Blenheim operating limits and checklists

[phoenix1963]

Well, I've just about tried every combination of mixture, carb heating, pitch, gills (radiator flaps), throttle... and I always get engine failures as I climb out.

I eventually discovered that the lean/rich setting seems to be exactly as labelled next to the lever, fully back seems to be auto rich.

I warm the engine with gills open (as per Klem's excellent pdf posted above), but takeoff with them open, or temps get too high (contrary to Klem's info). I use the 100 octane outer tanks (contrary to Klem's info).

I allow the engine oil temp to get above 40C before revving a little.

I cycle the prop pitch before taking off to circulate oil.

When I take off, I DON'T engage boost override and limit to about 4 lbs boost - that seems to get rid of most of the failures on takeoff - keeping revs below about 2500 and VERY gently increasing throttle.

As soon as I'm wheels-up I reduce throttle to about 0 boost and it seems to run sweetly on about 2200 rpm.

So I get off the ground OK with this recipe, but then I always get gasket failures, governor failures etc at around 2000ft - this is despite closing gills to keep temps up and adding some carb heat.

What am I doing wrong?!

56RAF_phoenix