Scudrunners

I'm looking at putting together a tool kit to carry around with me in my airplane for any issues that might come up while I'm at unfamiliar (and often remote airports).  Any ideas on what should be in it?  Weight isn't really at a premium in my airplane, but space is.  I'm no mechanic so I'm not looking to be able to perform major surgery, I just want to be better prepared to handle the squawks that come up in places where support isn't exactly forthcoming (i.e. most of the airports that I visit). 

Light aircraft don't always take kindly to lugging around
100 lbs of tools.

In my experience, your weight/space budget is often better
spent on a few crucial parts, rather than common tools
which can be acquired at any Canadian Tire or toolbox.

If you're going someplace really desolate, with no auto
parts store, in addition to the usual Leatherman (mine
has a #1 philips but lacks the all-important #2), a bag
containing the following which can be obtained anywhere:

- a few screwdrivers (small and large flat, #1 + #2 Philips)
- a few pilers (sidecutters, channellock)
- a few wrenches (5/16, 3/8, 7/16, 1/2, 9/16) and an
adjustable (shudder)
- a few sockets (I bring 1/4 drive, 3/8 is ok) and extension and ratchet
- 7/8 socket for spark plug
- large scuba knife with hammer handle
- zip ties
- 32 thou lock wire (not a whole pound)
- rags (just a couple)

I also have a small hardware bag, which contains a broad
assortment of #4/6/8/10 AN hardware, both sheet metal and
machine screws and fiber nuts and washers, so I can replace
missing bits.  Also some common electrical crimp connectors.

PS  To save weight, don't bring lockwire
pliers.  If you have cutting pliers, you can
do lockwire by hand - I do it all the time,
when I am too lazy to go get the lockwire
pliers.

I am sure I will be shit upon from a great
height by anonymous haters whom insist
that lockwire pliers [b]MUST[/b] be used for lock
wire.

What obnoxious, snot-nosed children.  If
you can't lockwire by hand, using only
sidecutters, you shouldn't be doing it at all.

Shit away, haters.

Thank you Colonel.  That's exactly the sort of advice I was looking for.  A fair bit of my flying takes me to places where the nearest Canadian Tire is an awfully long bushwhack/canoe paddle/moose ride away.

The parts that you choose to carry can vary.

For example, at least one spare spark plug
might be an idea, if you develop a miss.  This
assumes you can figure out which plug is
bad/fouled.

A very good friend of mine (excellent pilot
and mechanic, dead now of course) used to
carry spare points and condenser.  I remember
his changing the condenser with a storm
approaching, after his engine started running
rough.  He instantly diagnosed it and incredibly
carried the spare parts and tools to pop the
mag cover and replace it.  Simply amazing.  I
am a drooling moron compared to him.

Some pilots, given the space, might carry a
spare tire and tube.  I might suggest at least
carrying a tube, or at least a conventional
patch kit with glue and patch material.  I
have changed more blown tubes than you
would believe.  I tend to replace the tire at
the same time, but in a pinch, you could
re-use it if it wasn't too damaged during
the process of going flat.  Just be sure
to clean out any debris inside the old tire
which may have punctured the tube, if
you are going to re-use the tire.

Some people might carry brake fluid in
a thumb pump, but that's awfully messy.
You would need some airtight container
and with the pressure changes in aircraft,
that is challenging.

Mostly, don't forget the bag of AN hardware,
the lock wire, zip ties, and oh my god, electrical
tape.  You can do an awful lot of temporary
repairs with that stuff.  I might also humbly
suggest some red "Tuck Tape".  Amazing
stuff.  Some people might prefer the aluminum
foil tape.  Whatever floats your boat.  That
grey shit, in a pinch.

Given the choice between a spool of 32 thou
lock wire and [i]your[/i] left testicle, I would choose
the lock wire.

PS  Being able to make your own tools is an
incredibly valuable skill.

Earlier today, I had to install a snap ring in a
very inaccessible place.  I could have spent
many hours taking everything apart, but
instead I did this:

[img width=281 height=500][/img]

You could probably buy a tool with similar
capability from Snap-On for $3,000.  Or,
you could just get out the electrical tape.

Don't underestimate the value of lock
wire, zip ties, and the right tape.  I am
something of a connoisseur of tape. 

That black Gorilla tape is simply incredible,
and can be used for structural repairs in a
pinch.  No, you don't want to hear about it.

Tuck Tape, for example, makes marvellous
temporary repairs when you blow chunks
of paint off your fabric aircraft in Central
America, and you need to fly home.

All conveniently located in the Aviation
department of your local Canadian Tire.

PS  I knew a guy that blew Chunks when
he was drunk.  Chunks was the name of
his neighbor's dog, of course.

PPS  I jest.  My old manager - he was a
VP of Blackberry, now improbably works
at Dyson - told me that one.

One day, I go to work wearing glasses
instead of contacts (haven't worn contacts
in years, but this was two decades ago).
He told me that if I was going for the
intelligent look, it wasn't working.

Another time, he told me that he was
once my manager, but could never have
claim to have managed me.  I suspect
someone told [i]him[/i] that one.

What a great guy.  He loved my one-page
resume, when he hired me at cisco.  Said
it was the wildest thing he'd ever seen.

Except his neighbor blowing Chunks.

[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=4290.msg11429#msg11429 date=1474511037]

Some pilots, given the space, might carry a
spare tire and tube.  I might suggest at least
carrying a tube, or at least a conventional
patch kit with glue and patch material.  I
have changed more blown tubes than you
would believe.  I tend to replace the tire at
the same time, but in a pinch, you could
re-use it if it wasn't too damaged during
the process of going flat.  Just be sure
to clean out any debris inside the old tire
which may have punctured the tube, if
you are going to re-use the tire.
[/quote]


What about a can of Fix-a-Flat or something like that?  If I were to get a flat out in the bush jacking the airplane up to change a tire or patch a tube might pose a bit of a challenge.


