In a message dated 2/27/2006 11:34:07 P.M. Central Standard Time,=20 N4ZQ@comcast.net writes:

<= FONT=20 style=3D"BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" face=3DArial color=3D#000000 size= =3D2>Unlike=20 5ZQ, I was not able to set the spinner to .375 high relative
to=20= the=20 top cowl. With the spinner flush with top cowl, I only had .
25" clear= ance=20 between the inside of the cowl and the ring gear.
<= /DIV>

Angier,

Hmmm, another tight area - how about the distance from the ring to the=20 lower cowl?

I have a harmonic damper on the flywheel that sticks out in front of th= e=20 flywheel about 1.5 inches and is a much smaller diameter. Mounted on a= =20 bolt at the forward edge are some area washers for prop dynamic=20 balance. The outer edge of the washers were filed down so they st= ick=20 out only about 3/16 inch from the outer edge of the damper. In a Cup r= ace=20 while on descent to a checkpoint, a canard suddenly appeared below= and=20 in front of me requiring an abrupt pull-up - abrupt enough to have those bal= ance=20 washers scrape on the bottom cowl and crack the paint on the outside. =20 Remember I have the soft engine mounts with the bottom shimmed out 1/4=20 inch.

Would the flywheel have hit? - I don't know, the washers hit first.&nbs= p;=20 Make sure there is enough room around the engine to allow for movement.

Also, my cowl is fastened with Camlocs - a nice clean way to attach=20 things. There is a drawback. Because the Camlocs are spring load= ed,=20 the cowl can move somewhat. I have always been intriqued by the sliver= of=20 bug goo (1/2 inch max at the top) on the forward face of the cowl behind the= =20 spinner. The bugs can't make the turn but my cowl can move up far= =20 enough in flight to expose that edge because of the high pressure on th= e=20 bottom, the low pressure above the top and the puffing out caused by the upp= er=20 cowl cooling air pressure that makes the whole contraption look like Louis=20 Armstrong's cheeks while he is performing.

Scott Krueger=20 AKA Grayhawk
Lancair N92EX IO320 SB 89/96
Aurora, IL (KARR)

PS: For those safety minded folks, just moments before the=20 encounter I had announced my position and intent as the race rules=20 required. The plane I almost descended into had been flying=20 below the VFR rule's limiting altitude and hadn't announced his=20 position. He may have had his transponder off or was too low for a=20 request/reply blip since I received no alert from my traffic warning=20 device. These days, the slower airplanes do not depart=20 first.

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