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I am in the midst of pulling my engine to do some major work on it for the first time in about 15 years. I removed the wings and trailered them home...and last weekend I brought the rest of the coupe. I have a tow-bar made of perforated angled steel (like the stuff for shelving units) that I made many years ago, and have used about four or five times. It works just like a tow bar you push the plane around with. It locks into position, and there is a threaded rod to clamp the bar in place on the nose wheel. I added some home-made flashing warning lights with some margarine containers, a couple of red lenses, some auto bulbs and a flasher. I wired this into the tail light so I could run it off the coupe battery sparing me long trailer wires. Finally I turned my belly strobe, turned on the four-ways on the truck and proceeded to tow the coupe home (about 40 kilometres--25 miles) down a four lane highway and into the city. I had to keep it under about 37 k/hr about 25 mph, but it worked fine. By the way there is no corrosion on the spar at all. The last time I had it home, about six years ago, I redid the fuel tanks in the wings and cleaned and zinc chromated everything I could reach. The wings, after sitting outside all this time, are still perfect. Alberta is blessed with dry conditions so corrosion is not usually a problem until you really abuse things. One question. As I dismantle the engine compartment I noticed some forward/rearward play in the crank shaft. Is any play allowed? Is this an indication that the bottom end has gone to Ratshit like the top end...or is it just worn bearnings. Just wondering what I will find when we get it open?? Steve Finkelman Forney F1 C-FIWR p.s. If anyone wants a jpeg of the towbar...I can send one. ========================== To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
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