AGRAV8 rrProfessor Location: Mosquito Coast......Houston Texas
| Got your stuff ready??Grease the shaft of the engine on the taper.
Put on the lower fan shroud. MAKE DAMN SURE you put it on the right way. If in doubt, take the cooling shroud and place it over the engine....do the holes line up?? If so, OK. If you brain fart like I did, you get to do this proceedure TWICE. So, check twice, and using the bolts (5 mm) I suggested secure the lower fan shroud plate onto the engine. Blue locktite on these. Not too tight, remember we are only holding the shroud in place.
Position the engine in the vise. The vise jaws should contact the mounting lugs on the engine. FIRM pressure, remember we don't want to crack the case, but it is imperative it remains still while we "do the deal" to it.
Place fan onto crankshaft, use the bolt suggested with washer, and start to make it up. I used Red locktite on mine. The toothbrush in the exhaust port will stop the piston from moving and get SOME pressure on the fan with the bolt. Take the dial indicator and check runout on the END of the fan......the end that the clutch will bolt to.
<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>
turn the engine from the REAR, not the fan when "dialing for dollars". If you use the fan side, it may cause errors in the reading.
You can get it fairly snug and then take that stick and whoop on it from the high side of the readings. What we are doing is making the tapers line up together and give us a good true reading. NO, don't get frustrated with it......and don't try to beat the hell out of it. A firm rap will suffice. TRY not to hit on the very end of the fan where the clutch will bolt to. Get it tight (considering the threads you looked at when you bought it) and runout needs to be .002 or less. You might have to turn the fan on the shaft and try a different position. This IS the most critical thing you will do to make your machine run well and not cause premature parts failure on the driveline. Take your time, don't rush it and don't settle for more than .002. IF you need to remove it and reposition the fan, back the bolt out and strike the fan with the wooden device from the rear at an angle. Not too hard, just wanting the taper to release. If it is still stuck, use those 4 bolts like I mentioned earlier. You might want to put something between the fan and bolts to prevent marring.....I didn't, as it is totally enclosed.
Got that fan running true?? Get it right. Leave the engine positioned on the vise.
Notice I said NOTHING about magnets on the fan for governor sensors, did I?? Get yourself a stator-gator pickup (a vendor on the main page) for the 231 puh engine. Tom knows exactly what you need, and magnets ain't part of it. The fan shroud does have a hole cutout for a sensor to peek into it, and two spots on the fan for magnet mounting. Suit yourself. The sensor bracket might need to be fabricated, not sure.....cause I don't use it.
After the fan is RIGHT, take the clutch and insert it into the fan hub, and using ONE of the FOUR buttonhead screws, pull it almost tight. Use the indicator to check runout. Remember .002 is the target.....and if it is higher, remove the bolt, turn the clutch 90 degrees and try again. If it is below .002, then using blue locktite, install the other three remaining bolts into the clutch. Not TOO tight. Check runout. Still there?? Then remove the first one, locktite it and put it in. Check runout.
I got .0015 both times I did this. A BIG thanks to Billme for the tips on how and what and why. Credit given where credit due. You ARE the MAN, Bill......
Remove the engine assembly from the vise. Your DONE, SON !!
The next thing you need to do is face the muffler header and muffler flange. A FLAT surface, a light grit of sandpaper (180-220) and some elbow action. You want the surface to be completely flat. You can tell by the color change on the surface.
The header is installed onto the motor at this point. I used blue locktite on these bolts. If you have access to a heat gun, now is a good time to use it.....get the header bolts started, and heat up the header. Pull the bolts snug with the header hot. Might save you some grief later on....
Install the muffler. Now. The 4 socket head screws from the header to muffler come in from the ENGINE side.....and it can be a chore to do this after the engine is installed. I also cut down the short side of a single allen wrench for this step. Made life MUCH nicer. I used red silicone high temp gasket maker between the mating surfaces. It squeezes out AND IN, so be mindful of how much. Just a nice film on the mating parts. Use Blue locktite on the bolts and get it tightened up.
You WILL tighten them again after a couple of flights. Bet on it. Keep that allen wrench handy......
AFTER the muffler is secured, then install the upper fan shroud. It looks metal, but it is glass. Fit perfect. Set the engine/clutch/muffler assembly aside. Admire it.....cause it is going to be the highlight of your day to get that done.
<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>
Landing gear bolt holes......I used an aftermarket set on mine, and this heli has an odd spacing. The stock ones supplied with the kit are low profile with a spacer to elevate the heli......no knuckle-dragging allowed.
The stock gear needed to be drilled......might be a good idea to do this before mounting the lower side frames/engine to the bottom plate. This was the only thing that didn't line up in the entire kit. I notified Century of the problem, and word is they are making a drilling fixture to correct this at the California facility.
Lower frames/engine mount plate. Press ahead according to the manual. The phillips head screws that hold the engine to the bottom plate should be blue locktited. Mine went together VERY well....all the holes jumped right into position when the next part was put on....
The spacer to keep the fuel tank was a little long on my kit.....what you want is SOME pressure on the tank saddles of the lower frames. Mine were bowing out at the bottom more than I wanted.......a quick trip to my belt sander had it going MY way. Oh, and rushing for water too......that thing looks plastic but it is aluminum.......HOT !! |