 An informal TYC survey suggests that as few as 1 in 8 Yaks still use Russian plugs and the factory ignition harness. At some point it's a foregone conclusion that the insulation on one or more of those eighteen tightly bundled plug leads will break down, inside that curved metal Factory shroud, and start sharing its life story with a neighboring wire. There may be radio noise, engine misfiring at high power settings or other mayhem. But when the time does come to switch to Auto plugs, be sure of this: First, nobody makes the switch until they have to. Russian plugs work great even though they are more costly than the NGK’s you will fit next. Second, nobody fixes failing Russian Ignition harnesses. Not even DOSAAF mechanics did. Too time consuming and ambiguous to troubleshoot- they would toss it & fit a new harness. Today, thanks to Modern Auto plug wire technology, you have another option. Third, once you get to actually installing these Automotive Ignition leads on your Yak, you’ll experience a whole new level of frustration while trying to make a sound connection between the Distributor cap and the new conductor core. The Russian plug wire is the most basic stranded conductor imaginable. Once the pointed metal screw in the red mica Magneto distributor cap pierces the black rubber insulation, a metal to metal contact is assured. Screw that baby home & go flying.  By contrast, Auto plug wire yields to external penetration in a more nuanced way. After one half-turn of the pointed screw, your continuity meter will be beeping, (usually indicating 4 to 7 ohms between its ends depending on the plug wire length) ...but turn the screw in another half turn and continuity is suddenly lost! Here's why. The core resembles a hollow Nylon guitar string. Around this flexible base a ceramic spiral conductor is laid. Someone determined the physics of this spiral transfers High Tension better than the Russian stranded stuff. It's efficient, but fragile - easy to break with a pointed screw. (Outside the spiral will be a thick layer of fibrous insulation then the colored plastic outer sheath, perhaps with an extra layer of RF shielding braid.) One recipe for installation success is to strip the outer layers for quarter of an inch - being careful not to cut the guitar string or the spiral conductor. Once this delicate ceramic layer is visible, take the barrel of a crimp style automotive connector- trimmed to match the stripped length - and, using suitable pliers, close it firmly around the carbon spiral. Now the tip of the pointed screw will sink into the soft aluminum of the crimp, making a more reliable contact.  Simply ( As they say in the instruction manuals) repeat 17 more times, checking continuity & noting end-to-end resistance as you go. Since you’ll have purchased Auto plug wires with molded-on plug caps, remember to thread ignition leads through their respective holes in the Magneto cover plate before terminating them at the Distributor cap. The cap for the left mag has 10 holes (because of the Shower of sparks lead), the one with 9 holes is destined for the right Magneto. 4 fixing Screws per Magneto cover, drilled for safety wire, are included in the kit. These covers are drilled for 8mm diameter Auto Ignition Leads but can be enlarged to suit larger diameter plug wires. Note the middle lower pair of Ignition Lead holes are splayed outward on purpose to guide those two conductors towards their corresponding receptors on the distributor cap. 
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 As the fog rolled in you dimmed the cockpit lights Those San Francisco nights You were the best in town Joining Victor 107 sealed your fate Checked in at Golden Gate Then you got too close to the ground. Did you feel like Jesus? Did you realize You were just a Target in their eyes Oakland Center started pushing tin for real You shoulda seen the zeal Everyone stopped to stare at your ADS-B suicide Northern Tracon had your number on the wall You must have had it all You'd head for Hayward on a dare then you'd just go around Could you live forever? Could you see the day Could you feel your Licence crumple up and fade away [Chorus:] Walk it off, walk it off Kid Charlemagne Walk it off Kid Charlemagne Your insurers have all left you in the red You spend the days in bed Life can be very strange Flight School Cessnas that would never paint a trace They've joined the human race On the Magenta Line Son you were mistaken They just want your pelt Look at all the white men here to help Walk it off, walk it off Kid Charlemagne Walk it off Kid Charlemagne  Fix this squitter else we'll all end up in jail The third time that it’s failed since I turned on the strobe Is there gas in the Champ? Yes, there's gas in the Champ I’m staying outta Mode C veil from now on Careful what you transmit 'Cause the man is wise and he’s got extinction in his eyes Walk it off, walk it off Kid Charlemagne Walk it off Kid Charlemagne  Five weeks left
And instead of doing something about it, i’m writing embittered parodies on why I have to spend a quarter, maybe a third of my year’s flying fuel money on bullshit Avionics that’s going to strip me of my privacy in return for some Little Bo Peep weather product. Going to be a initial flood of airspace violations in early 2020? You know it - but that’s not the real taste it leaves in your mouth. Here’s a clue. If all the gallons of 100LL made in a year were compared to all the gallons of Jet A, the refineries could make all the 100LL in one day out of the 365. And ask your FBO what a money spinner 100LL is for them. The point ?- if the FAA woke up tomorrow & discovered GA had died in the night, you get the feeling there wouldn’t be too much handwringing about it. Ten thousand Asian students in Cherokees bouncing off each other in the pattern won’t change that. Nor will AOPA opening its doors to Drone pilots so the pink button-down shirts at Frederick can still afford to keep Buffy at Annandale. Start here, then marginalize us further with skyrocketing insurance premiums. (Oh - and ADS-B out needs to be on while you’re taxiing too.) Boomers like me though can get the bus driver’s attention and just get off at THIS stop right here - having had the best ride ever, whether that’s the environment, the art of conversation, GA or affordable Healthcare. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Not sure where this bus goes next but enjoy the ride! Rant over. ( in the background: gets checkbook out) |
AuthorJohn flies out of KSEE whenever he can scrape together a few bucks to fill the tanks Archives
March 2021
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