Aeronca JAP - Measuring A Crankshaft

I was intending to strip this engine during the winter but decided to remove the crankshaft now as I'd like to see how worn the big-end bearings are.
Music: 'Honeysuckle' by Honeyroot
#jap #flyingforfun #aeronca #aeroncac2 #aeroncac3 #aeronica #airknocker #flyingbathtub #douglasdc3 #douglasc47 #spitfire #hurricane #worldwar2 #ww2 #ww1 #airport #airstrip #automobileassociation #rac #aa #vintagesportscarclub #vintageaircraft #vintageaeroplane #vintageairplane #aeroplane #plane #flying #aerodrome #england #praga #oldengine #microlight #cornwall #thrustertst #vauxhall1440 #vauxhall #airplane #magneto #lathe #railway #propeller #makingapropeller #pietenpol #fordmodela

[@nevillesutherland6069]

What an absorbing 35minutes! Something about the design of this engine that belies its reputation. To my non-technician eye, its a very sophisticated design with substantial bearing metal where it should be. Don't let it languish in a bag for too long Nich. We need to see MORE!

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Definitely appearing again from November onwards.

[@bentonbee1]

Great video! I am amazed you have so many spare parts for a very rare engine!

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

I’ve been collecting parts for nearly thirty years, never want to run out!

[@lordvalentine471]

If you take this engine to Alan millyard he'll add some cylinders to it

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Haha, yes,he probably would!

[@5695q]

Interesting to see roller lifters in the Aeronca engine, they are only just in the last dozen years becoming common in factory auto engines although you could retrofit them if you were building up an engine for your car. An interesting side note, I was attached to an F-14 Tomcat squadron for a tour in the Navy. We received various components to replace failed ones, A box showed up with a hydraulic actuator in it and a big Aeronca sticker on the outside of the box. The sticker went on the door of my locker. Also received a nose landing gear replacement built by Menasco. Next time you do a walkaround of the airliner you fly, check the data plate on the gear, you might be surprised at what old aviation company made it.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

In 1999 I was doing a preflight on a B757 at Gatwick and it had an Aeronca-built main undercarriage leg. I was delighted!

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

In addition, the bizjet that I currently fly has a hatchway to the rear equipment bay that is manufactured by Short Brothers, builders of the mighty Scion!

[@kentonblair8848]

Great video, as always. I have occasionally measured the thickness of the inserts just to see if I can find the extra clearance, although it doesn't have any value, it satisfies my math needs for equality in the totals. Those engines have always intrigued me, although they seem to have a dubious reputation in some circles. Thanks for your videos, I look forward to the next one.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

They are good engines and generally quite reliable. I'll cover the broken crankshaft story in a film soon.

[@WarblesOnALot]

G'day, Um, regards the Plastiguage stuff, at 0:25-ish you mention that they specify Silicone Grease..., but you reckoned there'd be no reason not to use Vaseline... I wonder about that. My VJ-24w featured Steel Tube Axles & Steel-Tube Wheelhubs, with a split Cylinder of 1mm Nylatron for the Go-between. As a keen Noob, I duly Greased the Axles using mineral Automotive Axle-Grease - pleased with myself for due diligence. Over the next week, I found myself using more and more Runway to get off the ground, and making really short rollouts. So I propped up one Wingtip at a time, and tested the Rotation - and both wmWheels behaved as if they were equipped with Brakes. Further enquiry led to the original owner enlightening me about how Nylon type Plastic is basically chemically congealed Mineral Oil..., so Mineral Oil is able to soak into it's Molecular Matrix ; causing it to swell up - binding my Wheels to the Axles. The cure was to wash out the Mineral Grease with Alcohol, lightly sand the inside of the Nylatron Sleeves and the Steel Axles, and lubricate them with Olive Oil. That worked. It strikes me that if your Plastiguages are A) Plastic, & B) Supposed to adopt and retain the EXACT dimensions of the actual Gap between Shaft & Bearing in "operational conditions"...., as I understand them to be expected to be used to determine the dimensions thereof (?)...; then it might be a counterproductive idea to use any Vaseline in the job - least it soak into your Plastiguages under Compression, causing it to expand as the Squeeze is unbolted, kinda thing... That may be why the Blurb specifies Silicone ? Every Technical Advance has it's hidden traps for the unwary - and Vaseline on Plastiguages might be one of them ? I would look into that, if I were you...(?!). Maybe olive Grove (Butter Substitute( or actual Silicone Grease) really would be better ? Take it easy, Have a good one, Stay safe. ;-p Ciao !

