fancypants
FOUNDER
IL
So how's it looking for a cross-country in 2014? I'd love to join the gaggle at least part of the way.
Rebuilding Flight of Passage - N4971H
- Thread starter nesincg
- Start date
nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
I do have the spring. It was much smaller than the stock one I purchased from Univair. Who knows if it was the same spring ... but it had also broke off already as well.
As for the cross country trip: I still feel good about starting it after sentimental journey. Only hitch would be unforeseen problems after assembly. We had a fuel valve issue, now fixed, and just received another update from Charlie a few hours ago. More to come soon.
cubdriver2
FRIEND
upstate NY
Funny thing about the spring on an 11. J3 guy don't like it and the super cub guys love it
Glenn
Glenn
nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
During December and the Christmas break we ran into a few problems. Actually Charlie ran into them and I had to try to help problem solve them with him hundreds of miles away. Some baggage tabs I welded were wrong and the fuel valve was causing problems.
The baggage tabs were pretty easy. He cut off mine, installed new ones, and then remade the baggage compartment panels. I feel like I wasted a bunch of his time and mine but life goes on.
Valve hit outside fabric
The hard to solve one was the original fuel valve. We had mounted the fuel valve as it was previously mounted, which turned out to be a mistake. When Charlie covered the left side, the valve slightly pushed into the fabric. Neither him or I checked before putting the fabric on, only assuming it fit as before. Looking back at my original pictures, I found they had put an inspection panel in this location “covering up” this problem.
Last install was bad too.
Looking back at the valve pictures, I suggested we move the valve to the inside of the mount. I had originally thought the holes cut in the valve bracket was to save weight. After looking at if after the change, it was clear the holes where there to allow the fuel lines to be tightened. To provide an extra bit of clearance, Charlie installed some bushings under the mount to give the valve extra clearance. As well as the fuel line fit, it may be possible there were originally bushing installed.
So if you are copying my build, make this change. Note how well the fuel line couplings fit in the holes.
I arrived back in Georgia last Friday and more work has been accomplished, mostly by Charlie. More to follow soon.
The baggage tabs were pretty easy. He cut off mine, installed new ones, and then remade the baggage compartment panels. I feel like I wasted a bunch of his time and mine but life goes on.
Valve hit outside fabricThe hard to solve one was the original fuel valve. We had mounted the fuel valve as it was previously mounted, which turned out to be a mistake. When Charlie covered the left side, the valve slightly pushed into the fabric. Neither him or I checked before putting the fabric on, only assuming it fit as before. Looking back at my original pictures, I found they had put an inspection panel in this location “covering up” this problem.
Last install was bad too.Looking back at the valve pictures, I suggested we move the valve to the inside of the mount. I had originally thought the holes cut in the valve bracket was to save weight. After looking at if after the change, it was clear the holes where there to allow the fuel lines to be tightened. To provide an extra bit of clearance, Charlie installed some bushings under the mount to give the valve extra clearance. As well as the fuel line fit, it may be possible there were originally bushing installed.
So if you are copying my build, make this change. Note how well the fuel line couplings fit in the holes.I arrived back in Georgia last Friday and more work has been accomplished, mostly by Charlie. More to follow soon.
Attachments
nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
Work is being accomplished at a feverish pace. I'm not really having anything to do with that other than keeping a fresh supply of materials flowing with cubic dollars. Charlie is an ace at this stuff. I'm not so I watch and try to soak up as much as possible.
The day I arrived I observed recent accomplishments the week prior. The fabric room was crowded with rudder, stabilizers, elevators, gear Vs, and lower door. He had vanished them all the way to white. Colors will be the final step and mostly after we get the scheme laid out. We chatted for a few while and then retired early to the house.
The second day, Saturday, we started to cover the left side of the fuselage. After making one small mistake cutting the fabric, we ended up on a 2.5 hour journey down to Aircraft spruce. It was an interesting trip, though Spruce itself was underwhelming as a store front. Obviously most things happen in the warehouse, but you always want to browse like a Lowes.
Fabric application
On the second hour of the 2.5 hour drive home, Charlie starts wondering if we could have moved the fabric forward some with the extra around the tail area. Both him and I had pondered how to solve the problem before we left, but he seamed to have figured it out without looking at it and while driving. Sure enough when we got back, we shifted things forward and 7 yards of fabric was saved. All was not lost as we purchased all the paint for the final color, saving the enormous cost of shipping hazardous material.