[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=4290.msg11429#msg11429 date=1474511037]

Mostly, don't forget the bag of AN hardware,
the lock wire, zip ties, and oh my god, electrical
tape.  You can do an awful lot of temporary
repairs with that stuff.  I might also humbly
suggest some red "Tuck Tape".  Amazing
stuff.  Some people might prefer the aluminum
foil tape.  Whatever floats your boat.  That
grey shit, in a pinch.
[/quote]


I'll pick up some hardware from my mechanic next time I'm over to see him, finding that stuff in pilot sized lots seems to be impossible.  I carry aluminum foil tape in the winter, it makes an easily removable and adjustable winterization kit.  Perfect for leaving Prince George where it's -20 and heading down to Chilliwack where it's +15 for a slice of pie.

[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=4290.msg11430#msg11430 date=1474511539]
PS  Being able to make your own tools is an
incredibly valuable skill.

Earlier today, I had to install a snap ring in a
very inaccessible place.  I could have spent
many hours taking everything apart, but
instead I did this:

[img width=281 height=500][/img]

You could probably buy a tool with similar
capability from Snap-On for $3,000.  Or,
you could just get out the electrical tape.

[font=Verdana][/font][/quote][font=Verdana][/font]


Impressive, looks like something my grandfather would do.  Grade 7 education, but an incredible mechanic from the days before you needed pesky things like certificates.  Used to make his own tools and fabricate parts from whatever shit he had laying around as necessary.  $3000 from Snap-On? You must get a discount.


[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=4290.msg11430#msg11430 date=1474511539]
I am something of a connoisseur of tape. 
[/quote]


You might be interested in this:


[youtube][/youtube]


Looks impressive, if you can believe the claims. 

The behind the scenes video for that info video is even better. You need water to use fiber fix. Better put a bottle in that tool bag.

Material science is not my area of specialization, but ...

I remember, about 20 year ago, being given quite a
lesson by the hot young ladies at the tech company
I worked at.

It was winter time.  They laid toilet paper over my
car during the day in the parking lot, then misted it
down with water, and it of course froze solid.  The
toilet paper fiber formed some kind of Canadian
paper mache - it was hard as rock!  I could barely
scrap holes in it, in the windows - no way I could
get it off the painted metal, I could barely hack the
doors open - so I could slowly drive to a car wash in
Bell's Corner's, where the perplexed staff washed
and melted the mess off my car.

[quote]looks like something my grandfather would do[/quote]

Both of my grandfathers were similarly innovative
and were men of iron.  I fear that if they were still living,
would consider me a useless pussy.  My maternal grandfather
lied about his age and into the WWI trenches he went at
age 15, and my paternal grandfather had the wings collapse
in flight on the biplane he was flying in WWI, and he walked
away.  Jesus, they were tough.

They don't make them like that, any more.  They just
make them like Justin Trudeau.

[img width=500 height=333]http://www.kiss925.com/wp-content/blogs ... rudeau.png[/img]

[quote]I'll pick up some hardware from my mechanic[/quote]

That may be less than thrilling for him.  A quick
google turned this up:

[url=http://www.skysupplyusa.com/stainless-s ... handi-pak/]http://www.skysupplyusa.com/stainless-s ... handi-pak/[/url]

It's missing a bunch of stuff, but something like
that is what you are looking for.

PS  Bring a spare tube as well as the other shenanigans,
because you never know when the tire is going to creep
on the rim and shear the valve off the tube.  Can't patch
that.

PPS  I know what you mean about jacking an airplane.
Last flat I had, I couldn't get my usual scissors jack
(from a 1973 Peugeot 304) under the landing gear.

Had to pop the engine cowling, break into a nearby
hangar to get an engine hoist, and lift the entire airplane
enough to slip the Peugeot jack under the gear. 

I'm sure what I did pisses off the usual assclowns and
fuckheads at the DOT but I really couldn't give a shit
what they think - it was all elementary work.  They can
all go piss up a rope and masturbate each other to a
picture of Justin.

[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=4290.msg11459#msg11459 date=1474594367]

They don't make them like that, any more.  They just
make them like Justin Trudeau.

[img width=500 height=333]http://www.kiss925.com/wp-content/blogs ... rudeau.png[/img]

[/quote]


Gosh, he's just so pretty <3 <3






Why don't we have a vomiting emoticon?


[quote author=Colonel Sanders link=topic=4290.msg11459#msg11459 date=1474594367]

That may be less than thrilling for him.  A quick
google turned this up:

[url=http://www.skysupplyusa.com/stainless-s ... handi-pak/]http://www.skysupplyusa.com/stainless-s ... handi-pak/[/url]

It's missing a bunch of stuff, but something like
that is what you are looking for.
[/quote]


My mechanic's actually pretty good about that sort of thing.  I wouldn't be surprised if he gifted me some stuff when I tell him what I'm up to.  Unusual, I know.  That's one of the reasons I deal with him.  I think it's a bit of a novelty for him to deal with an owner that's actually willing to get his hands dirty.


I was about to order that kit, until I got to the checkout and saw that they wanted to charge me $38 in shipping on their little $24 screw kit.  Ordering airplane bits from the US is often such a massive and expensive pain in the ass.


At any rate I'll deal with it in a couple weeks when I get home.  I'm blasting off toward Chicago and Indianapolis bright and early tomorrow morning.  We'll see how far I make it, the weather is looking like it's going to be a bag of shit right when I want to go through Saskatchewan and North Dakota.