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Winter Airplane Storage
From the St. Paul Model Radio Controllers, Inc.,
St. Paul, Minnesota
AMA INSIDER | NOVEMBER 2008 PAGE 3
Since the snow will be falling very
soon, many AMA members may not be
flying for quite some time. For those who
don’t intend to fly on skis, the following
suggestions may help to preserve your
model over the winter months and allow
you to get back in operation quickly when
the snow disappears next season.
Airplane
Be sure to give the entire airplane a
thorough cleaning to remove all traces of
exhaust residue. Check the covering to be
sure that fuel is not creeping under the
seams around the firewall and areas
around the exhaust outlet, soaking the
balsa. If so, make the repairs during the
off season while you have some extra
time. Check the fuselage and flying
surfaces closely for cracks or other
damage. Check the servo arms, control
horns, clevises, pushrods, and/or control
cables for excessive wear or damage.
The airplane can be stored indoors or
outdoors in the garage; the constant cold
temperatures can be tough on batteries,
but otherwise don’t seem to cause any
problems. The only problem that could
occur would be if you stored it in, for
example, a workshop that is heated
occasionally and then allowed to cool
down after use. This could result in
damage to the engine because of
condensation and probably to the balsa or
covering material from temperature
changes.
If you store the airplane on a wall, it
should not be supported on the nose
because this could damage the engine
bearings. Support it by the tail structure or
similar means. If the wing is removed, do
not stand it on end. Support it similar to
the way it is normally mounted on the
fuselage. Do not leave the weight of the
airplane resting on the tires if you don’t
store it vertically.
Engine
The concern for engine storage is to
remove all the glow fuel from the inside
of the crankcase and cylinder to prevent
rust formation on the bearings, crankshaft,
etc. The best advice is to remove the
engine from the airplane, remove the
glow plug and backplate, and flush the
inside out with a solvent such as
kerosene.
While the backplate is off, check it
over for signs of rust, bearing failure, etc.
After cleaning, generously oil the
bearings and the cylinder with lubricant
such as one of the after-run oils or Marvel
Mystery Oil. After it is well oiled,
reinstall the backplate and plug and place
it in a sealed plastic bag along with the
mounting hardware until next season.
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If you decide not to remove the engine,
at least remove the glow plug, pour some
oil into the carburetor, and spin the engine
over clockwise to distribute the oil
through the bearings. Add some oil
through the glow plug hole, turn the
engine over slowly a few more times and
reinstall the glow plug. Remove the
propeller if it is made of wood. Put a
plastic bag over the engine to keep dust
and dirt out.
Batteries
Ideally you should cycle the transmitter
and receiver batteries and record their
capacity for reference next season. It is
best to leave them on a trickle charger to
maintain a charge during the off season. If
this is not practical, try to charge them at
least every one to two months. When
ready to fly again next spring, cycle the
batteries first to be sure they have
adequate capacity.
Transmitter/Receiver/Servos
Don’t forget to check over the servo
wiring and connectors. If there is any sign
of corrosion on the connectors, then get
them replaced. Also check the output
shaft for looseness.
Check the receiver antenna for damage.
If there are any doubts, get it fixed or
replaced. Extend the transmitter antenna
and clean it with alcohol. Collapse the
antenna and repeat the cleaning several
times. (There are contact fingers inside
each antenna section that may become
coated with oil, preventing the proper
contact between sections, greatly reducing
the transmitting range.)
Fuel
If you have fuel left, be sure it is
capped tightly and store it in a cool place
out of sunlight. Some recommend against
storing fuel in very cold temperatures, but
I have not had any problems doing this in
the past.
Starter Battery
If you have an electric starter hookup,
remove the 12-volt lead acid battery,
clean the terminals and check the
electrolyte level. Add water if necessary.
This battery must be charged if stored
outdoors during the winter. A monthly
charging will keep the battery from
freezing and also extend its life.
Miscellaneous
If you have a handful of used rubber
bands as I do, throw them out and plan to
buy a new box next season. This would
be a good time to check your supply of
spare glow plugs, propellers, etc., and
make up a parts list to replace those used
during the summer. If, during your
inspection, you run into problems or there
is something you are not sure about, call
another club member for some advice or
suggestions. Make the repairs during the
winter and save the warm weather for
flying! | |