On Sunday and Monday Charlie put on endless amounts of fabric tape as well as inspection covers. This is a very time consuming process and would have probably taken me 4 times as long. He can just whip through applying the tape all while keeping straight edges and symmetry. The Donald and I started stripping formed aluminum pieces to be reused. Also time consuming.
Brush coats and then spray coats of dope.
Metal parts ready for stripping. One of the parts after several applications.
The rest of the week involved coat after coat after coat of dope on the fuselage and right wing. The left wing he had already completed to white color so the rest of the plane is playing catch up. The first brush coats of dope are hardly noticeable, but after many many more spray coasts, the fabric starts turning color.
Taping the interior for paint
After finishing all the dope coats, we started painting the interior fabric headliner. First we had to tape off the floorboard and other interior areas and then start the spray process. After a few days, the interior is all done to color. Many many gallons of diesel are burned getting the hangar up to operating temperature, but it isn't exactly warm. With the chilly temperatures, we have to wait several days for the interior final color to dry before any more work is done.
Getting there.
Today was so cold in the morning that we just rested for a while. No paint was going to dry in this, heater or not. After both of us got bored, we went out and worked on lighting in the shop. Without help on the tall ladders, many of the shop lights had become burnt out. We took down several lights, scrapped some, repaired some from the scrap, and replaced a lot of bulbs. About 8 shop lights we were returned to full brightness, making a very well lit shop.
At 2pm, outside temps hit 40 degrees so we went for an airplane ride. Charlie had just finisihed a Super 17 with an o340 making lots of power. With wind down the runway and the cold temps, the short wing cub still only used 400 or less feet on takeoff. It was a different animal than a cub, but was still a joy to fly. We got back a few hours later with smiles from the flight.
The day I arrived I observed recent accomplishments the week prior. The fabric room was crowded with rudder, stabilizers, elevators, gear Vs, and lower door. He had vanished them all the way to white. Colors will be the final step and mostly after we get the scheme laid out. We chatted for a few while and then retired early to the house.
The second day, Saturday, we started to cover the left side of the fuselage. After making one small mistake cutting the fabric, we ended up on a 2.5 hour journey down to Aircraft spruce. It was an interesting trip, though Spruce itself was underwhelming as a store front. Obviously most things happen in the warehouse, but you always want to browse like a Lowes.
Fabric applicationOn the second hour of the 2.5 hour drive home, Charlie starts wondering if we could have moved the fabric forward some with the extra around the tail area. Both him and I had pondered how to solve the problem before we left, but he seamed to have figured it out without looking at it and while driving. Sure enough when we got back, we shifted things forward and 7 yards of fabric was saved. All was not lost as we purchased all the paint for the final color, saving the enormous cost of shipping hazardous material.
On Sunday and Monday Charlie put on endless amounts of fabric tape as well as inspection covers. This is a very time consuming process and would have probably taken me 4 times as long. He can just whip through applying the tape all while keeping straight edges and symmetry. The Donald and I started stripping formed aluminum pieces to be reused. Also time consuming.
Brush coats and then spray coats of dope.Metal parts ready for stripping. One of the parts after several applications.The rest of the week involved coat after coat after coat of dope on the fuselage and right wing. The left wing he had already completed to white color so the rest of the plane is playing catch up. The first brush coats of dope are hardly noticeable, but after many many more spray coasts, the fabric starts turning color.
Taping the interior for paintAfter finishing all the dope coats, we started painting the interior fabric headliner. First we had to tape off the floorboard and other interior areas and then start the spray process. After a few days, the interior is all done to color. Many many gallons of diesel are burned getting the hangar up to operating temperature, but it isn't exactly warm. With the chilly temperatures, we have to wait several days for the interior final color to dry before any more work is done.
Getting there.Today was so cold in the morning that we just rested for a while. No paint was going to dry in this, heater or not. After both of us got bored, we went out and worked on lighting in the shop. Without help on the tall ladders, many of the shop lights had become burnt out. We took down several lights, scrapped some, repaired some from the scrap, and replaced a lot of bulbs. About 8 shop lights we were returned to full brightness, making a very well lit shop.
