Side by Side MiniPro 116

[Duane Scarborough]

You know me too well Chuck.

Duane

[dak10]

hi its been along time i have got some new info for u i been putting post up on my build site ron an robin new mini got some carb info u might like an the stock fuel pump will do the job fine i have not run out of fuel cents i use 3/8 fuel linr all the way to the carb the solex will do the job

[Duane Scarborough]

Ron,

I've been keeping my eyes open for a Solex. I'll eventually get one, but I'm going to get it going first with the original carb.

Thanks,

Duane

[Duane Scarborough]

All,

I was able to work on the boat some this weekend. I managed to finish up some spot welds, figure out my steering geometry, weld on my stringer mounting tabs, and pickle my welds.

The side by side seating created a few obstacles that I had to figure a way around. Where I wanted my rudder lever pivot point didn't leave enough space for the 8" crank arm that I wanted. It would hit the back of the driver's seat.



I scratched my head for a while over that, but decided to move the crank arm to the other side, and hang it down, instead of up.



Yeah, I know it looks strange, but I don't see why it won't work.

Here's the crank arm at mid travel of the Teleflex cable.



Here's the crank arm at full left rudder (4" PULL from mid point).



Here's the crank arm at full right rudder (4" PUSH from mid point).



Because the Teleflex cable is on the "wrong" side of the boat, and the crank arm is mounted upside down, PUSH and PULL have to be backwards.

The end result is that the rudder lever still works normally.

I finished off the afternoon by pickling my welds. Sure looks better. I've still got to touch up a few spots that I missed though. The smokiness made it hard to judge the welds.



Hopefully, I'll be able to mount it in the hull and hang the engine next weekend. I sure could use your AEID Buster.

Thanks,

Duane

[buster]

Duane,

Looks to me like you did a very professional job on the rigging I may have done mine a bit different had I seen yours first

You obviously have seen a lot more airboats than I have. Is the throw travel of the stick preferred about 8"? Also is there a standard as far as which direction the rudder should turn the boat? Up until now I thought it was just builders choice

If you moved up here to "GODS COUNTRY", you could use the AEID whenever you needed it.

Dave

[chuckitt]

The most important thing on steering is it must be natural movement. If you are steering with your left hand, when you push the stick forward, your boat must go to the right which 99.99 percent of all airboats do. If you want to steer with your right hand, pushing the stick forward must make the boat go to the left. Anything else will make driving the boat fill awkward.
Thanks, Chuck

[airhead]

Nice work Duane. Looks like you will be riding soon. As usual though i have a question. What are you pickeling the welds with? Is this just a term used or is something better for this tubing

Thanks, Jim

[buster]

Airhead,

Read the topic "Pickling Paste-Pickling Gel" in General Tech Talk. It will give you your answer.

Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster and Airhead,

Thanks for the kind words.

Buster,

I've lined up an AEID to use this weekend. Not as sleek or fancy as yours, but it should do the job. You can stay up there in God's country, and enjoy your Holiday weekend.

The throw travel, crank arm, and rudder lever lengths that I chose were arrived at by highly scientific experimentation. (The swiffer handle and dining room chair method).

Mine works out to where 8" travel of the Teleflex cable equals 24" travel of the rudder lever. That's 12" of PUSH on the rudder lever for full right, or 12" of PULL on the rudder lever for full left. I expect that in normal conditions I'll use about half of that. The rudder lever you see in the pictures is longer than what I just described. I figured to start out long, and then cut it off after I see how it works. It's easier to cut off than it is to add.

I think that every airboat I've ever seen personally was set up so that you'd PUSH for right, and PULL for left. I don't guess it would really matter, until you let an experienced airboater operator your boat, and then he'd end up wrecking it because it was backwards.

Airhead,

Stainless steel is PICKLED to restore its corrosion resistance after welding. Check out that other thread like Buster has suggested.

Thanks,

Duane

[River Rat]

The most important thing on steering is it must be natural movement. If you are steering with your left hand, when you push the stick forward, your boat must go to the right which 99.99 percent of all airboats do. If you want to steer with your right hand, pushing the stick forward must make the boat go to the left. Anything else will make driving the boat fill awkward.
Thanks, Chuck

Hmmm...
I always like how you put things, Chuck. Most always good rationale with your posts. Makes it easier to sink into my thick skull.

[buster]

Amen to that! Things do make a lot more sense when Chuck has the last word, don't they

I built my first boat with RH steering, the way Chuck says it should be. I decided to make this one LH steering the same direction,...Wrong!!! Now I think I get it. I will be hooking it up differently tomorrow

Duane,

Why don't you post a pic' of the AEID you get. I'm always interested in seeing stuff like that, especially if it is unique, you know, one of a kind


Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,

I don't guess there really is a right or wrong way to set up the steering, but what Chuck said makes a lot of sense. It needs to feel natural.

I'll post a picture of the AEID in action later. Here's a teaser for now...



Nah, that's not it.

You'll be disappointed when you see the real AEID. It's just one of those portable engine hoists.

Duane

[buster]

Duane,

I really would like to see a picture of that hoe driving into your front yard

I was going to suggest you borrow or rent one of those engine hoists. There are plenty of them around. You will probably need to put the boat on the trailer to use it though.

If you don't have experience using one, just be sure the hook doesn't stick out as far as the two support legs. Things get squirrely fast if it does

Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,

You'd probably rather see a photo of Pam's face when that hoe was driving into the yard. Heck, it's footprint is bigger than my shop.

I'd been planning all along to use my buddy's engine hoist. Its got a 500# capacity at the longest reach, so I don't think the 4A084 will overload it. And the boat lives on the trailer, so that's not a problem.

Thanks,

Duane

[buster]

Duane,

That would be a picture someone would be willing to pay for

Overloading the hoist is not usually a problem, it is proper setup. People like to pull out the lifting arm too far without extending the support legs enough first

Take care, Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,

Good advice. I'll watch out for it.

Thanks,

Duane

[buster]

Duane,

It's just that I'd hate to read your post with a picture of the damage your hull sustained when the hoist nosed over and dropped the engine I know from personal experience that it can happen when you least expect it!

Good Luck,

Dave

[Duane Scarborough]

Buster,

You wouldn't hate that as much as I would.

I'll be careful.

Thanks,

Duane

[Duane Scarborough]

Hey guys,

I was able to make some progress today.

Here's the engine hanging from the AEID. I'm scratching my head trying to remember what I'd forgotten...



It didn't take long to remember what it was. I'd forgot to take the exhaust manifold off. Duh.



Ah, that's better.



She slipped right into place.



I'd been a little concerned about how accurately I'd placed my mounts with my makeshift template. I was happily surprised. It was only 1/8" low on the right rear. I couple of fender washer shims took care of that.

At this point I had not drilled the stringers yet for the mounting points. I wanted to check the prop clearance first.



I decided that it could be moved back a little.

Seems to be centered up fairly well... The plumb bob confrimed that.





I put the seat frame back in place, to see how that looked...







I'm happy with today's progress.

Tomorrow, I'll try to get started on the cage.

Thanks,

Duane

[airhead]

Duane,

Man, I am JELLLLIOUS. Butiful What else can i say