Ted Hector restored the Transair Tiger Moth for Dennis Doersam a couple of years ago, has restored two Tiger Moths and volunteered to work on the Gipsy Major C for the Brandon Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum! Ted is crazy about British engines and began as an AME working for Duncanson at Ilford Riverton, which became Air Manitoba...Great fun hearing stories of the precursor to Ilford Airways using a Fox Moth to fly around people and supplies in northern-central Manitoba!!! Ted is an artist mechanic builder owner operator of Thunderbird Motorcycles - including an award winning 1917 Harley Davidson! World of Wow – drop in to see Ted Hectors 1917 Harley at
Thunderbird Motorcycle on Sargeant near Standard Aero – photos in international
biking magazines and calendars! For a teaser check out s
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/autosite/news/willys_garage/world-of-wow-143938876.html
and check out the speed records set by Ted Hector 2009 and 2010 at Bonneville!
We are thrilled that Ted volunteered to check out the Commonwealth Air Museum's Tiger Moth!
The Tiger Moth's Gipsy Major engine has two magnitos; it is started with only the starboard magneto turned on. Perimeter and Custom Helicopters donated large hoses, Thank you!!
The points have a tiny spring in the centre that engages the timer.
Ted Hector with Rick Riewe, checking to see if there is any spark at the spark plug.
Spark plugs have two halves. Ted cleaned, gapped and replaced them.
John Woods checking out the instrument panel. All the insrtuments are original.
Ted Hector - the rocker arms are lubricated by sitting in an oil bath and the oil sloshes around the rocker arms! The oil has to be changed every 25 hours.
Adrian Mielleur and Ted checking out the ignition system.
The Gipsy Major C is placed upside down - with the cylinders inverted, and the propellor turns the opposite way that North American propellors turn.
Fascinating opportunity to see the inner workings of this antique engine.
Following Adrian's question, we checked the mag switches; front and rear cockpit mags must be on before it starts. Ted is patiently teaching us the fascinating systems used by DeHavilland in the Tiger Moth.
Checking for continuity on the right mag.
Below - the fuel drainer has a sliding band that turns the fuel on and off. The cork was lubricated with a bit of clean engine oil.
Ted checked the fuel line. The primer is a button on the carburetor - Ted explains, the pilot presses down the button which suppresses the float so fuel floods into the chamber. If the pilot primes too much it pours out the over flow tube.
Nancy McKinnon and Jill began cleaning the fuselage, all fittings, cables were cleaned and lubricated with LPS1 and the engine was cleaned.
Neil Smith has volunteered to redo the upholstry and another donnor has donated renovated seat belts.
The propellor looks like its been covered with fiberglass. We'll check with local propellor outfits to see whether or not this prop needs to be stripped.
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