IMAC Engine, spinner, cowl alignment

Looking for a different method other than strapping my bird to a high ladder and figuring the cowl spinner alignment.

I'm scared of heights ...;-)

It's an Extra 330 so it's crucial.

Still the best method to ensure perfect alignment....although I strapped mine to a refrigerator!

Must be a few tricks with laser levels, cross hairs, and a way to lift and hold the engine.

However, I'm with Earle, minus the fridge. Hung my airframe from the ceiling in the shop.

Beer goggles, makes it look great every time, even after making thrust adjustments. I have strapped a fuse to the banister on the stairs before.

Sorry guys I not understand this hanging the plane from a fridge or the rafters to align a engine or am I missing it.?????

Hanging the fuselage vertically nose up makes the firewall horizontal which supports the engine's weight and makes alignment much easier.

The only reason I need the ladder is that I get on it to look down at the alignment. First thing I do on ARF builds is to set the right thrust and up thrust ( or check it ) built in to the firewall so it is where I want it and then stand the fuse on the floor with the rudder off and rudder stab on floor. I support the fuse sides with padded clamps that are attached to my building table to prevent the fuse from tipping over. Rest the engine on the firewall and put the cowl on then get the spinner back plate and align. To many times in the past the "laser etched" cross hairs did not match the cowl. They do match "datum" but most cowl prop shaft exits never do and are slightly off. Not enough however to adversely affect flight performance .

OK guys thanks for informing me now that I understand what you are trying to do I do the following. Please understand up to now all my planes up to now have been 85cc singles and smaller. But what I needed to do was make a motor jig. Because with a single the cowl never fits with out a large hole on the bottom of the cowl. So I make back plate from plywood then install dowel into the plywood plate and then set the spinner on the down exactly the same as the motor. The plywood plate has the same bolt pattern as the motor. Then I use the jig to set motor and locate the holes for the motor. Using the jig it is light and you can do the job with plane standing on the work bench.

Pistolera said:

Still the best method to ensure perfect alignment....although I strapped mine to a refrigerator!

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You had better make sure that you have all the beer you need before you strap the plane to the fridge. You had better be quick if you don't.

Snoopy1 said:

You had better make sure that you have all the beer you need before you strap the plane to the fridge. You had better be quick if you don't.

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Actually it was the upright freezer....the fridge with the beer was right beside it!