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February 4, 2007
This past Saturday,
Greg Kinnan, Bruce Graham, Sam Dean and myself went to Guymon and worked on the
C-45. It was cold outside but nice and warm in the hangar. We
had a productive day.
Work accomplished:
- Removed two defective pieces from the tail (we found another one
that needs replacement)
- Replaced the cotter pins in the bolts holding the elevator cable
pulleys
- Cleaned and inspected the right engine oil tank, transferred the
fittings from the tank with the holes and got it ready to install
- Painted with zinc chromate primer the exposed section of the right
wing spar
- Fabricated some of the instrument hoses
- Freed up the engine primer (it was frozen and would not move)
- Worked on the tail section bulkhead (it should be ready by the next
trip)
Gregg will order the
defective aluminum tail pieces and have them ready to install on our next
trip.
He will also order more
instrument hose and hose fittings.
We may have another
work day this coming Saturday. The following weekend is winter
conference in
Midland
. If you can go to Guymon this
Saturday, let me know.
Thanks,
John
Photo by John Jowell
Bruce Graham working on the new rear bulkhead.
Photo by John Jowell
Greg Kinnan
replacing control cable pulley cotter pins.
Photo by John Jowell
Sam Dean cleaning the oil off of his hands after
changing the fittings on the
right oil tank while Bruce is still
working on the bulkhead.
01/30/07
Went to Guymon
yesterday and worked on the Twin Beech. I had hoped to get the
elevator back on but when the elevator was removed, Gregg found a bracket
that needs to be replaced. When we get the bracket replaced, the
elevator will be ready to go back on. Gregg had the parts for the
elevator trim mechanisms and I got them installed. I repositioned the
actuator for the elevator trim indicator and it seems to be working okay
now. I removed the instrument panel and brought it home with me so I
can repaint it. Gregg ordered and ;has received the tubing for the
instrument lines.
Our next work day will
be this coming Saturday if weather permits safe travel. I hope you can
make it.
I have attached a
list of work that remains. There may be other things that I
have missed but this is most of it. There is still lots to be done so
all help is appreciated.
Be Blessed!
John
TWIN BEECH WORK LIST
January 30, 2007
- Replace bracket on tail
- Replace elevator
- Replace bulkhead in tail
- Replace tail wheel
- Repaint instrument panel
- Replace instrument panel
- Get remainder of instruments refurbished or replaced
- Replace instruments
- Replace bad instrument hoses
- Label switches
- Replace radio and transponder
- Repaint control columns
- Replace control wheels
- Clean area where gear motor is located
- Replace right seat
- Replace cabin windows
- Replace covers on cabin door chains
- Install fresh air ducts in cabin
- Cotter pin bolts that hold elevator cable pulleys
- Safety wire elevator cable turnbuckles
- Safety wire elevator trim cable turnbuckles
- Install rudder trim indicator
- Clean and flush left oil tank
- Clean and flush right engine oil tank
- Replace right oil tank
- Remove, clean, inspect, lubricate and replace engine primer
- Safety wire fasteners on main landing gear
- Finish cleaning and paint main wing spars
- Paint fuel tank bays
- Replace fuel tanks
- Replace sheet metal over fuel tanks and around engine nacelles
- Replace flaps
- Send props out for inspection
- Install right engine
- Install props
- Test run engines
- Install engine cowlings
01/12/07
Hi,
I hope everyone is
staying warm today. It is still below 20 here in Dumas this
morning.
I went to Guymon
yesterday and worked on the C-45. We removed the elevator to gain
access to the elevator trim mechanisms. I got both trim gear boxes
