I had originally planned to go the airport last Saturday, but other things crowded out the schedule. So I decided to go either Monday or Tuesday, and Tuesday was the day. I called my friend Richard, the Kawasaki engine expert, and he agreed to meet me about noon.
Tuesday morning arrived with heavy rain and gusty wind. The dog wouldn’t even go out. But the westward sky was clearing, so it looked good for working on the wing and engine. I arrived about 8AM at the airport. My goal before Richard arrived, was to attached the new wing cables and see if the wing would inflate. I have been fighting this battle for some time now; it was time to resolve this problem. I attached the wing cables but the wing would still not inflate. But after looking down the leading edge tubes, I saw that I had wrapped one of the cables around the tube, so after unwrapping the cable and reattaching it, the wing inflated fine. I am a little concerned that the cables are a little too slack, but that can be adusted.
However, that wasn’t the end of the story. I went to the car to get the camera when it was inflated, but the gusty winds caught the wing and off it went. I quickly grabbed it and hung on for dear life! The wing started to roll, and about twenty feet across the grass in front of the hanger, I wound up tangled up in the wires with the wing on top of me. Shades of two years ago, six days from now, September 26, 2009, the two-year anniversary of the accident. This time there was no damage or injury. I quickly deflated the wing and put it away into the hanger.
I went to lunch and returned to I start to work on the fuel line, the foot feed cable, and several other small things when Richard arrived and we began to swap the fan belt onlyto discover the new belt was nowhere in sight. I don’t know where it disappeared. I was in the sack with the other stuff, but has vanished. Richard and I were disappointed because that was the main reason he was there. I may have to order another one; how ridiculous!
There are still some little problems that need resolution. The engine vibrates too much, and on examination, we found the motor mounts are not tight. The rubber anti-vibration bushings need replacement, so that is a project for the next time.
But the JW is making progress toward flying. I’m hoping to have it done this month or early in October and take it down to Sioux Falls to have Larry Miller check it out and maybe even get it flying yet this year.
When I arrived home I was exhausted and my body was really sore. Sandra suggested we do something we had not done since we moved into this house…take a bath in the Jacuzzi tub in the guest bathroom. We had never tried the Jacuzzi tub, but this was a good opportunity. I subscribe to the Kramer (Seinfeld) school of bath-taking, which says that taking a bath is sitting in a tub of your own filth, but this time it was wonderful. Helped my soreness and especially my back. A-h-h-h-h-h!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
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