At 2pm, outside temps hit 40 degrees so we went for an airplane ride. Charlie had just finisihed a Super 17 with an o340 making lots of power. With wind down the runway and the cold temps, the short wing cub still only used 400 or less feet on takeoff. It was a different animal than a cub, but was still a joy to fly. We got back a few hours later with smiles from the flight.
Attachments
Last edited:
nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
Several weeks later, I'm going to try to piece what happened in Mid January. It was quite eventful. This post has nothing technically to do with the 71H so you can skip my life events should you wish and go on to the next post.
My last weekend in Chattanooga/Chatsworth was a Joy and one of the best in my life. Things sometime just turn out right and those days were it. On Saturday Jan 18[SUP]th[/SUP], while waiting on the wife to arrive via airline for a visit, Charlie and I took the Pacer down to Moontown in Huntsville for a Pancake breakfast. It was a chilly morning, we had just finished some preventative maintenance, and got airborne a little late. So we made it at the end of the breakfast. We arrived over the field in our true southern readneck style. You'll have to witness this for yourself at a future fly-in that Charlie attends.
We met up with Mike and Donna down there and, after breakfast, wandered around the North-east Alabama countryside. This is a very beautiful area with the Tennessee river meandering through rolling hills and long valleys running all the way up to Virginia. We stopped at the river strip near Guntersville, up to their place near Scottsboro, and then out to Lunch. We got airborne after lunch a bit late and we scurried back to Eton International (Charlie's) with late messages arriving on the phone from Janice. Apparently they had a church meeting to go to and our fun was getting in the way.
When we got back, I drove up to Chattanooga to meet with the wife and a neighbor who came down to visit and celebrate my birthday, which was in a few days. We went up to a friend's apartment where we were staying, to meet up with them. Inside the doorway was a surprise, a different set of friends that had come from Jacksonville, FL. As we walked to the living room for some celebratory drinks, I was met by an additional 50 friends and family from all walks of my life, that had come to help me celebrate my 40[SUP]th[/SUP] birthday. Or course Charlie and Janice were there. They had to zoom up after I left to make it in time. It was a fantastic surprise, great party, and lasted into the wee hours of the morning.
The fallout after the party. Most guests that came back for breakfast took the rest of the morning off.
During this party the wife and I decided to make public some big future plans. During our previous visit to the area last fall, my wife had actually interviewed at a local job in Chattanooga. After several weeks, both parties agreed it would be a great fit and she accepted the Job. It puts us within an hour and half from family and in a really nice area of the south. So on top of helping finish up the Cub, I now get to fix everything in my Saint Louis house that I've been ignoring for 2 years, list it for sale, find a place to live, do taxes, and move. All by mid April. For the next several days I ignored the cub and we set out around Chattanooga looking for areas we'd like to relocate.
During this same time, my friends Tom and Sharon had called me to offer my old J-3 back to me. While I was tickled to death, there was no way I could afford it. A little brainstorming and I conned my friend Jonathan, who happens to live in Chattanooga, into paying all the expenses for it, up until he owns half. Lord knows why you'd need two cubs. With encouragement from the wife (yes you read that right), I went through with it. They were going to deliver her to me but 30H was being a little fussy on this very chilly day. After some short mechanical problem in the Bonanza, we headed up to Knoxville and picked her up on the Tuesday, giving myself a late birthday gift. Lenny and I hopped in the J-3 just and strapped her on just like we had never left.
Just like old times.. and my reposition flight passing me by as slow as possible.
Not but a few days before I decided to buy it back, Frank Knapp (aka Little_Cub) had sent me a message asking me if I wanted to participate in this years STOL demonstration at Airventure. Originally I refused as there was no way I was going to risk nosing over 71H after 2 years of hard restoration. I sure was close in 2010. I got to thinking maybe I could con Jonathan into flying up 30H. There were several options to weigh; Missing most of New Holstein; free gas; fame (possible good or bad); reading posts about lack of common planes in the demo. I decided to take them up on the offer. Now I have to make time to practice.
Chattanooga is just a beautiful area and this flight in my old J-3 was just the beginning. Can't wait to move down here ... and some warmer weather.
