny Fine Line. All fit well and are good quality. One is way easier to stow. My new Cub’s engine cover will be skinny.

 

[mvivion]

If your in an unheated hangar you need a heavier cover to hold the heat in over night. Problem is that bulky cover is a pain if you playing and stopping on and off all day. It will fit in a compression stuff sack but that takes time to stuff it in and you have to get down on one knee in the snow to push it in. I'm going to try Stewartb idea and make a travel one out of the heavier space blankets that fits tight. When playing you only need to keep the wind out and minimal insulation because your only parking for less then 2 hrs. Find someone who sews

Glenn

I will offer a qualified disagreement. If you are parking outdoors or in an I heated Hangar, you hopefully have access to electricity, and if so, there are a number of good, powerful engine heaters available, such as Reiff, Tanis, etc. If you use one of those, a relatively compact engine cover works just fine. Most people aren’t going to expect an engine cover to retain heat overnight in any case, and how often do you park out for eight hours at a time with no heat.

I operated Huskys and Cubs for a number of years near and north of the Arctic Circle. Our cold cutoff was - 40, and many times I parked out in those temps with one of Lynn Cunningham’s compact covers, and never had a complaint, with electricity available and Reiff heat. Those covers roll up really tight, and still hold heat pretty well. I could land out, work for four or five hours at - 30 or so, and engine would be plenty warm.

personally, I think most engine covers are too large. The key is having a source of heat if you’re going to park out somewhere for very long.

Cunningham used to make good covers, and they’d make a compact cover if you requested one.

Once you cram your survival gear, miscellaneous recreational gear AND one of those monster engine covers in the baggage area, it’s easy to run out of space.

MTV

 

[Idleclamp]

http://www.supercub.org/forum/showthread.php?23444-Engine-covers

Different strokes for different folks. Synthetic fiber insultion is way better than it used to be. I have three engine covers for my Cessna. Kennon, AK Wing Covers, and the skinny Fine Line. All fit well and are good quality. One is way easier to stow. My new Cub’s engine cover will be skinny.

Thanks, I didn’t see the recent info on that thread. [emoji51]


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[stewartb]

You're welcome. Enjoy your new plane!

 

[BC12D-4-85]

Cover and insulate the prop as well...not news but it's a great radiator of heat from the core of the engine especially if any wind is blowing.

Gary

 

[Canadian Farmer]

I purchased a full set of Covers from Aviation Covers last winter and am very satisfied!
i went with the "thin" engine cover

 

[cubdriver2]

I will offer a qualified disagreement. If you are parking outdoors or in an I heated Hangar, you hopefully have access to electricity, and if so, there are a number of good, powerful engine heaters available, such as Reiff, Tanis, etc. If you use one of those, a relatively compact engine cover works just fine. Most people aren’t going to expect an engine cover to retain heat overnight in any case, and how often do you park out for eight hours at a time with no heat.

I operated Huskys and Cubs for a number of years near and north of the Arctic Circle. Our cold cutoff was - 40, and many times I parked out in those temps with one of Lynn Cunningham’s compact covers, and never had a complaint, with electricity available and Reiff heat. Those covers roll up really tight, and still hold heat pretty well. I could land out, work for four or five hours at - 30 or so, and engine would be plenty warm.

personally, I think most engine covers are too large. The key is having a source of heat if you’re going to park out somewhere for very long.

Cunningham used to make good covers, and they’d make a compact cover if you requested one.

Once you cram your survival gear, miscellaneous recreational gear AND one of those monster engine covers in the baggage area, it’s easy to run out of space.

MTV

Plugged in over night is what I ment

Glenn

 

[BC12D-4-85]

Another source of heat loss near the engine is the metal firewall and boot cowl. Residual engine heat will sometimes melt snow back as far as the windshield with the engine covered. Seeing that I once had an oversized travel cover made of thin light Vivatex fabric with a thin layer of removable silver colored insulation inside but with no special liner. It covered the Cub's engine and boot cowl back to the shield, plus covered the prop (like a big bag). Also had a lower chimney to put a stove in for remote pre-heating. When using electric heat outdoors overnight I added the inside layer of insulation. The cover was oversized and could be used to make a small lean-to near a fire or even a shelter over wood branches if needed. The liner could be used as an insulated ground cloth.

It also helps to close the cockpit heat vents so that system doesn't become a chimney and a source of engine compartment heat loss and moisture if using a combustion pre-heater.

Gary

 

[mvivion]

On the last three engine covers I’ve had made, I told them I wanted the cover to extend all the way back to the windshield. Cunningham and Kennon were willing to do so. That actually keeps some of the heat up under the instrument panel as well, which helps save gyros.

MTV

 

[Idleclamp]

On the last three engine covers I’ve had made, I told them I wanted the cover to extend all the way back to the windshield. Cunningham and Kennon were willing to do so. That actually keeps some of the heat up under the instrument panel as well, which helps save gyros.

MTV

Great idea, I’m going to request that when I place my order with Kennon.

