JdFinley.com

Fulltime RV Living Adventures

Working on Missy’s Dash and Wiring

This past weekend I decided it was time to do some work on Missy’s dash and wiring. She originally had an audio/visual system that included numerous video screens for the passengers to view movies and such. A great deal of wiring was routed thru the J-box and dash to a control head mounted where my… [Read More]

Excess Hair!

Hair!!  Hair has been a serious problem for the last few months. It is EVERYWHERE!! I am pretty sure it is not mine. It seems to be coming from the two hairballs that run around here. I decided some changes were in order so I purchased two things. Yes, this is my retail therapy at… [Read More]

Improving on Mixture Control

I’ve been dealing with a very poor mixture control cable in the RV-4. A bowden cable is the type of cable used on the throttle of a lawn mower. It makes for a very poor aircraft throttle or mixture control cable. There is just too much wiggle in them – no matter how good the… [Read More]

SolidWorks and a new RV-4 Instrument Panel

I’ve been “stretching” my brain a bit lately. A whole lotta bits actually… I plan to build a new instrument panel for my RV-4 and install modern avionics such as this Sport EX EFIS (electronic flight information system) from Grand Rapids. This type of instrument (EFIS) combines a whole slew of old-style instruments into one… [Read More]

Engine Immersion Heater Testing

I’m not sure if I mentioned it previously so again… I found a 120VAC engine immersion heater (or block heater) on Missy a few weeks back. How I found it was a bit odd. Missy does NOT like to start when it is cool or cold. In my little world this is below about 50… [Read More]

Annual RV Water Filter Change

I suspect most people would change their RV water filters during the warm summer months. Not me!! I do mine in the winter. Why? Because I am not the brightest bulb on the planet! No other reason. As you’ve probably seen from my water system diagram, I have a total of five water filters. As… [Read More]

Another Tailwheel Tale

I know… another Tailwheel Tale…. What can I say – the first one was so much fun I just had to do it again. Once again, this tale is about more than just a wheel replacement on the tail my RV-4. Typically the spring would change to which the new full-swiveling wheel fork is mounted…… [Read More]

How to get stuck?? In a Bus??

One of my highest priorities when poking Missy into remote locations is to avoid getting stuck. Recently, I failed… miserably… I was REALLY hoping to never find out how much one of those really big tow trucks cost. Now I know. Trust me, they are NOT cheap. How did it happen?? Well, I pulled onto… [Read More]

Oil Leak…. still tracking…

Yes… Missy still has an engine oil leak. I first talked about it here. That oil is getting all over her backside and the Jeep. It isn’t a lot but it sure makes a mess!  I am tired of having a black and crusty back side. Once again, I stuck my head and arms inside… [Read More]