I sure do think nightly, with a smile on my face, what a heck of a summer there is lined up for April and I. It is fun, scary, exiting, and adventure all piled into about 3 months.
My last weekend in Chattanooga/Chatsworth was a Joy and one of the best in my life. Things sometime just turn out right and those days were it. On Saturday Jan 18[SUP]th[/SUP], while waiting on the wife to arrive via airline for a visit, Charlie and I took the Pacer down to Moontown in Huntsville for a Pancake breakfast. It was a chilly morning, we had just finished some preventative maintenance, and got airborne a little late. So we made it at the end of the breakfast. We arrived over the field in our true southern readneck style. You'll have to witness this for yourself at a future fly-in that Charlie attends.
We met up with Mike and Donna down there and, after breakfast, wandered around the North-east Alabama countryside. This is a very beautiful area with the Tennessee river meandering through rolling hills and long valleys running all the way up to Virginia. We stopped at the river strip near Guntersville, up to their place near Scottsboro, and then out to Lunch. We got airborne after lunch a bit late and we scurried back to Eton International (Charlie's) with late messages arriving on the phone from Janice. Apparently they had a church meeting to go to and our fun was getting in the way.
When we got back, I drove up to Chattanooga to meet with the wife and a neighbor who came down to visit and celebrate my birthday, which was in a few days. We went up to a friend's apartment where we were staying, to meet up with them. Inside the doorway was a surprise, a different set of friends that had come from Jacksonville, FL. As we walked to the living room for some celebratory drinks, I was met by an additional 50 friends and family from all walks of my life, that had come to help me celebrate my 40[SUP]th[/SUP] birthday. Or course Charlie and Janice were there. They had to zoom up after I left to make it in time. It was a fantastic surprise, great party, and lasted into the wee hours of the morning.
The fallout after the party. Most guests that came back for breakfast took the rest of the morning off.During this party the wife and I decided to make public some big future plans. During our previous visit to the area last fall, my wife had actually interviewed at a local job in Chattanooga. After several weeks, both parties agreed it would be a great fit and she accepted the Job. It puts us within an hour and half from family and in a really nice area of the south. So on top of helping finish up the Cub, I now get to fix everything in my Saint Louis house that I've been ignoring for 2 years, list it for sale, find a place to live, do taxes, and move. All by mid April. For the next several days I ignored the cub and we set out around Chattanooga looking for areas we'd like to relocate.
During this same time, my friends Tom and Sharon had called me to offer my old J-3 back to me. While I was tickled to death, there was no way I could afford it. A little brainstorming and I conned my friend Jonathan, who happens to live in Chattanooga, into paying all the expenses for it, up until he owns half. Lord knows why you'd need two cubs. With encouragement from the wife (yes you read that right), I went through with it. They were going to deliver her to me but 30H was being a little fussy on this very chilly day. After some short mechanical problem in the Bonanza, we headed up to Knoxville and picked her up on the Tuesday, giving myself a late birthday gift. Lenny and I hopped in the J-3 just and strapped her on just like we had never left.
Just like old times.. and my reposition flight passing me by as slow as possible.Not but a few days before I decided to buy it back, Frank Knapp (aka Little_Cub) had sent me a message asking me if I wanted to participate in this years STOL demonstration at Airventure. Originally I refused as there was no way I was going to risk nosing over 71H after 2 years of hard restoration. I sure was close in 2010. I got to thinking maybe I could con Jonathan into flying up 30H. There were several options to weigh; Missing most of New Holstein; free gas; fame (possible good or bad); reading posts about lack of common planes in the demo. I decided to take them up on the offer. Now I have to make time to practice.
Chattanooga is just a beautiful area and this flight in my old J-3 was just the beginning. Can't wait to move down here ... and some warmer weather.
I sure do think nightly, with a smile on my face, what a heck of a summer there is lined up for April and I. It is fun, scary, exiting, and adventure all piled into about 3 months.
Attachments
nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
The end of my last week included working on the boot cowl and installing the windshield frame. Since I had no idea what the heck to do, but wanted to, Charlie gave me some tips and we went at it. We then fit and he cut my windshield. I had also started to install some skylight nut plates but didn't get around to finishing them. Of all that time spent watching Charlie work, I could of done more of those nut plates and maybe started on my map pocket.
