Bald Eagle Aviation

PeterA · **Posted:** Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:05 am

Originally on the Spitfire the lower forward fuselage tank was of single curvature rivetted construction holding 37 Imperial Gallons.

At some point in Mk IX/XVI production a welded tank was introduced to maximise the the available volume taking it up to 47 Imperial Gallons. This tank was also covered with the self sealing rubber over sponge material.

Modern flying restorations dispense with the sealing cover during the tank inspections for leakage and pressure checks etc.

The official 'Pilots Notes' for later marks of Spitfire variously quote the capacity of the lower tank at both 48 and 49 Imperial Gallons.

PeterA

51fixer · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 12:48 pm

Some updates-
The T-6G is still under annual.
Gear swing, Pump it up-

The old wing walk was deteriorated and quite thick. We removed it and have gotten the R/H side reapplied-

The Spit is nearly ready to run and the Instrument panel has been reinstalled-

The small space in front of the panel-

BDK mentioned British lines. This is how the British connected hard lines-

The nut and collar are on the OD of the pipe. The end is flared and an insert referred as an Olive is the point of contact and sealing surface between the flare and the fitting the line attaches to.

Another view of the Olive sitting on the wing. This is inserted in the flared end of the pipe.

Many of the coolant and oil line connections are sealed by Avimo seals. It consists of a rubber donut that sits in 2 grooves. 1 on each item being connected. There is another groove on each piece and 2 shells cover the donut and are held in place by a hose clamp. The shells have the edges bent into fingers and these fingers sit in the last grooves mentioned. These keep the connection from blowing apart.

Finished product-

The seal has a P/N of 52/25 and the shells are 2 of a 52/35. If you look closely the shells are overlapping. This had 2 52/36 shells installed rather than the 35's. This has been rectified.

Cvairwerks · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 1:32 pm

Rich: Those Avimo seals sure look like what morphed into Wiggins fittings... Ever want to really mess with a new mechanic, tell them they have to really slather the vasaline onto the o'rings before sliding the coupling band over the joint on a Wiggins :lol:

51fixer · **Posted:** Thu Mar 10, 2011 2:22 pm

Cvairwerks wrote:

Rich: Those Avimo seals sure look like what morphed into Wiggins fittings... Ever want to really mess with a new mechanic, tell them they have to really slather the vasaline onto the o'rings before sliding the coupling band over the joint on a Wiggins :lol:

The Pond Racer had those on the coolant lines. Not much fun in tight areas where you could only reach with one hand.

51fixer · **Posted:** Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:17 pm

After a recent flight I noticed a streak of coolant coming from the wrap around cover over the radiator.
We are removing to pressure test so a 3rd corner is taken up at the moment.
The rubber insulated hangar bracket the supports the radiator by 2 straps and mounts to the lower longeron on each side of the fuselage-

Straps attach with 2 ea 1/4" dia screws and barrel nuts on each side-

Radiator nested in place-

Upper 2 1/2" dia coolant line connection to the radiator. Elevator control cables are visible along with the bellcrank for the oil cooler door.

Radiator lowered-

Ready to be looked over-

Looking forward from where the radiator sits-

Looking aft from the rad location-

ZRX61 · **Joined:** Tue Jun 14, 2005 10:16 am **Posts:** 2308

You'l also find avimo fittings on Maclaren CanAm cars

51fixer · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:49 am

2 of our the resident T-6s are heading to Sebring and then to Sun and Fun.
Engine run during Annual-

Test of Smoke System-

New wing walk applied-

1st engine run of the Spit-

51fixer · **Posted:** Mon Mar 21, 2011 9:42 pm

I put the panel on over the main fuel and oil tanks.
It is a simple thick alum piece. When looking closely at the metal you could see the roller marks made by the english wheel from when it was made.

The removable portion of the bulkhead separating the tanks from the cockpit has a groove on the top edge that this angle sits in.

Lid on

Looking more complete with each piece.

51fixer · **Posted:** Wed Mar 23, 2011 7:44 am

Jim was able to get a quick flight in both the T-6G and the SNJ yesterday.
Now we wait for pilots and the weather so they can make the trip to FL.

T-28mike · **Posted:** Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:20 am

Rich,

Hard to tell from the photo's of the Mustang Rad. Are you using constant torque hose clamps? They are the ones with a stack of belleville (sp) washers under the screw. They keep the constant re-torquing of hose clamps (every time the temp changes) down to a yearly thing.

51fixer · **Posted:** Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:34 am

T-28mike wrote:

Rich,

Hard to tell from the photo's of the Mustang Rad. Are you using constant torque hose clamps? They are the ones with a stack of belleville (sp) washers under the screw. They keep the constant re-torquing of hose clamps (every time the temp changes) down to a yearly thing.

Haven't had a problem there. Used to when the aircraft were kept in an unheated hangar.
The rad had some oozing from a gasket when cold but also appeared to make some bubbles in a couple places from the core.
It is up at Martin A/C now.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

Rich, any photos handy of the T-6 magneto cooling tubes?

51fixer · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 6:29 am

There might be something back a bit in this thread when I did the FWF on the T-6G about 2 years ago.
Other than that I'll look in my photos when I have a chance.
Which part of that set up do you have a question on?

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

The left side has three tubes (I haven't found the parts for the right side yet, but I'm assumint they are the same or mirror image?), the first two nest together forward of the flame shield. How does the center tube connect to the aft one with the balogna cut that blows on the mag? Does that oddball clamp that goes on the engine mount connect them together too?

51fixer · **Posted:** Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:30 pm

bdk wrote:

The left side has three tubes (I haven't found the parts for the right side yet, but I'm assumint they are the same or mirror image?), the first two nest together forward of the flame shield. How does the center tube connect to the aft one with the balogna cut that blows on the mag? Does that oddball clamp that goes on the engine mount connect them together too?

I think the Lance on line catalog has a diagram.
http://www.lanceaircraftsupply.com/imag ... 2016_L.jpg

From memory so I might be off.
Rear tube is captured by the double clamp device to the mount diagonal. Mil 6000 hose joins it to the next piece forward which angles upward and inward through the Stainless ring. The forward tube pushes together into the intermediate tube and extends through the Inter Cylinder Baffles.

I don't remember if any are universal or if all 3 pieces plus the clamp are specifically right and left side.

Warbird Information Exchange

Bald Eagle Aviation

Who is online