10/31/2006
Tonight was Halloween and I had to stay indoors to guard the candy. I soldered the trim and PTT wires inside the front stick. The Ray Allen instructions are very clear so this wasn't nearly as confusing as it looks. After assembling all of this in the stick and pulling through the wires, I verified correct operation with my multi-meter set on beep-if-there-is-continuity mode.
I talked today with Penn Yan. For some reason both magnetos sent by Superior Air Parts have impulse couplings. Penn Yan wanted to know if I wanted to keep them or replace one for one that doesn't have an impulse coupling. There was no way I could have made an informed decision on the spot but I did anyway - keep both impulse couplings. I later found out most Continentals are set up this way. I suppose it doesn't hurt anything and may even make the engine easier to start. I need to find out how to (re) wire the starter switch.
Penn Yan also wanted as much info as I could get them on the alternator pulley. I still don't fully understand the reason but it has something to do with dynamic balancing the crank shaft. They apparently install the flywheel and alternator pulley when they do this. I sent them everything I had that came with the Van's alternator.