Boot cowl work. April peeling the skin (her favorite), and some "reconstruction" on the upper window.
It was COLD quite a bit of the week. One day we just took off working on the cub and fixed every single light in the shop. There were several that had burnt out and a few that needed some new ballasts. After doing some light shopping and swapping around ballasts, we had a well lit shop.
I also finished up a small welding table that I had wanted to make. Charlie has had a tig for a while but needed a welding table. With a 3'x5' piece of steel and some angle, I fashioned up a simple table. It worked pretty well but warped a little on the top. Oh well, the steel was free and I was able to get Charlie a short “intro” into the tig.
Lights everywhere 
Your basic welding table
We did do a little bit of painting but much more has occurred since I left. It still has been cold most days, including snow, but I get a few pictures each week with progress. I really want to get back down there and help but I'm stuck dealing with the move. Perhaps if it remains cold, I'll be able to help him finish up once I get down there in April.
Fuselage coming along.
Other pieces all the way to final paint.
Boot cowl work. April peeling the skin (her favorite), and some "reconstruction" on the upper window.
It was COLD quite a bit of the week. One day we just took off working on the cub and fixed every single light in the shop. There were several that had burnt out and a few that needed some new ballasts. After doing some light shopping and swapping around ballasts, we had a well lit shop.
I also finished up a small welding table that I had wanted to make. Charlie has had a tig for a while but needed a welding table. With a 3'x5' piece of steel and some angle, I fashioned up a simple table. It worked pretty well but warped a little on the top. Oh well, the steel was free and I was able to get Charlie a short “intro” into the tig.
Lights everywhere Your basic welding tableWe did do a little bit of painting but much more has occurred since I left. It still has been cold most days, including snow, but I get a few pictures each week with progress. I really want to get back down there and help but I'm stuck dealing with the move. Perhaps if it remains cold, I'll be able to help him finish up once I get down there in April.
Fuselage coming along. Other pieces all the way to final paint.Attachments
RaisedByWolves
FRIEND
Tx
Is that boot cowl 4.0 or 5.0. Now that I have a super cub, I'll be able to haul all the extra crap across the country for you guys.
Your getting closer. Now it's my turn to get to work
Your getting closer. Now it's my turn to get to work
cubdriver2
FRIEND
upstate NY
nesincg94777 said:
Is anyone else interested in a pool on this?
Glenn
RaisedByWolves
FRIEND
Tx
He has tricked it to NH. That's almost Maine... No way it gets out of the north east.
nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
That is still version 2.1 that you and I made.
You better install extended baggage. Lenny is riding with you
cubdriver2
FRIEND
upstate NY
JP
FOUNDER
The Big Woods of Maine
Rat Bastards, all of you.
RaisedByWolves
FRIEND
Tx
nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
I have no long paragraphs or build log to write. I could write about the 2.5 years worth of maintenance I put off on my house tow work on my plane, that I now have to do, but that would be boring. I wish I could be down helping Charlie instead of drywall, painting, or fixing siding. Pictures come every few days via text and cheers me right up.
Daytona white on the fuselage
Bungees installed
On the gear!
Masking for the stripes
Daytona white on the fuselage
Bungees installed
On the gear!
Masking for the stripes
Attachments
JP
FOUNDER
The Big Woods of Maine
Tag, heck, somebody's gotta lead the way.
nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
Ok. This is a post I might catch some heat for. It is about Keystone instruments. I've had a very bad experience in dealing with them and getting my instruments overhauled. I know they are a small shop but and I've tried to cut them some slack … several times. Please bear in mind this is my review, and others may have had different experiences.
I started thinking instruments last spring when I was told that someone who had instruments sent there took almost 3 months to get them overhauled. I sent them an email on April 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] requesting to see if they would take on my project. The foreshadowing should have been the 30 days it took them to reply to my email. But then I spoke with my friends the Bryants, and their instruments only took 3 weeks, which put me more at ease. By that summer I figured I better get them to Keystone to have them done by the fall, just in case.
On July 12[SUP]th[/SUP] of last year I sent them my gauges UPS along with a letter, some of which included below.
