My Desultory Blog

Posted By RichC on November 7, 2011

Category: Misc | 2 Comments »
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Posted By RichC on November 5, 2011

First the good news … the problem I have been having with the idle was as expected due to the Weber carburetor and after taking it apart and cleaning the jets with a small welding tip cleaner has been fix. The engine idles like a kitten (although a hungry cold one left outside – a bit loud) and I’ve been able to adjust the idle speed screw and idle mixture screw without an issue. I’m suspecting there was something either in the fuel or in the machining of the carburetor that plugged the small port.

 
I’m still impress with the macro photos coming from the pocketable Kodak Playsport Zx5 mini camcorder. I wish all the photos were this good (click for larger)

Unfortunately I’m now having a problem with acceleration hesitation and stutter when the primary throttle valve is opened too quick … or in my opinion even if it is not so quick. Timing is advanced about 12 degrees and I even added new plugs today thinking that the mixture just wasn’t igniting causing the backfires?  I’ll have to do a little more research. (posting a video clip below)

Below is an illustration of the Weber carburetor circuits (click for larger) …

Category: Automotive, MGB | No Comments »
Tags: carburetor, mbg, weber

Posted By RichC on November 5, 2011

Having trying all the suggestions offered up by my car guru friends, but still unable to get the MGB to purr at idle without the choke, I’m giving the carburetor jets a thorough cleaning on Saturday. I’m hoping that either something small is blocking the jets or some kind of varnished gasoline or gunk is restricting the fuel flow. Having flushed things with carb cleaner once before, I’m grasping at straws before trying a new carburetor?

Category: Automotive, MGB | No Comments »
Tags: carburetor, mgb, weber

Posted By RichC on November 5, 2011

Reposted from EAA284 … thanks Steve.

One of our EAA284 members, Steve Dilullo, keeps a personal flying blog and posted a great article for those wanting to create videos of their flights. His  how-to article is a great starting point for those who might want to capture their flights on video and are looking for advice from someone who is already digitally shooting and sharing on the Internet without breaking the bank. I’m waiting for his live streamed video someday.

With his permission a snippet of his blog post is below:

We’re talking about creating videos here, so the video camera is obviously a key element in the process. I purchased a Kodak Zi8 a little over two years ago for two primary reasons. First, I work for Kodak and the employee discount was nice. Second, and more importantly, it has an external mic input that allows me to hook it into the intercom to capture audio. It records in 720p or 1080p HD (I always use 720p / 30 fps) and the quality is more than sufficient for my sharing vehicle of choice, YouTube. Nearly all my flying is during the day so any performance issues in low-light video don’t concern me. I’m not sure that any device in the pocket video camera segment has great low-light performance, so keep that in mind if you want to record at night.

Kodak Zi8 with RAM attachment in the tripod mount

I purchased a portable intercom through the AOPA Classifieds a few years ago. It was mainly because the 172 at Stewart only has a two-place intercom in the panel and I wanted to be able to talk to everyone when flying with more than one passenger. However, it also has an audio out jack that has become quite handy for piping intercom and radio chatter into the Zi8.

Sigtronics SPO-42 Portable Intercom with cable in “Audio Out” jack

Video editing software is an area where I’m currently just making do with what I have. I don’t want to buy anything because I need a new computer and have not decided whether to get an iMac or a Windows machine. The MediaImpression software that comes with the Kodak cameras has been perfectly adequate – after all, every video of mine from the past two years has been edited in it – but some things that should be simple tend to be a time-consuming hassle. If you want to save yourself headaches or aren’t familiar with video editing (which I am, and that’s partially why I’ve continued to work around MediaImpression’s limitations) I’d definitely recommend better software from the get-go.

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Category: Aviation, How-To | No Comments »
Tags: aviation, eaa, eaa284, flying

Posted By RichC on November 4, 2011

Category: Archive, How-To, Video | No Comments »
Tags: gardening, raspberries

Posted By RichC on November 4, 2011

I had a brief, but friendly, discussion with a client who’s political views are 180 degrees apart from mine. We chatted about the role of government and eventually settled on a discussion around the problem of funding campaigns and lobbyist gaining influence in our government – something we both agreed was a problem. He was convinced that lobbyists were primarily corporations and wealthy Republicans and that their support was centered around big business and right wing agendas. I disagreed and without any information to back my claim up, I unloaded my canned “the media is bias to the left” straw man argument. I did suspect that both parties were a bit too cozy with lobbyist, but didn’t have the facts well researched in order to argue my point of view. 

