Porterfield Airplane Club

Keep the Skinny Birds Flying Safely

Steve Ahrens
  • Male
  • LYNDOCH South Australia
  • Australia

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  • John Bergeson

Steve Ahrens's Discussions

Continental A65 Crankshaft Bearings

Hi Brains trust!This is probably a long shot, I'm looking for .010 thou undersize crank bearings for my A65.The bearing set number is 627246A2 M010Individual numbers are; Mains 40237 -10 x 2, 633399…Continue

Started Apr 14

Continental A65 Baffles
2 Replies

Back at the end of December I had the misfortune of tipping my Skinny Bird on its nose. Nearing the end of the landing roll I felt like I didn’t have much rudder authority and drifting to the right…Continue

Started this discussion. Last reply by Steve Ahrens Apr 14.

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, 2024.

Continental A65 engine mount
8 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 Rex Porter Jan 20.

 

Steve Ahrens's Page

Latest Activity

Steve Ahrens posted a discussion

Continental A65 Crankshaft Bearings

Hi Brains trust!This is probably a long shot, I'm looking for .010 thou undersize crank bearings for my A65.The bearing set number is 627246A2 M010Individual numbers are; Mains 40237 -10 x 2, 633399 -10 x 2, 633398 -10 x 2Big ends 35897 -10 x 8Any help or suggestions of where I might finds these would be greatly appreciated.Superior are saying they would not be available until September.Thank you in advance.See More
Apr 15
0 Comments
Steve Ahrens replied to Steve Ahrens's discussion Continental A65 Baffles
"Thank you for the insight on the nosebowl Andy. And I appreciate your comments about applying power in such situations, advice that I have also received from others."
Apr 14
Andy Gelston replied to Steve Ahrens's discussion Continental A65 Baffles
"The lower nosebowl opening is usually blocked off with a piece of sheet metal in the winter."
Mar 20
Steve Ahrens posted a discussion

Continental A65 Baffles

Back at the end of December I had the misfortune of tipping my Skinny Bird on its nose. Nearing the end of the landing roll I felt like I didn’t have much rudder authority and drifting to the right so I used some right brake, next thing i knew the tail was coming up. Making sure I had full back stick and the brake released the tail continued to rise until i watched 1 blade of the prop turn to splinters. Wind conditions were variable and I believe I had a bit of help from a tailwind to lift the…See More
Mar 20
2 Comments
Rex Porter replied to Steve Ahrens's discussion Continental A65 engine mount
"I also need information on mounting my Franklin. It looks like it uses the same rubber cones as the Continental but the Franklin engine is cradle mounted. I have been looking for specs, drawing or other information. If I was the engineer I would…"
Jan 20
Steve Ahrens replied to Mark Shayne's discussion Propeller for CP 65
"Thank you for the update on this Mark. I also have an A65 running a wood 72/42 prop and noted in some old literature that it called for a 72/44. I’m in the process of selecting a new prop and concerned about climb performance with a 44,…"
Dec 31, 2024
Steve Ahrens replied to Steve Ahrens's discussion Continental A65 engine mount
"I’ve just finished replacing my mounts Gary, but haven’t run the engine up. In addition to Brett’s info above, my local engine rebuild shop sent me a photo from a later Continental engine manual, X30010. During assembly of the…"
Sep 25, 2024
Gary Baca replied to Steve Ahrens's discussion Continental A65 engine mount
"I'm in the same boat, I need to replace my motor mounts as well"
Sep 20, 2024
Steve Ahrens replied to John Bergeson's discussion Heel brakes...
"You’re welcome. Is your bird flying John? Or are you in the process of restoration?"
Sep 17, 2024
Steve Ahrens replied to John Bergeson's discussion Heel brakes...
"Here’s a couple of photos John"
Sep 17, 2024
Steve Ahrens and John Bergeson are now friends
Sep 17, 2024
Steve Ahrens replied to John Bergeson's discussion Heel brakes...
"This is the best one I have without going to the airfield John. The front and rear are the same."
Sep 16, 2024
Andy Gelston replied to Steve Ahrens's discussion Tachometer failure
"Gadzooks, that's worn! Keystone's website is: http://keystoneinstruments.com/"
Sep 11, 2024
Steve Ahrens replied to Steve Ahrens's discussion Tachometer failure
"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…"
Sep 5, 2024
Andy Gelston replied to Steve Ahrens's discussion Tachometer failure
"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…"
Aug 10, 2024
Steve Ahrens posted a discussion

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
Aug 10, 2024
3 Comments

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

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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, Andy Gelston said…
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, Tom Porterfield said…

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, Andy Gelston said…

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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