“Dear Keystone Instruments. This is follow up to an email I sent a few months ago and am now just getting around to sending the instruments …. I have three airspeeds, two tachs, two altimeters and one dual temp/pressure. Obviously I'll want you to use the gauge that is in the best shape to restore. On the altimeter, I don't know if the single pointed altimeter was period for the PA11 but I sure do like how light it is. Perhaps you have a lighter altimeter with dual needles. If we don't use the single needle altimeter, I'd like to keep it simply of how neat they are.
I have a C-90-8 engine so please mark the tach accordingly. Please call to confirm these directions.”
I sent an email the next Monday to let them know they were on the way. Three weeks went by without a confirmation call. I certainly had questions about the altimeter that I needed answered. So I called them twice that week. There was always some kind of an issue and they were unable to get back to me.
On 8/27, after not hearing from them again, I sent the following email which received no response:
“After careful consideration, I've decided for you to overhaul the sensitive altimeter. But I'd like to keep the single point altimeter too, we do not need to overhaul it at this time though.” I just gave up calling them and figured they'd look at the email eventually.
By the end of October I still had not heard from Keystone and called again. I left a detailed message. Again I never heard from them. The next Monday, which was now November, I sent this email: “I called last Monday for an update on my instruments and still don't have a response. my project has now gotten to the point where I need these items complete. If you'd rather call me, here is my number again”. This did, several days later, generate a voice mail on my phone that said they where working on them and were nearly completed. It would just be a week or two more.
Four weeks later, at the beginning of December, I still had not heard from them and called again. I was able to get through and there was some delay or emergency that they could not get to my instruments. He asked if I could wait until after Christmas. I said yes, but “I need them by January!”
If you can guess, I call back mid-January and it is like I'm calling for the first time. There is some other sickness or emergency and they are still not ready but will be ready next week. 10 days later I get a call that they are ready.
I was so exited. I remember this specifically, even where I was. The wife, a friend, and I were out looking for houses in Chattanooga on January 20[SUP]th[/SUP]. I made them stop by the side of the road so as to not lose service. With the magic of smart phones, I was able to look up Charlie's address in Georgia while still talking with them on the phone. Oh the modern technology miracles. We'd get my instruments on time.
So the next week, while I'm away at work, I get a call from my wife. Some packages had come that I was expecting and one that I was not. The wife says “I think your instruments came here.” Good grief I thought. Could this get any worse. I declined her offer to ship the instruments that week. I figured I would inspect them anyway.
When I got home the following week I inspected the instruments. They looked great. He had made two of them cream and two black faced just as I oddly requested. However I was saddened to find that he had overhauled the single pointer altimeter and not the sensitive one as I requested. I called on Monday an reached the receptionist. I explained in what I consider my most calm voice that I'd really wanted the other altimeter done. She said he would want to make thing right. He'd call the next day.
Two weeks later, after not hearing from them, I gave up on Keystone Instruments. In disgust and out of time, I shipped the instruments to Charlie. I'd get a single needle until I can afford the overhaul of a sensitive, or I learn to like the single. On February 20[SUP]th[/SUP], 8 months and 8 days later, the instruments reached the panel for install.
My new panel, though odd looking, should match the one from the book, once Charlie moves the Airspeed to the left.
I expected this rant to only last a few paragraphs and not two pages. When I researched my docs, notes, and emails, the frustrations started resurfacing. Keystone needs to step up the CS part of their operations. Emergency and sicknesses happens but you must still take care of customers. If nothing else, just through communication. I understand they may not be in the electronic world, but then don't have an email address. Maybe just reply to say call during business hours. Turn off your website if you are not going to respond to your web presence. But you best call your clients with delays or updates. Have the office/reception person take better notes on phone calls.
I can say I do now have 5 great looking gauges. I did save at least a grand vs new instruments. I'll let you, the next patron needing overhaul, to judge weather they are worth it.
I started thinking instruments last spring when I was told that someone who had instruments sent there took almost 3 months to get them overhauled. I sent them an email on April 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] requesting to see if they would take on my project. The foreshadowing should have been the 30 days it took them to reply to my email. But then I spoke with my friends the Bryants, and their instruments only took 3 weeks, which put me more at ease. By that summer I figured I better get them to Keystone to have them done by the fall, just in case.