So the evening after our discussion, I check on some information from OpenSecrets.org and shared a 2012 chart of contributions. I was actually surprised myself with the numbers and in particular seeing junior congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand’s (D-NY) name as the “top recipient” so many times? I was also surprised to see that 7 of the top 10 individual recipients were Democrats. (see below).

EDIT: After sending the link to the chart below, we chatted and contemplated how much time and money is being spent on elections verses what is being accomplished for the good of the country. Our conclusion … as is evident by the continuing unemployment, deficit and debt … is that too much is being done to “buy” someone a seat in congress and to line the pockets of those “buying” friends in high places. (in the end we agree at least on that point)

Category: Politics | 1 Comment »
Tags: congress, election, gillibrand, legislature, lobbyist, Politics

Posted By RichC on November 3, 2011

I’m at traditionalist when it comes to cars and am attracted to the rumble of an internal combustion engine and tactile sensation of shifting gears, preferably manual. But the world is changing and new cars have sophisticated automatics or are going gearless (CVTs) … and expect more and more cars with tiny engines to include electric motor assist and batteries. Change is coming and we at least have to recognize what we like about new designs. My point for including the Ford Focus EV photos is to complement the design aspect as the Focus is an attractive small car and in keeping with its traditional dino-powered counterpart (if they put a small diesel in this design I’m interested).

The Focus EV is the latest entry into the EV market and offers the “MyTouch” gadgetry that many consumers comfortable with computers, smartphones and tablets are embracing. While Ford may have an attractive design, their high $40,000 price point may make someone considering hybrid and electric vehicles opt for a Chevy Volt or a plug-in Toyota Prius  — for $2000 more you get unlimited range with an internal combustion engine along with an around town EV only mode.

2012 Ford Electric Priced at $39,200

Starting today, Ford will take orders for the 2012 Focus Electric, which has been priced at $39,200, excluding a $795 destination fee. A limited number of the electric compact cars will be available before the end of the year in California, New York and New Jersey, with 15 other markets getting the EV early next year.

In contrast, the Nissan Leaf starts at $35,200, and the Mitsubishi i starts at $29,125. Currently, that makes the Ford Focus the most expensive of the mainstream electric cars, but it comes better equipped than the rest. The 2012 Coda EV, which recently went on sale, costs $44,900. All of these electric cars are eligible for a $7,500 tax credit. If you’re eligible for the whole credit, that would translate to a $31,700 asking price for the Focus Electric.

The model comes nicely equipped with automatic headlights, a 10-speaker Sony stereo, dual-zone automatic climate control, MyFord Touch, navigation, 8-inch touch-screen display, backup camera, rear parking sensor, leather-wrapped steering wheel, passive entry system and push-button start. The upholstery is an earth-friendly cloth made of 100% post-industrial materials; materials that would otherwise end up in landfills, according to Ford. Leather seats are a $995 option.

The Focus Electric is powered by a 123-horespower, 100-kilowatt AC electric motor that makes 181 pounds-feet of torque, mated to a single-speed automatic transmission. The 23-kilowatt lithium-ion battery pack is a kilowatt less than the Leaf’s battery. The Focus EV has a top speed of 84 mph, much lower than the Leaf’s top governed speed of 90 mph. Unlike the Leaf, the Focus’ battery pack is liquid cooled and heated, which is supposed to better regulate battery temperatures in extreme weather. The car can get a full charge on a 240-volt outlet in three to four hours, Ford says, compared with the eight hours it takes to charge the Leaf at the same voltage. There’s no fast-DC-charging option in the Focus EV; the Leaf theoretically can be charged to 80% in 30 minutes with this added-cost option that we’ve tested on the Cars.com long-term Leaf.

Total range is pending, but earlier indications are the Focus EV will go about as far as the Leaf. Ford’s modular 240-volt charging station can be removed from your home if you move, and the automaker says it will save Focus EV buyers $500 to $700 compared with the 240-volt stations offered by Nissan and GM.

