Hello-

I know that the Escapade has been discussed quite extensively on this forum, but I couldn't find anything which addresses the problem that I have been having with my Escapade. Has anyone experienced a problem with the two wood tabs that stick out alongside the engine? These tabs are very thin and they tend to rattle as soon as I start my engine. In fact, they rattle so much that they have began to loosen one of the glue joints. I have reinforced the joint with epoxy.

This same issue has happened on both of my Escapades (I have 2 of them). Yes, I have balanced my prop and made sure that all screws were tight on both planes.

Bjfrankl

I have an escapade and I too had that problem. It went away after I added weights to both wooden pieces. with the OS46AX it was slightly tail heavy so I needed to add weights to the front. After doing so the vibrations went away. Must have changed the harmonics.

Buy the optional cowl and cut them off.  Problem solved.

I've never seen this problem, especially on my trainers that have a similar forward extending fuselage sides. But I like to glue triangular stock right at that firewall fuselage forward joint. It helps to lock in the firewall.

A friend glued a piece of wood about 1/4" thick, 1-1/2" wide across the bottom between the cheeks to stop the vibrating. Seemed to work.

Those cheeks on all models vibrate. Its due to engine and prop imbalance. It usually goes away at about 1/3rd throttle once the motor is running smoothly in its powerband, wel the frequency has just changed to a higher one where your eye can;t see it.

Removing the cheels and fitting a cowl is the best option, but the cowl is a rare beast indeed. I hve one on back order from TH since May. Only expecting it end June but more than likley end July.

You can also fit silicone rubber between the engine mount and the fire wall to damp the vibration.</p>

Get the four star into the air.</p>

My wife's Escapade does this also but only at low throttle settings. If it's vibrating the joints loose do as Tom Nied says and add a piece of triangular stock at the junction of the cheek and firewall. It may not stop the vibration but it will reinforce the joint tremendously. 

I just put a bridge across the cheeks under the front of the motor. Otherwise the cheeks tend to bust right off in the first nose over.

I purchased plywood today so that I can epoxy a brace between the two pieces of wood beneath the engine. The plane already comes with triangular stock where the firewall and wood pieces come together. Hopefully this will take care of the problem.

I plan to get the Four Star in the air Loopy, but I knew to replace the pushrods first. I don't like the pushrods that came with the Four Star ARF; the pushrods are threaded on both ends.

Bjfrankl

Easy fix, a support beam just below the 'crankcase' or fwd engine mount fork area takes care of the vibration no problem!  Took me about 2 dozen flights before dedicating myself to fixing the issue but well worth the 10 min. (one of those nights where you just stand in the shop leaning against the workbench thinking: what can I fix?)  Oh the joys of bad weather for weeks on end

Has anyone devised a way to more properly secure the canopy?  I have a rattling and have read of others' magnets not quite engaging and so on. Good friction and I'm not worried about it departing in flight, but I am noticing a buzzing in the canopy at around mid-throttle and want to clean it up.   Trying to find a classier way to secure the canopy than by just using speed tape : )

Ihad to add weight to the front of my Epade so Iinstalled a bolt across the cheeks which reinforced it and added the weight Ineeded.
Iused two small springs on the dowels at the front of the canopy which hold it in place nicely.

I too have noticed the vibe in the cheeks but have yet to try to repair. My canopy does not engage the magnets at all tried to space the tape in the front and the like but it just does not hit the magnets. I ended up glueing a small square of wood to the bottom of the canopy and then a square of wood to the plane (can not remember where). I out 2 small hooks in these peices of wood and ran a rubberband between the 2 hooks. Now my canopy is held on good. I check the rubber band for wear and deteriation every few monthes. It has held for over 30 flights and at least six monthes now. I would take a picture but may plane is in a box somewhere between Panama and Florida on its way to Maryland.

Don't know if I just got lucky but my canopy fit perfectly. Snug and secure. And my magnets hold. I did replace the tail wheel assembly with the one from tower. A cheap fix at two dollars. My escapade was a bargain and for my first great planes arf I am quite satisfied with the build quality. And its fun to fly.

I have no vibration problem w/12-6 prop on OS46AX. This is my second fuse as the first one had an unexpected meeting with the ground and the new canopy and fuse fit properly and canopy stays on with standard design. My first fuse/canopy would not stay on and I used small pc. of packing tape at back edged of canopy.

My tail wheel was junk, replaced with larger gear with push/pull concept, that works great.

Love my Escapade.

Gary

Ifly off petromat and have had no troubles with the factory tail wheel, even when making some unplanned grass landings. Must have got a good one.

I too went with the stock tail wheel. I have been flying off grass for the last year and a half without any problems.

Bruce

Mine is on it's way on Tuesday (may get some flights in before the season ends). Our field is grass. I'm going to put on OS46AX in it. Should I leave off the wheel pants or will it take off of a grass runway with them on? Obviously, I like the semi-scale looks of the wheel pants but if I have to leave them off, so be it.

the wheel pants can remain fitted.

"Mine is on it's way on Tuesday (may get some flights in before the season ends)."
The Epade is so easy to put together you will be astonished. Icould build several in the time it took me to assemble my Tower Trainer 40.

I need to buy another one I crashed mine making a stupid mistake... but anybody wanting to see some videos of the escapade flying check out my you tube channel
have had no problems with the cheeks vidrating but my canopy did fall off a few times before I started tapeing it pre flight 2 small peices of tape worked nice for  my canopy

Hacker, where on your YouTube page will I find the Escapade flying vid? I went there, but it's cluttered with everything else.

My canopy has never fallen off. I just make sure that it is pulled all the way back before I go into the air. Sometimes the canopies move forward while I start the engine because I hold the plane towards the back of the canopy. I have 2 Escapades, and one of my canopies doesn't secure very well for some reason, though. But I have still been able to secure it well enough.

Bjfrankl