On July 12[SUP]th[/SUP] of last year I sent them my gauges UPS along with a letter, some of which included below.
“Dear Keystone Instruments. This is follow up to an email I sent a few months ago and am now just getting around to sending the instruments …. I have three airspeeds, two tachs, two altimeters and one dual temp/pressure. Obviously I'll want you to use the gauge that is in the best shape to restore. On the altimeter, I don't know if the single pointed altimeter was period for the PA11 but I sure do like how light it is. Perhaps you have a lighter altimeter with dual needles. If we don't use the single needle altimeter, I'd like to keep it simply of how neat they are.
I have a C-90-8 engine so please mark the tach accordingly. Please call to confirm these directions.”
I sent an email the next Monday to let them know they were on the way. Three weeks went by without a confirmation call. I certainly had questions about the altimeter that I needed answered. So I called them twice that week. There was always some kind of an issue and they were unable to get back to me.
On 8/27, after not hearing from them again, I sent the following email which received no response:
“After careful consideration, I've decided for you to overhaul the sensitive altimeter. But I'd like to keep the single point altimeter too, we do not need to overhaul it at this time though.” I just gave up calling them and figured they'd look at the email eventually.
By the end of October I still had not heard from Keystone and called again. I left a detailed message. Again I never heard from them. The next Monday, which was now November, I sent this email: “I called last Monday for an update on my instruments and still don't have a response. my project has now gotten to the point where I need these items complete. If you'd rather call me, here is my number again”. This did, several days later, generate a voice mail on my phone that said they where working on them and were nearly completed. It would just be a week or two more.
Four weeks later, at the beginning of December, I still had not heard from them and called again. I was able to get through and there was some delay or emergency that they could not get to my instruments. He asked if I could wait until after Christmas. I said yes, but “I need them by January!”
If you can guess, I call back mid-January and it is like I'm calling for the first time. There is some other sickness or emergency and they are still not ready but will be ready next week. 10 days later I get a call that they are ready.
I was so exited. I remember this specifically, even where I was. The wife, a friend, and I were out looking for houses in Chattanooga on January 20[SUP]th[/SUP]. I made them stop by the side of the road so as to not lose service. With the magic of smart phones, I was able to look up Charlie's address in Georgia while still talking with them on the phone. Oh the modern technology miracles. We'd get my instruments on time.
So the next week, while I'm away at work, I get a call from my wife. Some packages had come that I was expecting and one that I was not. The wife says “I think your instruments came here.” Good grief I thought. Could this get any worse. I declined her offer to ship the instruments that week. I figured I would inspect them anyway.
When I got home the following week I inspected the instruments. They looked great. He had made two of them cream and two black faced just as I oddly requested. However I was saddened to find that he had overhauled the single pointer altimeter and not the sensitive one as I requested. I called on Monday an reached the receptionist. I explained in what I consider my most calm voice that I'd really wanted the other altimeter done. She said he would want to make thing right. He'd call the next day.
Two weeks later, after not hearing from them, I gave up on Keystone Instruments. In disgust and out of time, I shipped the instruments to Charlie. I'd get a single needle until I can afford the overhaul of a sensitive, or I learn to like the single. On February 20[SUP]th[/SUP], 8 months and 8 days later, the instruments reached the panel for install.
My new panel, though odd looking, should match the one from the book, once Charlie moves the Airspeed to the left.
I expected this rant to only last a few paragraphs and not two pages. When I researched my docs, notes, and emails, the frustrations started resurfacing. Keystone needs to step up the CS part of their operations. Emergency and sicknesses happens but you must still take care of customers. If nothing else, just through communication. I understand they may not be in the electronic world, but then don't have an email address. Maybe just reply to say call during business hours. Turn off your website if you are not going to respond to your web presence. But you best call your clients with delays or updates. Have the office/reception person take better notes on phone calls.
I can say I do now have 5 great looking gauges. I did save at least a grand vs new instruments. I'll let you, the next patron needing overhaul, to judge weather they are worth it.
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nesincg
BENEFACTOR
Chattanooga, TN (KAPT)
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royevansii
Registered User
SLC, UT
Beautiful Chris!
brown bear
Registered User
emporia ks
looks great ! you and Charlie are a great team.
Doug
Doug
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