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Now that all has
settled down some what after my little mishap with the
FOD, it is time to get the throttle and HP Cock linkages
sorted out. I did go to quite an expense to buy a throttle
quadrant off a Black Hawk Helicopter from a chap in the
USA,
I thought it would be cool, but unfortunately it doesn't
quite
fit and would be a real pain to mount, so I have opted
for a real basic, but simple lever assembly, knobs yet
to be mounted.
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I have opted
to use push/ pull cables for the control linkage , fortunately
there is a company only
35 miles
away in Ellesmere Port that manufacture them. I paid
them a visit and within a couple of days they had made
me two cables to my specification.
Their web site address is http://www.rdb93.co.uk/ |
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Control linkage mounted to the engine
by a specially made aluminium bracket as there is no
aircraft to bolt the cables to. Ball joints are used
this end,
clevis
joints
are at the cab end. |
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I have fitted a breather/ catch
tank made for me by alumacraft to
the fuel tank and bolted it to
the HiJets bulkhead, , this will guarantee that no fuel
can
escape
and as
it
has
a filter
on the
input side can provide clean filtered breather air. |
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To make the pickup legal
in the UK, the wheels are not aloud to protrude from
the side
of the vehicle. This means another trip to Derek at Alumacraft so
that he can weld some 'wheel arch spat extensions' to
the
rear side panels - as shown. |
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Time to increase the Vipers power
by adding a jet pipe. Originally I thought this would
be as simple as buying an old jet pipe, cutting 2 meters
out of the middle and welding the two ends together -
simply not so. It seems that the 100 series viper jet
pipe is actually held in place by the aircraft and consequently
there is no retaining clamp on the engine, this means
a flange has to be welded on to the end of the exhaust
so that a matching flange welded to the jet pipe can
be easily
fitted.
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Exhaust removed and
a view through it that you normally don't see.
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A stubby Viper left on the back of the pickup. |
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The turbine wheel disc
is literally at the back when the exhaust is removed.
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A close up of the turbine blades
showing the 'christmas tree' type retaining fixing and
the locking tabs that keep them in place.
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This bit hurt. When
cutting in to a beloved item, you always wonder if you
are doing the correct thing.
There is no need for the existing sealing ring
as it no longer has any use as it is being replaced by
a flange , so I have cut it off! As a benefit,
it will help reduce the
overall
length
of
the engine.
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I think it looks quite good like
this, but all will change when the flanges get laser
cut and welded on. |
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To improve the efficiency
of the engine it is important to smooth the air flow
in to the compressor. To help do this I have purchased
a hovercraft guide duct from K&M
Products.
Its not quite the size I require, but it's the nearest
I could find and should fit with some modification.
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I pride myself on first class design
and fabrication. As you can clearly see I am using a
vitamin container with a pen sellotaped to it to mark
out the final depth of the guide duct. |
