I hope I don't bore some of you with the following, however, I am so overjoyed I can hardly type. So, if you don't want to read it, just pass it by. I am a happy camper right now!!!

Here goes.

The OS 1.20 AX arrived today without fanfare. It was in an box at my doorstep. After the Evo issues I've put up with for the past four months, I sort of expected some kind of band playing somethiing, however, well, anyway... ha..

I removed the Evo yesterday evening in anticipation of the arrival of the new engine. So, when It showed up today, as expected, I was rather excited. I headed over to my LHS and picked up two props.. one 15-10 and one 16-8. I should be set for props.. at least for now.

I removed the engine from the box and took a good close look at it. I then grabbed my allen hex screw-drivers and checked all of the head bolts. All were very tight and seemed equal. However, one of the back plate bolts was just about finger tight. The other three were tight. So, I removed the back plate.. Bob, it's an O-Ring back there not a gasket. Anyway, I took a look around inside and saw nothing of consequence so I put it back together making sure that the flat part of the back plate was on top for piston clearance. After I put it together, I rotated the shaft to make sure I did it right. All was ok.

Next.. I took a look at the prop shaft. It is two sized.. 5/16 x 24 for the bolt and slightly larger for the unthreaded prop shaft. I have a reamer that takes that into consideration and so I test reamed an old broken prop (I knew I saved those old things for a reason) and mounted it on the engine. Nice and snug.

Next, I looked at the spinner backplate because I had it on the Evo 100. It has a spacer inside the prop shaft hole but the spacer was to small for the shaft and I don't know if I have one of the correct size or not. I must somewhere around here, however, I don't intend to use a True-Turn spinner so I really don't need that back plate. As a matter of fact, when I did slide the engine in place, there was good prop clearance and the large shaft spacer.. not sure of what the name of that is, has a groove in it that exactly matched the center line of th cowl.

Next, I said.. Ok.. let's see how it goes into the plane. I assembled the shock-mount parts from the ARF (used them with the Evo 100) and put them on the engine mount flats. It looked ok so I carefully lowered the engine into the engine compartment. I was absolutely shocked.. the bolt holes matched up perfectly!!! That engine and with that mount were the perfect match for the old installation. The throttle ball-socket matches right up with the throttle arm on the carb and the prop has good clearance from the cowl, and the engine looked square. What more can I ask for!!

Ok guys.. I'm anxious to test this engine and fly with it. Naturally, the weather forecast for this weekend sucks. Ok.. be patient, I know.. I know.

DS