The Focus EV looks like a more aerodynamic version of the Focus, with 17-inch Michelin Energy Saver tires and a large trapezoidal grille that appears to be fashioned by Aston Martin, according to Cars.com Industry Analyst Kelsey Mays. A plug port sits above the driver-side front fender. Inside, twin LCD screens flank the speedometer, with battery charge in place of a fuel gauge.

Besides those nuanced differences, this pretty much looks like a regular Focus, which raises a potential problem: It’s hard to show off a near-$40,000 gasless car (and thus making your neighbors jealous) if it looks the same as its gas counterpart … one that has a sub-$17,000 starting price. Still, if vanity is your aim in the eco-conscious game, we haven’t experienced much envy for our Leaf, either; most people think it’s a cute compact car.

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Category: Automotive, Environment | 2 Comments »
Tags: cars, Chevrolet, ev, focus, ford, plug-in, prius, toyota, Volt

Posted By RichC on November 3, 2011

I’m glad there are some innovative types out there, but flying and electric sixteen propeller multicopter is not ever going to be as comforting as being in a Boeing 767 (see yesterday’s belly landing in Warsaw, Poland).

A company called E-Volo in Germany has built a spider-like multicopter that is capable of lifting a “rider”using battery powered motors. The programming of motion sensors and gyroscopes helps to property control the attitude of the aircraft and had demonstrated this on video (below) in order to makea historic flight … one for the record books I believe?

What is a multicopter?

The e-volo multicopter is an innovative, vertically starting, human carrying transportation device that is uncatagorisable to its current flight counterparts.

The e-volos sixteen propellers allow it to take off and land similar to a helicopter. Its massive plus points compared to a helicopter are the simplicity of its engineered construction without complicated mechanics and its redundant engines. Should anything go wrong, e-volo can still safely land even if up to four of its sixteen motors should fail. Flight time can last between ten to thirty minutes, depending on the payload and the capacity of the lithium batteries. With an empty weight at 80 kg (including batteries), e-volo fits into the class of ultralights.

In difference to other helicopters or multi-rotors, e-volo can use a safety parachute, as there are no propellers blocking the deployment area above.

The propellers create the full lift, and are also responsible for balancing the device on all three axes only by independent speed control of the motors. E-volo from the beginning has been designed entirely as an electrically powered device. Unlike the rotor of a helicopter, the propellers dont´t have any pitch control and therefore no wear. These factors make the multicopter mechanically simple, with close to no maintenance necessary.

The automatic attitude and directional control are taken care of by multiple separate and mutually monitoring onboard computers, controlling the engines with the precise rotation speed necessary to fly this tri-axis device. A simple joystick allows the pilot to control the aircraft via a fly-by-wire system. Whether during vertical takeoff, in flight, or landing, the pilot has to pay little attention to minimum speed, stall, gas mixture control, pitch control or one of many other things that make conventional flight as challenging as it is.

This electrically driven system is quiet, clean and economically cost efficient. A one-hour flight would cost something near to 6 Euro for electricity. In addition, the device holds few parts, which could wear out, making maintenance intervals and cost low and far between.
The control firmware can be integrated with a sophisticated integrated GPS system or obstacle detection. As such, automated flight for predetermined points on a 3D map is possible. In addition to the relieving the pilot of strenuous navigational tasks, unmanned flight would be feasible similar to other devices (drones).

Possible applications
The main purpose for a single seat device would most likely be for air sports equipment and in the leisure sector. A professional application could be made in areas where helicopters are too big and expensive, for aerial photographs or field inspection of large facilities (wind turbines, pipelines), areas where its flight capabilities (vertical take off, landing, and hovering) are of crucial importance. 
As a multi-seater it would also be conceivable to use for sightseeing flights, air ambulance, or air taxi.

There most certainly will be entirely new use areas that no one has yet imagined.

Vision for the future
A limiting factor is still the energy capacity of modern batteries. Longer flight times are achievable, with higher energy amounts. However during flight, less is more, as you carry the extra weight, successfully voiding the capability of extra batteries.
In any case, the next few years show a significant advancement in technology applicable to life and duration capabilities of batteries. With a current flight time of on average 20 minutes, future versions promise anywhere from an hour or more. A hybrid drive, in which a conventional internal combustion engine generates the necessary electrical power, would already show an hour-long flight time.
Only then, multi-seaters with a higher payload seem better conceived for daily application. With a somewhat different approach, one could use the high cruising speeds of the e-volo multicopter to develop full-blown general aviation vehicles from a pure recreational sporting device.

