Light Aircraft Association

Hello Lee. Peter Sturgeon, LAA Inspedtor 375, used to be able to repair or make VP-1 undercarriages. He had a hydraulic device specially adapted for that purpose. Unfortunatly, I don't have his phone number, but you could get it from the LAA office. It is about 6 years since I had contact with Peter...

Hello Lee,
I have a VP-1 and would like to talk about it to you. My phone number is 01420 565993
Regards, Noel.

Hello Ian, I have two WWII type toggle switches as used on most RAF aircraft up to and including the Chipmunk, if I remember aright. I am converting my VP-1 to a Leburg ignition system and that will release a switch unit as the Leburg requires totally different switches. (Contacts closed for "ON" be...

During cold wet winter I have to dry out my SR4 magnetos with a hair drier before I can get my 1834 VW engine to start. (When we have nice warm summer weather this isn't a problem and the magnetos are fine, starting on the the first two or three prop. swings.) As our airstrip has no electric supply,...

Based on an article that appeared in Popular Flying years ago, I set propeller bolt torque on my 1835 VW to 12 lb ft. I tighten the bolts up in stages diagonally. When they are right, I place an object (eg wood or cardboard box) about 1/16" in front of one propeller tip, I then turn the propeller th...

Hello again,

I think if you give the carb. a good clean and check the float chamber, float and level needle valve carefully, you should have solved the problem.

Best of luck,
Noel.

The fault will almost certainly be in the carburetter. You do not state what type you have on your aircraft. Stromberg CD carbs. are most popular, though some use Solex types. With both makes, a rich mixture can be caused by high fuel level in the float chamber. This may be due to a passing level co...

Hello John, I suggest that the fuel/air mixture is a bit weak - ie too much air. When you apply carb heat, you reduce the air density and so reduce the amount (mass) of air entering the carburetter therefore increasing the petrol to air ratio. This gives you a richer mixture which is the reason for ...

Oops! I wrote that number 1 cylinder was on the left hand side, it isn't, it's on the right.
Noel.

Dave, the method I use for my VP-1 1835 engine is as follows. Firstly you need to set the crankshaft to top centre of number one cylinder with both valves closed. Viewing the engine from the propeller end, number one cylinder is on the left side at the back. You need to position the crankshaft accur...

VW Heritage Parts Centre Ltd., 9-11 Consort Way, Victoria Business Park,Burgess Hill, RH15 9TJ could supply a case ready machined to accomodate your cylinders. I have one of their cases on my VP-1 with 1835 cc cylinders. Their phone number is 0845 873 7242.
Noel,

Sturt, You probably know that there is an LAA technical leaflet TL20-2 (I think it is). However, that does not quote a fuel pressure. The specified maximum pressure that a VW mechanical fuel pump is supposed to give is 3.5 psi, though mine gives more than that. The procedure is to bleed off fuel dow...

Hello Stuart, I have a 1985 VW engine on my VP-1. Mostly it starts on the third or fourth swing of the propeller - even on the first swing very occasionally! I have Lucas SR4 magnetos which are set to 27 deg BTDC. In your case, the electronic ignition system advances the spark automatically with the...

I live in Medstead near Alton and have some experience with VW conversion and maintenance. My phone number is 01420 565 993 if you would like to talk to me.

Noel.

Hello Gary, I usually wait to see if anyone else answers messages, but as on one has I will give you my twopence worth. I presume you are refering to the propeller flange or hub. If this is fitted to the dynamo pulley drive end of the engine, then the bolt is a conventional right hand thread. (I see...