Restoration of NA-64 Yale 3383 and 3456

[warbird_patrick]

Update: 2-9-2010

Finally have all the valve covers, rockers, and push rods removed from the R-975-E3 so I can remove the cylinders to clean them. All of the rockers look good except for two which had a large amount of corrosion on them do to the gasket being broke on the cover. I also have three bad push rods, two that are corroded and one bent. Also it appears that the exhaust valves are all bad from the elements.

Engine before removal of parts


Exhaust Ring removed


Pulling the first jug off the engine to see the condition of the inside


Inside view of the engine looks good, everything was still coated with oil




To solve the bad exhaust valve problem

All nine brand new exhaust valves

[warbird_patrick]

Also did a little work on one of the foot rest brackets





I want to say a thanks to Fred Coblentz, one of the best Ebayers ever. I was doing my daily search on eBay for parts and came across the front windscreen off a Yale and snagged it up right away(always good to have extra parts). Fred ended up calling me and letting me know that he was going to drive the part to me from Ohio, and that he want to talk with me in person.



Fred shows up to my house with the part I bought off ebay and about 5-6 large boxes of Yale parts. He restored the other Yale that was on Jack's farm in Jackson, and almost bought 3383 from Jack in the 80's. There were so many newly made parts that he had as spares, including gaskets,brake shoes, and seals for the landing gear. After all the sorting I ended up with 7 large rubber made bins filled. Here are some of the parts pictured. Not including all the engine, prop, magnetos, carburetor manuals he gave me.





























Other Items I have acquired





Here are some pictures of my work area at home away from the hanger, I try to do a lot of the work on the Yale here to keep it away from the other airplane projects going on.

[bdk]

I see you've acquired a set of those special black plastic "microphones"!

[warbird_patrick]

I see you've acquired a set of those special black plastic "microphones"!

LOL Yes do have a nice set. What is weird is on my seats the mounts are aluminum, and these mounts are plastic. Are the plastic ones from later in service?

[warbird_patrick]

Update 2-16-2010:

Well yesterday I received my R-1155 Receiver from across the pond. It is in amazing shape and will be restored to new condition before being put into the Yale. I decided to see how see fit so here are some pictures.

[bdk]

Harvard 4s have the plastic bracket. Don't knoiw about the WW2 T-6s or Yales.

[peter]

Interesting.. I never knew that Harvards had a 1155 installation for training. It looks like yours was modified for ham use or something? is the plan to leave it as is or are you going to back date it and restore it to ww2 config?

[warbird_patrick]

Interesting.. I never knew that Harvards had a 1155 installation for training. It looks like yours was modified for ham use or something? is the plan to leave it as is or are you going to back date it and restore it to ww2 config?

Hello Peter,

This is actually a NA-64 Yale, not a Harvard. The Yale's were converted into wireless trainers when more Harvard's became available in Canada and replaced the Yale's as pilot trainers. I am restoring 3383 to its original WWII wireless configuration. A good book to get is Harvard, North American Trainers in Canada, has a lot of good information on the history of the Yale, If you go to my website: www.Legendofaces.com, you can also find more information on the NA-64.

Patrick

[rcaf_100]

Interesting.. I never knew that Harvards had a 1155 installation for training. It looks like yours was modified for ham use or something? is the plan to leave it as is or are you going to back date it and restore it to ww2 config?

Hello Peter,

This is actually a NA-64 Yale, not a Harvard. The Yale's were converted into wireless trainers when more Harvard's became available in Canada and replaced the Yale's as pilot trainers. I am restoring 3383 to its original WWII wireless configuration. A good book to get is Harvard, North American Trainers in Canada, has a lot of good information on the history of the Yale, If you go to my website: http://www.Legendofaces.com, you can also find more information on the NA-64.

Patrick

The Yale, Harvard and Norseman used the Marconi T1154/R1155 combination, as well as Menasco-powered Tiger Moths and Fleet Forts with the T1083/R1082 combination. The poor flight characteristics of the fully-laden Menasco Moths and the supposed poor construction quality of the Fort led to them being eventually replaced by wireless Yales and Harvards. The Norseman was used as an airborne classroom for an instructor to show students how to use the sets while in the air, and individual training was done in the Yale or Harvard.

Peter, I can see what you mean about the receiver being modified. This is what it is supposed to look like in the back seat:

And here's a better view of a more 'original' R1155: http://www.vq5x79.f2s.com/greenradio/R1155B_2.jpg
Shouldn't be too difficult to change back, though, as you've got a good starting point.

She's looking good Patrick!

HTH

[warbird_patrick]

Interesting.. I never knew that Harvards had a 1155 installation for training. It looks like yours was modified for ham use or something? is the plan to leave it as is or are you going to back date it and restore it to ww2 config?

Hello Peter,

This is actually a NA-64 Yale, not a Harvard. The Yale's were converted into wireless trainers when more Harvard's became available in Canada and replaced the Yale's as pilot trainers. I am restoring 3383 to its original WWII wireless configuration. A good book to get is Harvard, North American Trainers in Canada, has a lot of good information on the history of the Yale, If you go to my website: http://www.Legendofaces.com, you can also find more information on the NA-64.

Patrick

The Yale, Harvard and Norseman used the Marconi T1154/R1155 combination, as well as Menasco-powered Tiger Moths and Fleet Forts with the T1083/R1082 combination. The poor flight characteristics of the fully-laden Menasco Moths and the supposed poor construction quality of the Fort led to them being eventually replaced by wireless Yales and Harvards. The Norseman was used as an airborne classroom for an instructor to show students how to use the sets while in the air, and individual training was done in the Yale or Harvard.

Peter, I can see what you mean about the receiver being modified. This is what it is supposed to look like in the back seat:

And here's a better view of a more 'original' R1155: http://www.vq5x79.f2s.com/greenradio/R1155B_2.jpg
Shouldn't be too difficult to change back, though, as you've got a good starting point.

She's looking good Patrick!

HTH

Yes they did modify the Receiver, but am going to restore the receive to original, I have located the missing parts already.

[bdk]

You may want to swap in an R-3350 to maintain your weight and balance and provide enough power to haul that radio around. Man that thing looks heavy! How much does it weigh?

[warbird_patrick]

You may want to swap in an R-3350 to maintain your weight and balance and provide enough power to haul that radio around. Man that thing looks heavy! How much does it weigh?

It actually is only around 20 lbs as it is aluminum. The things that caused the problems with weight issues was the step up transformers. I have a solution to this, and when all said and done it will actually weight about the same as a complete full rear cockpit.

[peter]

oooops... I called a yale a harvard... WHAT WAS I THINKING?!?!???!

[warbird_patrick]

Update March 1, 2010:

I have removed all but 1 cylinder and so far not to bad for sitting all them years. I will be in need of locating one jug, two exhaust rockers, two exhaust valve covers,and four push rods. I also made some progress on the throttle quadrant.

[warbird_patrick]

Update: March 5 2010.

Well finally have all the cylinders removed and she turns over. Looking for any Wright R-975 parts, if you got any laying around please PM me.

Patrick