In some areas the multicopter may replace the average helicopter. The simple and cost efficient maintenance make it a viable counterpart to current aviational transport.

Category: Aviation | 1 Comment »
Tags: electric, flight, germany, multicopter

Posted By RichC on November 2, 2011

Five year ago I did a video post about Xtreme Shooter Patrick Flannigan (wow, has it been that long?)… and today he still impresses me and about everyone I know who has ever handled a shotgun just as much. Check out the old 2006 link (and a follow up posts) as well as a new promotional video clip (below) promoting the Hot Shots TV show premiering in January 2012. (BTW, and yes he is an athlete)

Category: Archive, Misc, Sports | No Comments »
Tags: archive, patrick flannigan, shooting, xtreme

Posted By RichC on November 2, 2011

Since I’m having a few problems getting my carburetor/idle issue corrected on my tiny MGB, perhaps picking up a new engine might be a solution?

Mopar® to Highlight Cubic Inches and Horsepower at SEMA

– 800 horsepower V-10 Crate engine takes center stage at SEMA
– Gen III High Output HEMI® V-8 with 590 horsepower to debut
– New Bolt-On Upgrade Kit for Gen III Dodge Viper owners adds up to 150 horsepower
– New Ready-to- Run Gen III HEMI Kits simplify engine controls for select Mopar® crate engines
– New 500 CID Pro Stock Cylinder Heads feature symmetrical port design

November 1, 2011 , Auburn Hills, Mich. – A new 512 CID, V-10 engine with more than 800 horsepower and a new 426 Gen III High Output HEMI® crate engine will highlight the Mopar® display at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, Nov. 1 – 4 in Las Vegas.

Along with the new, more powerful engines, will be a full range of performance, restoration and off-road parts available from Mopar, Chrysler Group’s service, parts and customer-care brand. Included are kits to extract more power from Gen III Dodge Vipers and a new Gen III High Output HEMI V-8; new Pro Stock cylinder heads and Mopar Gen III HEMI front drive kits.

"SEMA is the perfect platform to introduce some of Mopar’s newest high performance and restoration parts and products," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar. "If you’re looking for horsepower that can be dropped in or bolted on, the Mopar exhibit area has a full range of small- and big-block products for the enthusiast.

"Mopar has been in the performance business for decades. In fact, the brand really came to life at the track," said Gorlier. "We are committed to supporting performance enthusiasts. We have an extremely rich product plan that will not only support the more than 5 million HEMI engines in market today and the 30 million Chrysler Group vehicles on the roads across the country, but will also support the products of tomorrow. The engines we are launching are the first of many exciting products to come for both on and off-road needs. We have an amazing track record of fueling enthusiasts and are committed to continuing this legacy."

V10 Competition Crate Engine and Gen III V10 Performance Upgrade Kit

Leading the way is an 800 horsepower V-10 Competition Series engine, part number P5155872 that is designed specifically for drag racing. Hand assembled to exacting standards by race engine builders, the Competition Series V-10 features an aluminum block with aluminum cylinder heads. Designed for the rigors of drag racing and pulling 695 lb. ft. of torque with an operating range of up to 7,000 rpm, these race-calibrated engines include a forged steel crankshaft with forged steel connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons with a compression ratio of 12.5:1. All rotating components have been balanced for maximum performance at the track.
The Competition Series engine includes a JTEC controller with race calibration and engine harness. Designed specifically for drag racing, future applications include an off-road and road-race version.
Enthusiasts looking to extract up to 150 more horsepower from their Gen III Dodge Viper can now bolt on a Performance Upgrade Kit, part number P5156137, to their stock V-10 engine. Each kit includes a pair of aluminum cylinder heads (machined to fit the Gen III block), a custom upper intake manifold with a larger throttle body, fuel rails and injectors. The stock engine controller will have to be re-flashed.

All necessary hardware and gaskets are included.
With the Performance Upgrade Kit, owners will see up to 650 horsepower from their existing engine while still maintaining excellent low-end drivability.

426 Gen III High Out HEMI and 426 Ready-to-Run Kits
Mopar also is featuring a more powerful, new crate version of the Gen III 426 HEMI V-8.

