Make or buy some plugs for the holes on the cylinders. That may be all you need. Foam rubber pieces can be used to plug other small openings if necessary.
John Cooper Skyport Services www.skyportservices.net -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of carl_lavon Sent: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 12:10 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [ercoupe-tech] Would you like some cheese with that whine? Friends, As you know, I love my Ercoupe. She's an impressive old bird with lots of personality and I have enjoyed every minute of owning her so far. Now to the "but..." part: I have to keep her in a T-hangar and our airport is rampant with wrens and swallows who are very good at finding whatever hole on the airplane to build nests. I've torn at least four out of the top of my engine so far. One was rebuilt within a day. I had to remove the cowling to get to it and I am not a mechanic in any sense of the word. Further, I am physically disabled and my fine motor skills are beginning to be eroded because of the disease I suffer with. I finally went and bought two of those blue tarps along with several bungee cords to secure them on the front of the aircraft--top and bottom/front and back of the cowling. This seems to have worked but it has its drawbacks. I cannot attach the two tarps alone since I cannot kneel down and I do not have a significant other, a friend who flys with me, etc. The line guys have been great about pulling the plane out for me and tieing it down when I'm fininshed flying, but the tarp thing is outside of their duties and I hate to ask them to do it for me. Since I'm on a fixed income, I cannot afford to put the old girl into a closed hangar nor can I afford $65 an hour to have one of the mechanics remove the cowling and extract nests built there, thus the T-hangar is the extent of my recreation money for any given month. This plane was a gift to me and I own it outright. From the first day I flew it I knew I was hooked. I was afraid I'd never be able to fly again, but the Ercoupe provided me with that option and I have been really happy with it. I cannot, however, have a plane just sitting at the airport unused. It makes no sense to me economically. I don't want to sell it as it is one of the last things I have that makes me feel somewhat "normal." What I'm asking for is suggestions on how to properly secure it from birds that may be easier than the tarps and something I can handle on my own. Or, perhaps, I'm just not willing to face reality and surrender ownership of N415CB. Don't know. I'm 56, and only about five IQ points off being Forrest Gump ;^), but I know what I like, and I like my Ercoupe. So, ideas or suggestions or reality checks are all welcome. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Respectfully, Carl LaVon N415CB '46 ERCO 415C KJVY ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links
