I think the biggest problem we have is getting trapped by our own crap. *******
Pylon racing is a very technical hobby. Surprise. That’s the reason most of us do it. We like the challenge. If so, then why don’t we celebrate our problems and the associated explosions? We at least get to go back to the shop and build, and build, and build, and build, and build……
In any technical endeavor, problem solving is about the most important thing we do. Innovation gets us started, but problem solving gets us where we want to be. I get calls, I get letters, I get e-mails saying the same thing. I’m blowing plugs. I have never blown plugs before. Do I want to blow plugs? I want to change something. Sell me parts. Lots of parts. I want to change a bunch of stuff. I don’t have a clue, but I think I’m having less fun than before. Should I be having less fun?
I’ll make this short and sweet. To solve a problem You must look for what has changed!! For example, “I am blowing plugs. I have not been blowing plugs, but now I am. I want to add a shim.” Wait. What has changed? Has anyone sneaked into your shop and removed some shims from your head? No. Therefore we must conclude that the shims have not changed.
Lets look for something else. How about the tank? How about the fuel? How about the prop? You may have been flying without a problem for a year or two. You have experienced all kinds of weather without a hitch. Still think you need a shim? Not likely. What happens over a year or two? Make a list: Fuel lines rot. Foam around the tank compresses and rots. Fuel gets full of water over the winter. Etc. Etc. What happened since last weekend? I changed the prop. Did I balance it? Is it turning the right rpm? Did I mess with the needle? You probably still say weather. If so go back and read this again.
Get the picture?
Another example and my very favorite: My engine was running 19500 yesterday. This morning it is shot----whine----whine----whine-----. I can only get 18000 this morning. My response is usually, “Hummm”. That’s better than, “Idiot!”
Remember what I said about taking data (another Crap-Trap). If you don’t take good data, then you don’t even know what problem you are trying to solve, or if it really is a problem.
I hear this at every contest, yet somehow word does not get around. There is a 99.9% chance your engine did not wear out while you were sleeping. What has changed? The day. The time of day. The fuel….. Get a high RPM test prop, keep it in your box and don’t loan it. Pull it out, use some of your standard fuel and test the engine. More than likely it is not off more than a few hundred. Now you know that everything is ok. Look for what really has changed and make an adjustment, or better still, don’t change a thing.
Problem solving is not an emotional endeavor. It is a rational and logical endeavor. You must carefully look for the source of the problem and change things very carefully. Change things one at a time. Change two at a time and you have no information at all. If your system was working well and going fast before you went to the contest, then it is probably running just fine now. Don’t change things that haven’t changed. You could make things worse.
In summary:
- Find out if you really do have a problem by testing very carefully with a standard setup.
- Make a list of what has really changed from the time it was working well.
- Change things one at a time.
- Change only that which has changed.
**** I just had to print this. When I ran the spell and grammar checker on MS Word, it suggested the following: “Our own crap is trapping the biggest problem we have”!!!. The computer has a better sense of humor than I do.
Tip for those who have read this far:When you are trying to get the spinner backplate off the front of a Jett, nelson, or Edmonds, instead of banging every which way, try this: Lay something heavy on one side of the face (knurled where the prop goes). I use the diagonal side cutters or regular pliers from my toolbox. Then while holding the heavy tool tightly against one side, rap the other side with something that will not bend or mark the surfaces. I use the plastic end of a medium size screwdriver. I don’t know for sure why this works, but it actually will work better than blasting one side with that heavy wrench.
Dub
