Aggressor

[bootlegger]

Hi mate. I'm not sure I'll be there. Give us a call if you like.
0413766501

[bootlegger]

Over the last couple of weeks I've been getting aggressor ready to run at taree nex t weekend.
Ive been having dramas with the plugs fouling from excess oil.
Its funny how you try and solve one problem and create another. By upping the oil pressure to the cams its flooding the top end.
The merlin race guys solved this problem by draining the top end into the crankcase.
I didnt want to drill it so rigged up drains to the gearbox scavenge pump.
That seems to work but there are two oil lines.
The second feeds the blower so now im thinking the extra oil is getting into the intake manifold.
Now I have to work out how to reduce the oil pressure to this area.
Today I fired her up. I never get tired of hearing that engine. I d really like to run her before I drag it up there.
The river is full of crap after all this rain so probably wont happen.

[bootlegger]

ive just come in from the shed.
Aggressor is ready for its trek north.
This boat just sucks my life away. Ive been working on it every spare moment over the last month.
It really needs a crew like a proper team.
ive only run it in the water a few times since 2006.
Im pretty sure there might only be a couple more runs in me.

[viteau]

Good luck for the weekend Dave I am sure that you will draw a croud. Cheers Chris

[bootlegger]

Well we made it to sunny taree and in between showers ran the boat.
Its still not revving out properly but it did go good enough to run around 100mph.
Ive been reading up on what I can adjust on the carb. Im really hessitant to touch it. Maybe that will sort it out.

[Renojet]

Just a few photos of Taree today, Aggressor running with Latimer Lodge and Classic Racing.

[Reklaw]

Thanks for the pics Frank. Just hope that my mate Chivs never sees them because he's sure to give me some more stick. Now if anyone wants to put the last pic up for a caption, I've got one already. It's "I can drive this bloody thing with my eyes shut!".

On a more serious note, it was great to see Aggressor back in the water. I know that Dave put a hell of a lot of effort into getting it ready for the event. Just getting her there, considering the sheer size of it, would have been a nightmare, particularly with all the restrictions on oversize vehicles. Dave has to wait until today to start the trek home, oversize vehicles aren't allowed on the road on Sundays.

Dave was right in a previous post, it would take a full time crew of experienced and knowledgable people if you were to campaign a boat like this. This weekend, Dave had to contend with my brother and I for crew. We are however, a team of experienced and professional pensioners.

Thanks for the ride Dave, a once in a lifetime experience.

Bob

[piquet95971]

Dave,
I have come up with a bit of lateral thinking WRT to Agressor and the working crew.
I take it that you are out in outer Sydney Western suburbs?

The RAAF base at Richmond should not be too far away from you. Have you thought of contacting the techos at the base and asking for any "old time" engine techs that could/would be interested in helping out. You never know there may even be some parts lurking in the back of some lockers or under some benches out there.

I know when we decommisioned the Melbourne there were spare parts for the Firefly and Gannet aircraft in the store rooms, that had been there for 20+ years still the original packaging.

[fatpigeon]

Good work Dave

[bootlegger]

Thanks guys.
Ive just got home. What a drive 6.5hrs of trying to avoid everyone on the road.
I did adjust a couple of things namely the fuel pressure and I richened up the mixture.
The engine ran a lot better and managed 2500rpm.
We did three good laps. On the fourth the engine went off a little and one stack started blowing smoke.
I brought it in and pulled the plugs. The plugs on that cylinder were wet so I decided to call it a day.

Re the RAAF.
Ive got a pretty good relationship with one of the guys at point cook.
Richmond did have some merlin stuff with the mosquito they were restoring there.
Its all at point cook now.
If it turns out the engine has an internal problem ill be hunting parts again.