Thanks,
Eric


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[cubdriver2]

Why not put a " temporary " thin Alum plate under the bottom of the panel and put a 50 watt pad on it?

Glenn

 

[mvivion]

Why not put a " temporary " thin Alum plate under the bottom of the panel and put a 50 watt pad on it?

Glenn

Glenn,

Ive used small forced air heaters and a heat pad made by Tanis under the panel on a 185. Works fine, but winds up being a lot of current draw for small generator. And, if you need to use some sort of combustion heat, no soap.

MTV

 

[BC12D-4-85]

Whatever 1970's vintage boat anchor radios Cessna installed would quit working properly when cold (displays and functions). I stuck a dial therm with probe in the #2 stack screw hole and tried to keep them above 0*F especially the transponder. Their outboard stack cooling vents had to be plugged in winter or they'd become intermittent.

As MTV notes preheat was essential and a car interior warmer below them was required in real cold. Then there were the gyros not wanting to erect themselves when cold without some heat.

Gary

 

[Ralf]

My engine cover for my J-3 is a pile of old sleeping bags and blankets that hang to the ground with an electric heater underneath. One of these days I am going to have one sewn up. It will be the size of a circus tent.

 

[WindOnHisNose]

I have had a Kennon engine cover for many years and it has worked well, is well made and compresses rather nicely. A bonus is the bright orange color on the inside, in case of...

What propeller covers have you folks used? I just looked and Kennon has one, but would appreciate any input.

Randy

 

[C130jake]

Best prop cover ever. Not sure where to get a set Randy. Saw this on Millacs last winter.

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[BC12D-4-85]

I like to carry a nylon or light canvas tarp and use it as the prop and engine over cover. That way I have something useful onboard in case I get to camping unexpectedly. Other than covering the prop the regular covers for them are useless. However...now that I see the Coyote Covers in #19 that may be a great place to store things...up the south end of a north bound critter.

Gary

 

[windknot54]

Have you considered: https://airplane-covers.com/

 

[Idleclamp]

Have you considered: https://airplane-covers.com/

Just checked them out, thanks.

Eric


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[Idleclamp]

I like to carry a nylon or light canvas tarp and use it as the prop and engine over cover. That way I have something useful onboard in case I get to camping unexpectedly. Other than covering the prop the regular covers for them are useless. However...now that I see the Coyote Covers in #19 that may be a great place to store things...up the south end of a north bound critter.

Gary

Are you saying the insulated prop covers are unnecessary?


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[WYflyer]

About the prop; I'm wondering if it has more to do with the type of prop itself. I would imagine that an all metal prop would be the worst at conducting heat away from where it is wanted. The wood prop less so due to less conduction. The hollow or wood cored carbon fiber ?????

 

[BC12D-4-85]

Are you saying the insulated prop covers are unnecessary?

No on the contrary they are beneficial for the reasons explained by several, but after that task are not of much additional value. I just would rather wrap the prop (and spinner if present) a few times and seal the exposed area where the engine cover often loosely wraps around the end of the crankshaft with a light flexible tarp. It achieves the same purpose as dedicated cover, can be used to cover the entire prop and engine if large enough, and affords shelter if needed to protect us from the elements. Something made at least 8x10' or larger out of ripstop nylon or ? is light weight and takes up little space. Bungee cords like used on wing covers can fasten it to this and that and hold a prop wrap in the wind. Placed over the prop and engine it adds another layer to hold the heat especially in the wind.

An example of one: http://www.equinoxltd.com/the-gear/tarps-and-bivis-and-ground-cloths/egret_nylon_tarp.cfm

Gary

 

[Cubus Maximus]

 

[buckeye]

Hi everyone,

I realize this is an old thread, I was interested in knowing what you guys thought of an electric blanket around the prop in addition to a sump heater and bands around the cylinders to warm the engine prior to flying maybe starting the night before? Overkill?

Thanks
Jim

 

[DENNY]

Yes. Fur is not a bad ideal.
DENNY

 

[dogone]

I have an insulated cover by BRUCE out of Cal. Then I had an upholsterer sew up two sleeves and a cone for the prop. I used indoor/outdoor carpet. A bungee from one blade to the other ,through a loop on the nose of spinner cover and good to go. An oil pan heater run with my Yamaha genset makes it good to -40.

 

[BC12D-4-85]

Hi everyone,

I realize this is an old thread, I was interested in knowing what you guys thought of an electric blanket around the prop in addition to a sump heater and bands around the cylinders to warm the engine prior to flying maybe starting the night before? Overkill?

Thanks

Jim

Wife decided nearby electrical fields were now prone to creating harm so the electric blanket got disappeared to my plane. I threw it over the prop and plugged it in overnight with the other electric one under the cowl. Snowed. Next day the engine and prop were warm and real wet. I went flying for a week and when I returned I dumstered the blanket. It works is thermostat controlled and will melt things. Maybe not safe either if wrapped up in a roll or wet. May be better just laid over everything as an engine blanket away from weather.

Gary