---------------------------------------------------------- Kitfox-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Tue 07/24/07: 8 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 12:11 AM - Re: How many hours on a 582 (Michel Verheughe) 2. 03:36 AM - wind dammage (fox5flyer) 3. 03:50 AM - How many hours on a 582 (fox5flyer) 4. 05:55 AM - plug not firing () 5. 06:54 AM - Re: wind dammage (Dan Billingsley) 6. 08:56 AM - Re: wind dammage (kitfoxmike) 7. 09:10 AM - Re: Re: wind dammage (john oakley) 8. 11:16 AM - Re: wind dammage (kitfoxmike) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 12:11:22 AM PST US From: Michel Verheughe Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: How many hours on a 582 On Jul 24, 2007, at 4:12 AM, GONER752@aol.com wrote: > Actually I would prefer to see any opinions/experience, anecdotal or > otherwise,on this topic posted here, as I also run a 582. Dave and Greg, here is my story. I don't know if it's a good one or an example to follow; you'll take your own conclusion. When I bought my Kitfox 3 with a 582, five years ago, the engine had 170 hours and was running fine. But this was an engine from 1991 and Rotax recommended to change the old and weaker crankshaft at 150 hours. When asking what it would cost, the Rotax agent in Sweden told me that replacing the shaft was as expensive as buying a new engine. My inspector made it clear that I had to follow all Rotax bulletins. Basically, I had bought an aircraft without engine. After a few discussions, some of which on this valuable and respectable list, I went to buy a Conrod Clearance Tester. You put it in your cylinder and measure how much slack there is in the conrod. The idea is: a crankshaft doesn't fail without suffering first excessive wear. As your engine gets older, you check and plot the clearance and if you see a sudden increase in it, you know something is about to happen. Checking both cylinders takes only ten minutes and I used to do that every five hours. At 290 hours, I sold my 582 and bought a Jabiru 2200. I believe my old engine flew to about 400 hours when the new owner forgot the coolant cap, one day, and damaged the engine. Otherwise it might have gone maybe 600 hours. I don't see why a well maintained 582 shouldn't live that long. Anyway, my "method" was to purchase a Conrod Clearance Tester from here: http://www.skydrive.co.uk/sd_to_ou.asp Cheers, Michel Verheughe Norway Kitfox 3 - Jabiru 2200 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 03:36:16 AM PST US From: "fox5flyer" Subject: Kitfox-List: wind dammage It's good that you discovered the problem before the airplane left the ground John. Thanks for sharing it with us. do not archive Deke Morisse N148DM S5/Soob/CAP NE Michigan "The influence of each human being on others in this life is a kind of immortality." -- John Quincy Adams ----- Original Message ----- From: "john oakley" Sent: Monday, July 23, 2007 9:55 PM Subject: Kitfox-List: wind dammage > > I finished repairing my fox last night. It sat tied down at ogd in a > microburst. Broken rubber hinges were the test of my patience.2 of the three > rod ends used the speedster tail were broken. (Were some broken before the > storm?) I never would have found them in a walk around, but felt the rudder > move while I was washing the plane. I will now use a flashlight to check > them forever. > Many thanks, to John as kitfox for taking time out of his busy schedule to > look up part numbers and send them for me. I am headed to billings Montana > this week, and john was very understanding. > > John Oakley > Model 4 speedster > Short wing > 912 ul > Cap > I am now over 1200 hours of kitfox flight time, in my log... what next > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 03:50:20 AM PST US From: "fox5flyer" Subject: Kitfox-List: How many hours on a 582 Greg, hopefully the anecdotal you will take with a grain of salt. However, my 1994 vintage model II with old B-box went just shy of 400 hours before I sold it to a gentleman who put another 150 on it before it was sold and finally over hauled. As I understand, it currently resides down in Mexico somewhere still flying with the same engine. During my tenure with it, other than a cracked flywheel that was replaced with an improved version (discovered while still on the ground), the engine never failed. I never even had the head off of it. IMO the key is to spend the time to understand how 2 strokes work, keep the prop pitched correctly, and keep a stock of main jets handy, and except for landing, always idle above 2k. The first thing I had to change was the idle jet to a leaner one that smoothed out the idle considerably. They're good engines. By their nature, they just need a little bit of extra care to keep them at peak efficiency. Deke Morisse N148DM S5/Soob/CAP NE Michigan All, Actually I would prefer to see any opinions/experience, anecdotal or otherwise, on this topic posted here, as I also run a 582. Thanks, Greg G. Macedon, N.Y. 23NK n375KL Mod 2 582 do not archive ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 05:55:55 AM PST US From: Subject: Kitfox-List: plug not firing Need HELP I have a 912ul with 1 plug not firing. I have narrowed it down to the upper plug on cylinder #3. So far I have checked the following items. 