Nice job writing. The sad thing about this entire story is that the person performing mechanical duties hasn't changed and he been directed to do further work on the aircraft. Don't forget tossing a hundred dollar bill in there as a bonus! Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me again, shame on me.
Al DeMarzo Visit the Ercoupe Swap Page - Free and Easy http://www.ercoupeowners.com/swap/swapbook.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: fnelson913 To: [email protected] Sent: Friday, October 19, 2007 12:43 PM Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Sticky Valve Tale of Woe Redux THE BIRD: My Ercoupe has around 1,800 hours total time on the airframe and engine. The engine has 800 hours since the last major overhaul which involved work on the crank and cylinders. Around 200 hours ago a top end was done with four yellow-tagged cylinders. About 120 hours later some additional work was done on the top end (my A&P has logs so I don't know what was done for sure). The major overhaul was done in the mid-80s and the top end overhaul was done in the early 90s. The previous owner had the aircraft for twenty years and was an A&P himself. He enjoyed flying the plane with his grand kids and he especially liked tinkering with it mechanically. Gil was very sad to part with his Ercoupe. But he had experienced a fainting spell or two and decided to ground himself for the safety of everyone. He replaced the Ercoupe as much as he could with the restoration of a Model A Ford. We still talk on the phone as he is always curious about how "his" bird is flying. I talked with him last week before my A&P recommended a complete engine overhaul. I don't think Gil would have sold me the Ercoupe if there was anything that he knew to be faulty with the aircraft. He told me that there was one prospective buyer before me (and several trying to buy it after me) that didn't get the honor of buying his Ercoupe. He told me that the older gentleman was not very safe in the air, and he didn't want to sell it to him. It is still not clear to me if he was more worried about the elderly man or worried about seeing his Ercoupe become a pile of junk. My Ercoupe has had tender loving care based on all known evidence. THE ANGEL: It should be known that my wife supports my flying. Indeed she is the one that encouraged me to pursue my passion of flying after many decades as a closet aviator. After completing my bachelors and masters degree in my mid-50s (she pushed me to do that), I was considering beginning work on my doctorate when I decided I needed a break. When the topic of the Sport Pilot license came up, she told me to go for it. When an opportunity came up to buy the Ercoupe, she backed me all the way even though she has a fear of some aspects of flying (if we don't bank right she will be OK). THE VILLAGE: This community of people is what makes owning an Ercoupe worthwhile. I have become an Ercoupe geek. I collect Ercoupe books, articles and drawings. I have one to the original prints of the cutaway drawings of the Ercoupe that is seen frequently on Ercoupe manuals and literature. I even bought one of the old balsa wood Ercoupe models which I hope to assemble one day. To know that there is a group of people who share this fascination with this engineering masterpiece is extremely gratifying. The passion for flying and for the Ercoupe that I find here is one of the reasons that I doubt that I will ever part with my Coupe. THE WRENCH: My A&P is a mechanic for United during the day and has this business of repairing small planes on the side. He has been working on his RV-4 for 12 years and it is nearing completion having just been painted and nearly re-assembled. He seems to be sufficiently skilled. However, it seems that he has little experience or patience for maintaining and restoring old, proud birds. Many mechanics are proud of their work and most have strong ethics (whether or not their model of ethics might match yours). I don't mind a person's passion expressed forcefully or even loudly. And I am as stubborn as the next guy and some might say more so. If my "wrench" is not willing to work with me with the bounds of reasonable risk and be sensitive to my limitations (darned if we don't all have some), then I might be forced to find someone else. Thank you all for encouraging me to come to that conclusion. THE DREAM: I first became interested in flying through an aviation class at my high school in Sheridan, Wyoming. The time frame would have been around 1966 or 1967. My teacher taught science primarily but also had a passion for flying. I have been tormented with the need to fly ever since. A pilot's license seemed always out of reach. When I had the time and was young enough and healthy enough, I didn't have the money. When I had the money, I didn't have the time or the advantages of youth. High blood pressure and more than my share of middle-age paunch became additional roadblocks. And now I am pushing 60 and have the opportunities that the Sport Pilot program affords me. I need a couple of hours in the air with my DPE and my dream will come true. The realization of my dream will be complete when I can fly back to the airport in Sheridan, Wyoming where it all began in my very own airplane. THE DILEMMA: Armed with my own research and with advice and counsel that I have received here, I am convinced that I just need to get my bird running again. I don't think the stuck valves are a sign of bad things. My A&P informed that the values are stuck open so there is no concern about bent push rods or damaged cam lobes. He told me that he already has one of the valves unstuck. I told him this morning to fix the shear pin on my starter, free up the stuck valves and getting the plane running. I don't have the money for an overhaul right now and I really don't think it is necessary. I will validate that opinion by getting a second opinion and maybe a new A&P. I might even be able to complete my checkride in the interim. My annual is due next month. If I have the Coupe flying, that annual will probably be done elsewhere. Thanks to everyone. Sorry for the long post. Frank Nelson There is still hope for N51DV - 415C TOA / California
