Payback...

[Marc Olson]

Tonight I did two simple things with my -12. Call it payback for the hours of faithful service rendered while in my ownership.

First, I replaced the ELT batteries. They'd been rattling around but not installed for three weeks. Were the old ones dead? Probably not. But, it needed doing and it gave me a chance to *do* it. The ELT is 'under' my extended baggage, so I had to unscrew the aft portion of my normal baggage area panel, etc. No big deal. But, it was the first time, and as many things can go, I still had to put it all back together. The ELT was moved during the initial annual from its original location 'velcroed' to the cockpit fabric (really!).

Other than some creative use of zip ties to hold the ELT to the 'mount' (how I found it) it was uneventful. And I'm now again legal to crash.

I had some additional time so I lubed the tailwheel and then noticed (well, not for the first time) how black the TW had become. So, I grabbed a roll of shop towels and spent 20 minutes removing excess lubricants from the exterior of the TW assembly where their presence was certainly not needed. I started with the fork, but then saw how much crap was on the actual wheel, and then the inside of the fork. I had quite a pile of dirty paper when I was done.

But, the important (interior) portion of my TW is (as always) happily frictionless. And, the outside now looks spiffy.

A small gesture of optional scrubbing that allowed me to spend some time crouched under the aft end of my plane, looking at the tailfeathers, rudder post, etc.

Felt good to close up the hangar and drive home, even if I didn't get a chance to fly tonight.

 

[Torch]

If we aren't flying them, then we might as well get them ready for the next time. Beats watching mindless TV.

 

[Jon B.]

One part of rebuilding my Champ was replacing the tailwheel tire. 57B had just over an hour since annual when she was groundlooped and banged up pretty badly.

When I took the (Scott 3200) wheel apart, it was amazing how poorly it had been assembled the previous time. A couple of the spacers were left out, and the grease retainer was crushed because of the missing spacers. The stepped spacer on the outside end was worn out, and the whole axle and wheel wobbled something fierce. Oh, yeah; I replaced the tire 'cause it was bald. New tube, too.

Of course, after seeing the rest of the work that the IA signed off, I was hardly surprised. If you want something done right, do it yourself. That often means getting dirty and sweaty, and ruining our vocabulary, but, in the end, it pays off. Quality time with the Cub... er, Champ.

Jon

 

[Jerry Gaston]

My Daddy used to say "ya can't keep taking you got to put something back once in a while"