Brief Description: Recalibrated prop pitch using new appliance.
Rainy day after snowy night. Checked the prop blade angles with the new appliance. They appear to be off by close to a degree. Removed the spinner and loosened the prop bolts. While adjusting the pitch I noticed that the filler strips on the spinner backing plate were contacting and scratching the prop shafts. Removed the prop and marked the filler strips for removal of 1/8 inch of material. Used Tom's cordless drill and Bill's drum shaped rasp to remove the material. Sanded edges smooth. Reinstalled prop and snugged the bolts. Measured the extremes of high and low pitch, and set the blades exactly in the middle. Alternated tightening the bolts and checking the pitch on both blades until 20 ft/lbs torque achieved. Final check within 0.1 degree. Reinstalled spinner. Will fly and check RPM's and vibration before doing anything else.
Bill told me he had an idea to improve the wing pin insertion tool. See photo. He milled off a flat spot and I filed the edges rounded. Drilled holes through the other end at the 45 degree points to facilitate turning it. To use the tool one inserts it as far as the spar misalignment, then rotates until the flat spot goes past the spar. Then the tool is rotated and the spar misalignment rides up the shoulder of the flat spot until the spars align. Then you tap the pin in further with the soft faced hammer. Tap the tool all the way in and follow it with the steel pin. Brilliant!
Hard to know how much time to put in the log. Was at the airport all day, but how much time did I actually put in working on the plane? Maybe a couple of hours.
