F24R (Argus) Serial No:43-15025 G-BCBL

[Mr & Mrs Cox]

'Greetings all -

I have owned 'BCBL for 10 years but 6 years ago I decided that it needed to loose some weight and because there were so many layers of paint that had accumulated over the years in various different colour schemes the easiest solution was to recover it.

however it bacame rapidly apparent, after I had set to with the Stanley knife, that a total restoration would be required. So here we are, 6 years later, and I am still at it but am at last starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

The UK CAA have allowed me to do the work myself under the watchful eye of an inspector with an authorised maintenance organisation. In other words I am an 'unlicensed mechanic'. I consider myself very lucky with this arrangement as there is no way I could afford a "professional" rebuild, and anyway there is no fun or sense of achievement in paying for a "commercial job".

Both John Berendt and Jamie Treat have been very patient and understanding with my pleas for assistance in sourcing parts and through this forum I may be able to cast the net a little wider, and even may be able to reciprocate in some way.

my present thoughts are turning to:

1. Fuel gauges.

The gauges are Stewart Warner (12 volt), with the Fairchild logo at the bottom and work well but the senders are well past there 'sell by' date with the tank fittings seriously corroded (leaking) and the rheostat wiper arms hanging on by a thread. S.W. are not interested/cannot help with these old parts and their modern gauge does not have the correct scale for my 30USG tanks and the sender unit is designed for top mounting. No doubt the scale can be changed and the sender arm suitably shaped to accommodate the bottom mounting - but it is not authentic!

Has anybody any ideas where I can find seviceable sender units to work with these gauges or where I can get mine refurbished? There is a company here in UK that is prepared to look at them but I thought I would try the 'country of origin' first.

2. Engine Pre-oiling

As every nut and bolt has been removed and I am just starting to build the fuselage up again it seems now is the time to plan the addition of little goodies that add to safety and enhanced husbandry.

What thoughts are out there on Pre-oiling a Ranger?

Regards to all

Frank Cox

PS In the unlikely event that any assistance may be required from this side of 'the pond' please feel free to contact me:- e-mail coxs.gorrel@virgin.net Phone:- +44 1237 431 503


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