The Gen III High Output HEMI engine, with 590 horsepower on tap out of the box, is now available under part number P5156139.
Starting with a lightweight aluminum block that shaves more than 100 lbs. from the cast iron version, the Gen III High Output HEMI is professionally built and includes a stout, balanced lower reciprocating assembly that features a forged steel crankshaft with six bolt mains at 2, 3 and 4, and cross-bolted 4-bolt mains at 1 and 5. H-beam style rods are forged steel and coupled to forged 11:1 compression ratio aluminum pistons. Included is a revised windage tray to provide excellent oil dispersion and prevent oil aeration by the crankshaft.

The valvetrain starts with a more aggressive roller camshaft with .639 intake and .628 exhaust lift and cylinder heads that feature the latest designs for exceptional flow characteristics.
To help stabilize the valvetrain at high engine rpm, tie bars are available. Cast aluminum valve covers and billet fuel rails also are part of the Gen III High Output engine. Designed to run on premium pump gas with a minimum octane rating of 93, the newest HEMI V8 is ideal for off road competition or the latest restoration or resto – mod project.

Mopar also is offering two 426 Ready-to-Run engine control/base calibration kits, one for the High Output engine and one for the existing 426 crate engine.
Kits include a throttle body, engine harness and engine controller with base cal. These kits greatly reduce guess work and gets projects up and rolling. Depending on transmission type, axle ratio, and tire size, some final tuning may be required.

Pro Stock Cylinder Head
Debuting for Pro Stock competition in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), is a new symmetrical port design cylinder head. The bare aluminum cylinder head is available under part number P5155906. For teams running Dodge Avengers for 2012 in NHRA, either the current asymmetrical cylinder head or the new symmetrical will be permitted.

GEN III HEMI Front Drive Kit
A distributor front drive kit for GEN III HEMI engines is now available. The drive kit is for enthusiasts who prefer to run a distributor-type ignition system and includes a machined front cover, camshaft timing gear, fuel pump push rod and bolt kit. Kits for 2009 and later 5.7-liter and all 6.4 engines are available under part number P5155929. For pre-2009 5.7-liter and all 6.1-liter engines, part number P5155930 is available.
Dodge Challenger Body-in-White
New Dodge Challenger body shells that provide an excellent starting point for a race car now are available in limited quantities from Mopar. Bodies are complete with doors, decklid and hood. These shells eliminate the bodywork or welding that’s normally required with a project car that may be damaged or a salvage car. Bodies are designed for competition use only, have no vehicle identification numbers and cannot be used for a street application.
Fascias and other trim items will be available as a "builder’s kit."

Mopar-First Features
Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:
– Camper trailers: first to introduce off-road camper trailers
– Vehicle-information apps: first to introduce smartphone vehicle-information applications, a new channel of communication with consumers
– Electronic owner manuals: first to introduce traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format
– Electronic Vehicle Tracking System (EVTS): first to market with a new interactive vehicle tracking device that sends owner a text when vehicle is driven too fast or too far based on pre-set parameters
– 2011 Mopar Challenger Drag Pak: first to introduce a 500-plus cubic-inch V-10 drag-race package car
– Wi-Fi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot
– WiTECH: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network

About the Mopar Brand
Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand.

Mopar distributes approximately 280,000 parts and accessories in more than 90 countries and is the source for all original-equipment parts for Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles. Mopar parts are unique in that they are engineered with the same teams that create factory-authorized vehicle specifications for Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles – a direct connection that no other aftermarket parts company can provide. A complete list of Mopar accessories and performance parts is available at http://www.mopar.com.

More than 70 Years of Mopar
When Chrysler bought Dodge in 1928, the need for a dedicated parts manufacturer, supplier and distribution system to support the growing enterprise led to the formation of the Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation (CMPC) in 1929.

Mopar (a simple contraction of the words MOtor and PARts) was trademarked for a line of antifreeze products in 1937. It also was widely used as a moniker for the CMPC. The Mopar brand made its mark in the 1960s – the muscle-car era. The Chrysler Corporation built race-ready Dodge and Plymouth "package cars" equipped with special high-performance parts. Mopar carried a line of "special parts" for super-stock drag racers and developed its racing parts division called Mopar Performance Parts to enhance speed and handling for both road and racing use.

News Source: Mopar

Category: Automotive, MGB | 5 Comments »
Tags: chrysler, engine, mgb, mopar