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Is your bird flying John? Or are you in the process of restoration?"
Keep the Skinny Birds Flying Safely
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Steve Ahrens
- Male
- LYNDOCH South Australia
- Australia
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Steve Ahrens's Discussions
Tachometer failure
3 Replies
Weather conditions were perfect today for committing aviation in the Skinny Bird. Until the tacho went out to lunch!Checking the cable down at the drive on the back of the engine, I found I couldn’t…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Andy Gelston Sep 11.
Continental A65 engine mount
5 Replies
A question if I may?I need to replace the engine mounts in my Skinny Bird. I have purchased the mounts, together with new bolts and nuts. I’ve looked in various Continental engine manuals, but unable…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Steve Ahrens Aug 10.
My Porterfield Purchase Part 2 (Final)
2 Replies
Hi All,Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.Attached is the final part of my story in our Australian Antique Aeroplane Association Rag and Tube magazine.I hope you enjoy it!Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Steve Ahrens Dec 30, 2022.
My Porterfield Purchase Part 1
2 Replies
If this is too hard to read I’ll try to download the script…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Steve Ahrens Oct 11, 2022.
Steve Ahrens's Page
Latest Activity
"This is the best one I have without going to the airfield John. The front and rear are the same."
"Gadzooks, that's worn! Keystone's website is: http://keystoneinstruments.com/"
"Tacho failure update.
The drive gears in the angle drive have worn out, hence the reason for the tacho to cease operation.
Obtaining any parts or even a tacho in Australia is proving difficult. I’ve found an angle drive on ebay, P-65535, but I…"
"I don't recall my Porterfield tach having a mounting like that! That's pretty Rube Goldberg, but just reminds us that a lot of cobbling can happen over eight decades. Fortunately, we have many of the factory drawings available so we can…"
Tachometer failure
Weather conditions were perfect today for committing aviation in the Skinny Bird. Until the tacho went out to lunch!Checking the cable down at the drive on the back of the engine, I found I couldn’t turn the cable with my fingers. After some fancy contortionist manoeuvres I managed to remove the tacho from the instrument panel. The tacho is held in place with 3 screw clamps, one screw being positioned at about 1 o’clock, I don’t know how I’ll get that one back in.The tacho is very firm to turn,…See More
"Great info Brett!
I went back to 2 different A65 manuals I have thinking I may have overlooked the spec, but you’re correct it’s not in there.
I appreciate your help!"
"Fantastic!
Great photos!
Thank you sharing!"
"Steve,I found this in the "Maintenance and Overhaul Manual With Spare Parts Catalog Models A50, A65, A75, A80 Continental Aircraft Engines" dated 2-15-48. These older manuals contain information that for whatever reason Continental…"
"Thank you Andy and Brett, very useful information.
The new bushes are Superior Andy. Not sure if I should do anything about replacing the washers? I could turn them down to size in the lathe?
Brett your attachment is very useful, thank you.
I…"
"60-80 inch pounds torque (using a castellated nut) is what I've seen for other aircraft with the A65. I think Continental had a service bulletin with torque tables that included this info, but I can't find it now. I also found…"
"The bolt length looks correct, you want about 1/8" of vibration isolator showing. If you bought Superior isolators, expect them to crack around the edges, pronto. They're okay, they're just made of some compound that cracks along the…"
Continental A65 engine mount
A question if I may?I need to replace the engine mounts in my Skinny Bird. I have purchased the mounts, together with new bolts and nuts. I’ve looked in various Continental engine manuals, but unable to find any information on how to install the mounts. Is it done by crush length or bolt tension? Can anyone tell me or direct me to the correct installation procedure of the mounts please?I’ve attached a photo of my mount for reference.Thank you in advance.See More
"Thank you Bill! I love learning about the history of the Skinny Bird! It always makes interesting conversation when explaining what a Porterfield is."
Profile Information
- About Me:
- I live in the wine growing area of the Barossa Valley in South Australia, and operated a Piper Archer from a private strip close to home for the past 30 years. Purchasing the Porterfield is a new adventure for me, having to learn to fly a tail dragger after so many years of tricycle.q
- Do you own a Porterfield Airplane? N#?
- I have recently purchased a Collegiate LP65 here in Australia.
- Are You a Pilot? Ratings?
- Yes
Steve Ahrens's Photos
Comment Wall (5 comments)
- At 7:49am on November 10, 2022,
Andy Gelston said…
That's a pretty creepy PM, Steve. Tom Porterfield approved him before I could check him out with our other ORA members. I'll just delete him and be done with him. Thank you for bringing this to my attention!
Andy
- At 8:04am on May 10, 2021,
- The Collegiate is a great tailwheel trainer. She was the favorite among most CPTP cadets.
- At 3:21pm on May 4, 2021,
Tom Porterfield said…
Steve,
I don't know much about your Porterfield. Donald Bishop owned it from Bowie, Texas, about 75 miles NW of Dallas. I'd talked to him some and he told me it was heading to Australia.
I hope you don't have to wait too long for the Slick magnetos. Good Luck.
Here's a picture of N37733 and Donald in Texas 2009
- At 1:27pm on May 3, 2021,
Welcome to the Porterfield Airplane Club Steve.
It's cool to see that Porterfield again. I believe it is the same one that went to Australia a few years back from here in Texas. Good luck on your transition to tail wheel flying.
- At 8:27am on May 3, 2021,
Welcome to our wee club for the skinny birds, Steve! You’ll find a lot of information on the Collegiate, scattered about the website. Once you get acclimated to the claustrophobic feeling of having the instrument panel a foot away from your face, she’s a real sweet plane.
Soft landings, Andy
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