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

I believe you are over thinking this issue. The plastigauge is very hard, not like playdough. The merest smudge of vaseline holds it in place. Silicon grease is only suggested. Keep taking the medicine.

[@WarblesOnALot]

@@FlyingForFunTrecanair Well, it's your call, but Playdough and Hardness was at no time in question... Hard Plastic is hard Plastic, and Nylatron is designed to be good at resisting both Compression & affording a low-friction surface to slide against - as long as the Clearance is better than an interference fit. Marinating the Nylatron Wheel-Bearing-Shells in Hydrocarbon Grease, under load, gave my Aeroplane gradually increasing rolling resistance which amounted to Wheel Brakes being half applied half-strength. I remember surprise learnings and close calls - like barely clearing Treetops which had been expected to be no obstacle, after an unusually long Run up to gain Airspeed. I'm old enough to recognise that the people who make and sell New Technology probably know why they make the recommendations in the guidelines in the user's brochure. And you DID mention that you were unaware of any reason why Vaseline & Silicone grease would not be interchangeable...; and if I were using a Plastic Feeler-Guage then I would steer clear of going against the Manufacturer's recommendation, to instead use something knows to cause the Working Faces to Swell up & alter dimensions through chemical Osmosis. I know that I lack the knowledge to contradict (presumably) Expert advice...; so I try not to lead myself astray. I'm not prescribed any medication. Last time I studied Psychiatry & Psychology, and recieved 100% in the written Examinations at the end of the Block..., they taught us that there are no Medications available to "treat" people for being Pathologically Sane... Opinions may differ, but I'm happier being an Outlier than a Norm ; and one of my characteristic personality traits is that I habitually "Overthink things". I regard that as being better than Underthinking matters. Both may be pasty and both may be Brown..., but Shit will not function at all well if employed as Shoepolish... Kinda thing. But, you do you..., as the saying goes (!). Take it easy. ;-p Ciao !

[@administratorlynch6223]

How timely is this? As an unsupervised adult male, I have a kitchen bench occupied by several components referenced in this video. Invaluable info for my project,

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Haha🤣

[@tennesseered586]

A very elegantly built engine, especially the rods. Very technologically up to date for the late 1920s. What caused the crankshaft to fracture? Perhaps a poor fit to the hub? Looks like you were the pilot, Nick, back in 2015 or so.

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Broken crankshaft story coming soon!

[@thamesmud]

Oh dear. The front fell off. Any idea what the stress raiser was for the failure?

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Yes, film about it later this year.

[@hanford1968]

Hello tanks for those nice videos.is chance some how your share de 2d video to finished pietenpol prop tanks .

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

Probably won’t make Pietenpol propeller for a while, due to other projects.

[@bentonbee1]

Could you put a small magnet on side of rod to hold bearings on?

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

That's definitely worth trying.

[@robertklein1316]

Does this engine use Whitworth hardware? The crank looks pretty stout, what caused the failure ?

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

It uses metric and imperial hardware of various denomination. Quite a mixture. Broken crankshaft film coming soon.

[@dcmflydude6320]

You can send that crank to those fellows on KZbin in Pakistan and they can repair it😂

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

I did make a sketch of a shrink fit repair using the undamaged parallel shaft forward of the front main bearing. Such ideas should probably remain theoretical!

[@stevesutton1991]

Great video, but please do away with the repiticious music in the background, it brings back unhappy memories of waiting on the phone for someone to answer, ( prudential take note)

[@FlyingForFunTrecanair]

If you’ve really nothing better to do than watch me cluttering around in the shed, then you deserve the rotten tune. Thanks for watching 🤣