First day at factory. Met with Bobby & Delane Baker and Sean McGann. The frame was still in Canada so I did not get to see it. Today's project was assembly of the main transmission. Sean had done quite a bit of preliminary work and QC. CHR owns a really nice optical comparator that they use to ispect all of the drive components as they come in. This includes checking each radius on each drive shaft. I left my camera back at the hotel in Watercolor FL so I missed most of the assembly sequence until I found out that they had one here. Photo 1 is me working on the swashplate and Sean pointing and supervising. Photo 2 Putting the finishing touches on the main transmissinon. Photo 3 Is with Bobby all packed up and ready to go.
I orignally went to the factory because I wanted to know how to replace the bearings when the time arrives. Although it is not that difficult to replace them, there are a number of steps that must be taken in the proper order. Disassembly is probably more difficult than assembly because of the need to remove bearing races. If you have never removed bearing races from a blind hole, it is a treat. I showed Sean how to TIG weld a bead on the old race in order to shrink it and give you something to beat on. I think for what they charge to replace the bearings at the factory that most people will be better off sending the unit in, and letting them do it. SAVE YOUR PACKING CRATE.
