Maintenance tips

Ok, better late than never. Just a few routine maintenance items for the glow Black Magics, what I would call an annual inspection. In no particular order:

-Remove all access areas...belly pan, canopy etc.

-Check engine mount bolts, be sure they are tight

-If the plane has been sitting, replace fuel lines and filters. Make sure your connections are secure.

-Inspect throttle linkage, this item tends to wear. How fast depends on your engine/mount.

-Inspect all joints and seams. Flex the plane a little and make sure no cracks have developed. This is especially true for the gear plate.

-Check to make sure the nuts on the adjusters are tight, and that the attach screws aren't letting the adjuster move. If you haven't already, put some red threadlocker on your adjuster nuts.

-Check control horns for wear. make sure they aren't loose or sloppy. Fix it up if anything is loose.

-Remove stabs. Check the fit of the wing tube and stab tube, they should be tight and not sloppy. if they are sloppy, there are ways to tighten it back up.

-Inspect all attach points. This includes where the wing bolts on, stab bolt hold downs. if they are getting sloppy, you have 2 choices: oversize the hole and tap for one size bigger, or turn the tube 180 degrees and redrill. If the wear is severe, you may have to do both. if the hole is just slightly sloppy, hit the threads with thin CA and retap.

-Inspect all linkages. make sure you haven't developed any slop there. if you have, replace the hardware.

-Inspect servos for centering and wear. With the radio and reciever on, grab the servo arm and rock it back and forth. A tiny bit of play might be normal, but if it's deflecting your surface more than a tiny amount under load, either replace the servos or send them in for repair.

-Replace the battery and switch. This is cheap insurance. if you want to keep your plane intact, this is a small price to pay to take it out of the equation. Replace these items once a year, whether you think they are good or not. if you are running a voltage regulator, replace it too.

-Check your aileron extensions. because these get plugged and unplugged every time you go flying, this is a high wear item. Again, replace them once a year whether you think they need it or not. You can always put them in a sport plane and take your chances there.

-Consider servicing your engine. if you plan on a long hard season, it's a good idea to have your engine rebuilt at the beginning of the year. Specifics here depend on the engine itself. If it hasn't seen much use, just make sure it's not developing rust and goo. take it out and clean it at least.

-Clean your exhaust system. If you run a 2 stroke with a tuned pipe, or a CF long pipe on a 4, flush the whole system with 91% alcohol. Just pour it in the pipe, shake it, and dump it out. Do this a few times. you won't believe the crud, and it can stop up your exhaust system and affect your engine's performance.

-Thoroughly clean the engine and exhaust area. You can have over an ounce of oil and gunk accumulated here.

-Check the hinges. Just tug on the surfaces and make sure one doesn't pull out. You'd be suprised.

-Replace your rudder pull-pull system if it's steel line. This stuff does fatigue over time, and better to replace it before you lose your rudder in flight!

-Check all of your radio equipment thoroughly. Check for chafed or frayed wires, insulation etc. Replace as needed.

-Clean the entire airplane. get the gunk out of the hinge lines, etc. Clean it thoroughly, and wax and polish that sucker.

-Check your landing gear and axles, along with the wheels. if the wheels are sloppy and don't turn true, replace them. Look for small stress cracks on a carbon gear.

-Replace any worn or rusted hardware, screws etc.

-If anything needs repair or to be redone, this is the best time. During the season it's hard to take your plane down for any extended period of time. So if you want to do any major repairs or modifications, do them now.

-Put it all back together, and use thread locker where needed. Don't take chances.

I hate to use a cliche, but if you take care of your plane, it will take care of you. If you let your maintenace slide, sooner or later you will get bitten. I hope this helps a little, if you have any specific questions, just ask and I will do my best to answer what I can.

-Mike