Thorp Air Command - T18.net

Holy Cheesemo ! Looks like it came off the Mars Rover ! That's some mighty fine metal work .

RB

Now that is the very definition of STEAM PUNK!!
I took FEISTY for a flight after all the work I did fitting the new thermos cap....it leaked even worse.
The bottom flange is too thin (I think) so I'll try a flat gasket on top of that flange to set the cap higher, hopefully the thermos O ring can pull up tight on the bottom of the flange.
If not, I may be shamelessly copying your cap Jim.

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Scott Emery
EAA Chapter 326
T-18 N18TE

Jim,
very cool cap. Are the dogs spring to open or are they connected to rotator? did you make it?

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N102RH
Ron Hayes
Blue Springs, Mo.

That is slick Jim, and it looks like the lock is positive. I too machined my own cap,positive lock in just about the same way. I will see if I can get some photos and post em. I have the exposed cap as it is the s- version of the filler neck so the cap had to be flush with the fuse skin so I had to put the lock flush on the top of the cap.....Dan

Ronald,
Yes, I did make the cap. I Tried to design it with some good drawings before I started. Ended up throwing it all away and used the old tried and true method (eye ball engineering here). It took several attempts to get the cam throw to work. Thinks get real busy in that small space. I used a manual engine lathe for all the rounds and bridgeport vertical mill with a turn table for the cam. CNC equipment would certainly speed the process up. There are no springs on the pins. The center shaft is rotated clockwise so the pins make contact with the flange. The horizontal pin that goes thru the top of the center shaft slides to the far left and behind the standoff and tightened with the thump screw. The standoff to the left is to prevent any reverse rotation that could cause disengagement of the pins. Never been a problem but like the safety factor.


Jim Borg
N180RG
Cold! Cold! Minnesota

Dan,

Please post some pics. Would like to see your design.

Jim Borg
N180RG

Will do Jim.......Dan