out, cleaned and relubricated. They will be ready to put back in on
the next trip. I also removed the instrument hoses that need
replacing so hose material can be ordered. I also asked Greg to order
us 200ea 6-32 x 1/2 screws and 200ea 8-32 x 3/4 screws. Many of the
screws we have removed need to be replaced.
Looking back over the
past several months, we have accomplished a lot. There us still much
left to do, but we are making steady headway. Bruce Graham is working
on the bulkhead that goes in the tail section and John Webb is working on
the cabin windows.
Some of the things left
to do are to replace the tail section bulkhead, replace the cabin windows,
finish the elevator trim mechanisms and reinstall the elevator, install the
right engine oil tank, prepare and paint the instrument panel, install the
instruments, finish up the fuel tank bays and install the fuel tanks,
replace some aluminum skins that have been removed, install the right
engine, send the props off for inspection and install them when they
return. There will be other items that will need attention but that is
the bulk of what we have left to do.
My goal is to have her
ready to fly by
March 31, 2007
. I know that is optimistic, but
within reach. Every little bit of work get us a little closer to
the day she flies again and there is room for anyone who wants to
help. The next work day is scheduled for Saturday, January 20 from
9:00 a.m.
until
5:00 p.m.
If you can go, let me know.
I look forward to
seeing you at our next meeting Thursday the 18th. Come and bring a
friend.
John Jowell
Saturday, November 18 was a work
day for the C-45 project in Guymon. We really had a good turn out and I
think everyone enjoyed the day. Those in attendance were Sam Dean, Bruce and
James Graham, Greg Kinnan, Glenn Larson and John Jowell. We had plenty of
work to keep everyone busy and everyone worked like a trojan.
Work accomplished:
* A new bracket for the left main landing gear switch was made, the
wiring was repaired and the switch was reinstalled.
* The two oil temperature gauge leads were threaded through their
pathways to the right and left engine nacelles.
* Sheet aluminum was cut out for the bulkhead that goes in the tail
section.
* Paint stripping was begun on the instrument panel in preparation for
repainting.
* Work was done to remove the left engine oil tank for inspection since
holes were found in the right tank.
* Work was done to get to the elevator trim gear boxes - these may be
harder to get to than the rudder trim gear boxes and they were a bear.
As an added treat, George Schwarz with an independent Amarillo news
paper, Jim Cope with Channel 10 TV station and Teddy Aklin, their pilot,
joined us at the hangar in Guymon to do a story on the C-45 project. They
interviewed Greg Kinnan on camera and he told them about the CAF, the
Dewline Squadron, the West Texas Wing and our project. They took several
still photos and several minutes of movie footage while we were working on
the plane.
They wanted a before and after story, so Greg Downing was kind enough to
fly the Cimmaron Strip C-45 for some air to air shots as well as some photo
passes for the cameras on the ground. This gave them an idea of what a C-45
looks like when it takes to the air.
They said they would let us know when the story will appear on television
and in the paper.
If you see any of these men, be sure to tell them how much you appreciate
their efforts and the coverage. We are going to get some priceless exposure
to the folks of the Texas Panhandle.
Our next work day is scheduled for Saturday, December 2.
Be Blessed and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
John Jowell, Project Officer
Photo by John Jowell
Glenn Larson installs the newly crafted limit switch bracket on the left
main gear.