1) Spark plug (changed) 2) Spark plug wire 3) Spark Plug cap for resistance 4) Checked Triggers For resistance Looking for ideas were to look?? Gary Henderson Weatherford, Oklahoma Spdster912LS ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 06:54:12 AM PST US From: Dan Billingsley Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: wind dammage John, Sorry to hear of the microburst incident...those anyone can do without. Glad you found the gremlins before they found you. Dan B Mesa, AZ KF-IV Building john oakley wrote: I finished repairing my fox last night. It sat tied down at ogd in a microburst. Broken rubber hinges were the test of my patience.2 of the three rod ends used the speedster tail were broken. (Were some broken before the storm?) I never would have found them in a walk around, but felt the rudder move while I was washing the plane. I will now use a flashlight to check them forever. Many thanks, to John as kitfox for taking time out of his busy schedule to look up part numbers and send them for me. I am headed to billings Montana this week, and john was very understanding. John Oakley Model 4 speedster Short wing 912 ul Cap I am now over 1200 hours of kitfox flight time, in my log... what next ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 08:56:33 AM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: wind dammage From: "kitfoxmike" I'm a little confused. Not uncommon. But, explain the rubber bushings in the rudder? My rudder is held in place with rod ends. -------- kitfoxmike model IV, 1200 speedster 912ul building RV7a slowbuild wings, fuse, finish kit "if you're not getting razzed from pilots or the FAA then you're not flying enough" Do not archive Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=125496#125496 ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 09:10:44 AM PST US From: "john oakley" Subject: RE: Kitfox-List: Re: wind dammage Ok, a little smile here, It was late and I misspelled several things, I am old what can I say. It was the rod bearings in the rudder that broke. There are 3 that are 3/16 threaded ends and a forth (the bottom one) that has 1/4 inch threads. The rudder was thrown to the stops and snapped the threaded ends off. I remember on my grand canyon flight that I felt a touch of vibration in the rudder at one point, I hope to heck I was not flying it with some broken hinges. I scares the hell out of me. John Oakley -----Original Message----- From: owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-kitfox-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of kitfoxmike Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 9:56 AM Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: wind dammage I'm a little confused. Not uncommon. But, explain the rubber bushings in the rudder? My rudder is held in place with rod ends. -------- kitfoxmike model IV, 1200 speedster 912ul building RV7a slowbuild wings, fuse, finish kit "if you're not getting razzed from pilots or the FAA then you're not flying enough" Do not archive Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=125496#125496 ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 11:16:47 AM PST US Subject: Kitfox-List: Re: wind dammage From: "kitfoxmike" well, if you felt vibration then and you don't now, than chances are you where flying with broken rod ends, eek. I hava a friend with a Comander and his boy found worn out rod ends on his elevator, eek, he didn't know he was flying around with that problem. When I was at Arlington it was pointed out to me that the gear case had too much end play for the prop. When I saw it I freaked. I flew it home and as soon as I got home the gear box came off. The gears were ok, but the washers and the eccentric was changed, 300 dollars later, and two days, she was flying again. Sure is nice and quiet and less vibration. -------- kitfoxmike model IV, 1200 speedster 912ul building RV7a slowbuild wings, fuse, finish kit "if you're not getting razzed from pilots or the FAA then you're not flying enough" Do not archive Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=125523#125523 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kitfox-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Kitfox-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/kitfox-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kitfox-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.