Took measurements off hull. Painted white band around hull so I won't have to cut in paint too close later. Cut skirt material, with a little over for fitting. Tacked onto hull and marked for trimming. Cut and glued skirt together. Trial fit... few minor adjustments. Screwed on with VHF wire and pan-head screws.
Seemed to go fine. Painted and fitted engine mounts using a pattern taken from the bottom of the lift engine for the holes.
Finished painting fan and balancing to the best I could. Not perfect but OK. Fitted hub and bolts.
Lifted on engine and bolted to mounts. Measured from shaft to duct - slightly out - reamed out holes and shifted engine slightly. Bolted engine tightly into place.
Offered up fan and tightened bushing carefully.
Started engine with jump leads off of lawnmower battery. Dropped one lead into fan and smashed one leading edge! DUH!
Mended leading edge with epoxy filler / wood flour, sanded and coated in epoxy. Cant tell the damage now apart from missing paint. Couldnt bring myself to dismantle and rebalance. So annoyed with myself.
Next day neighbors helped to drag it out onto lawn and we started it up. Odd noises. Checked oil level - almost empty. I could have sworn I checked it when it arrived and it said full on dipstick.
Added over quart...
Started again - engine sounded better - idles nicely - skirt fills up quickly and IT HOVERS. Nice smooth skirt all around, no wrinkles!
Then a smell of burning wood, squeeling and knocking.
The fan has pushed itself UP the driveshaft until it rubbed against the engine mounts.
Added a 1 3/4 x 1 inch diam tube above fan to stop this.
When retightening hub bushing hub starts to crack opposite bolt hole. Ease off pressure - Add huge hose clamp and redo.
Drag out onto grass to test - It runs fine....
Lifts well even at idle, minor vibration at certain speeds, but otherwise its a functioning hovercraft.
Now I just need to finish the back end....