Photo by John Jowell
Bruce and James Graham battle the
elevator trim gear boxes. There is absolutely no room to work on them.

Photo by John Jowell
Bruce, Glen, and James creating the new rear bulkhead.

Photo by John Jowell
Forming the bulkhead prior to the bending.
Photo by John Jowell
Sam Dean performing the tedious task of routing the temperature leads from
the panel to the nacelle.

Photo by John Jowell
Greg Kinnan applying paint stripper to the instrument panel to prepare for
painting.
November 11, 2006
The replacement wing skins were remanufactured and are
ready for installation.
November 7, 2006
Since the last report, a wooden form has been made to use in making a new
bulkhead for the tail section and has been delivered to Guymon.
Tuesday, 10-31-2006
I went to Guymon and removed, cleaned, lubricated and replaced both
rudder trim gear boxes.
After replacing the gear boxes, operation still required quite a bit of
effort. On the next trip, a search will be conducted to determine the
problem.
The rudder trim indicator was removed and inspected. It is defective and
needs to be replaced.
Saturday, 11-4-2006
Saturday was a planned C-45 work day in Guymon. Those in attendance were
Greg Kinnan and John Jowell.
Work accomplished:
* We lubricated and installed the new "up" elevator cable
and set the tension to approximate specs. Vern or Greg will check
tension, inspect and install cotter pins and safety wire.
* The rudder trim cables and chains were inspected to make
sure they were tracking properly and that they were on the pulleys and
not binding. The chains and pulleys were lubricated and the operation is
considerably smoother. The rudder trim tabs were connected to the gear boxes
and operation was checked for proper direction of travel and proper
deflection.
* The right engine oil tank was cleaned and inspected and
two toothpick size holes were found in the bottom of the tank. The tank
will be sent out for repair.
* We found 12 rivets in the trailing edge of the left
rudder with heads missing. These 12 rivets were drilled out and replaced
with new rivets.
* We checked the operation of the elevator trim and found
it to be rough and difficult to operate. The pulleys were lubricated but
operation was still difficult. The cable needs to be tightened and the
elevator trim tab gear boxes need to be removed, cleaned inspected and
reinstalled. The trim tab travel and deflection is questionable. Will need
to check and set to proper specs.
The next scheduled work day is Saturday, November 18. If you can go, let
me know so we can coordinate our travel arrangements. All help is greatly
appreciated.
Be Blessed!
John Jowell
September 16th and 23rd Work Parties
We had a C-45 work project Saturday, September 23 in
Guymon.
Those in attendance were Greg Kinnan and John Jowell.
Several had conflicts and could not participate but we had a productive day.
Bruce and James Graham went up to Guymon last Saturday
and worked to clean on the main spars in preparation for priming and
painting.
* The bearings in the right main landing gear wheel
were replaced with new bearings. Thanks to Berry Smith at Texas Bearing for
he donated bearings for both main gear wheels.
* A frayed elevator cable was removed and will be
replaced with a new cable.
* Two engine instruments were removed from the
instrument panel and will be checked, refurbished and replaced.
* Additional cleaning was done on the main spars.
* Gregg and Vern have removed the rear bulkhead that
was cracked and have begun the recreation of that vital part.
* The two right side aluminum pieces that had several
cracks have now been removed and are ready to be used as templates for new
pieces.
There is still a lot of work to be done but most of
the parts that needed replacement have been removed. There is still some
cleaning that needs to be done and after that, the primary job will be to
replace the parts that have been removed. Our primary focus is to get the
airplane airworthy first and then we can work on cosmetic aspects as time
and money permit.
The next scheduled work day will be Saturday, October
21. If you can go between now and then, let me know and I will coordinate
with the folks in Guymon. All help is much appreciated and the more we are
able to do the sooner the bird will be flying.
August 19-20 Work Party
This weekend we had a work crew to go to Guymon to
work on the twin Beech. Those helping were John and Barbara Webb, Ross
Flowers, Bruce and James Graham, Sam Dean and John Jowell. We had a great
time together and we had a productive weekend.
On Saturday, the major accomplishment was the removal
of the left main landing gear to replace the strut seal. The seal has been
replaced and the gear has been reinstalled. While the gear was off we
replaced the wheel bearings and reinstalled the wheel. (Notice the wheat
seeds in the dust cover for the bearing - where do you suppose that came
from?) Also on Saturday, the right main wheel was removed and the bearings
were checked. It was determined that they need to be replaced due to some
pitting and rough spots. We will do that on the next trip. We put the wheel
back on so the plane could be moved if needed before we get back to replace
the bearings.
John and Barbara Webb and John Jowell spent the night
in Guymon and worked on Sunday. On Sunday the side windows were removed and
taken to Amarillo for cleaning and for the frames to be stripped. Also on
Sunday work was done to remove two engine instruments. So far the
instruments are still in the plane. There are cables running from the
instrument panel all the way to the wheel wells behind the engine firewalls
and there are brackets holding them in place that are next to impossible to
get to but where there is a will there is a way - right?
There is still a lot to do and the next work days will
likely be on the weekend following our regular squadron meeting. If anyone
wants to go up between now and then, let me know so I can coordinate with
Greg and Vern.
John Jowell
SNB Project Officer

Picture by John Jowell
Picture by John Jowell

Picture by John Jowell
Picture by John Jowell

Picture by John Jowell
Picture by John Jowell

Picture by John Jowell
Picture by John Jowell

Picture by John Jowell
Picture by John Jowell

Picture by John Jowell
July 22, 2006 Work Party
The Dewline Squadron held a SNB Work Party this Saturday, July 22. This
work party had the largest turnout of participants since the project was
moved to Guymon.
Attendees were: Rod Bannister, Ross Flowers ( new member), Bruce Graham
(new member), James Graham (son of new member), John Jowell, John Webb and
Greg Kinnan. With this large group, a lot of work was accomplished.
All of the instruments were removed from the panel to be inspected,
refurbished, and certified if necessary.
Cracks were found on the upper right wing aluminum sheet between the
fuselage and nacelle. Most of the rivets were drilled out so that this piece
can be removed and a new piece fabricated.
Numerous patches were on the lower inner right engine nacelle and the
decision was made to remove this piece and fabricate a new one. Most of the
rivets were drilled out.
The wing tank locker covers, which were removed from the spare aircraft,
were stripped of paint. They are now ready to be installed after the fuel
tanks are installed.
The port side air ducting was cleaned by removing the adhesive. The
electrical circuit was tested and one light switch was repaired.
The fabric patches have all been glued and ironed in the fuel tank bays.
They will be primed at the next work party.
The left gear strut has been leaking, so a seal kit is being purchased
and will be installed in the future.
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