---------------------------------------------------------- Kitfox-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Wed 01/23/13: 5 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 01:46 AM - Re: rotax engines (Dave) 2. 06:25 AM - Re: rotax engines (Catz631@aol.com) 3. 07:27 AM - Re: rotax engines (floran higgins) 4. 08:25 AM - Re: rotax engines (Lowell Fitt) 5. 02:27 PM - crush washers 12mm (Tex Mantell) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 01:46:38 AM PST US From: "Dave" Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: rotax engines Ed - please post some numbers on the performace of your viking engine . I have been watching this development for a few years. Videos wold help too. HEads up side by side planes - should be able to find alot of 912 powered Kitfox that would love to have a challenge. Like i always said about the rotax -- great engines. biggest issues are from the ignorance of the operators. the othe 99 % of the user have no issues. Dave ----- Original Message ----- From: Ed Gray To: kitfox-list@matronics.com Sent: Tuesday, January 22, 2013 5:22 PM Subject: Kitfox-List: rotax engines I built a Kitfox with a Rotax, and fortunately flew it and survived. My new kitfox has a beautiful Viking engine for little more than half the cost of a 912, and more power. Flying with a Rotax is like being married to an alcoholic bipolar woman. Why would anyone put up with all the glitches, burps, etc., and pay extra to do it? Oh, and they recently discovered fuel injection for just a few thousand more! Ed Gray Dallas ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 06:25:14 AM PST US From: Catz631@aol.com Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: rotax engines Ed, I appreciate your candor ! You have a pretty accurate view of the Rotax ,I think. (although overall,I do like mine, most of the time,....maybe) We had an Escapade drop by our strip on his way to south Fl to have a Viking engine installed about a year ago. He had a Jabaru engine that he was very displeased with and wanted it out ! You can see his plane on the Viking web site. How about some info,flight report with the Viking engine. Did you make the mount or did they ? How much did it cost ? Who did the installation ? How about weight and CG ? What other mods did you have to do to accommodate the engine? As you can see, I am interested in that engine especially after talking with the Escapade owner. Dick Maddux Fox 4 912 UL Milton,Fl ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 07:27:31 AM PST US From: "floran higgins" Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: rotax engines Been following this discussion on 912 engines with interest. I have a 912 ULS engine in my model 4 Speedster. I have nearly 800 hrs on and am very satified with it. I have found that when the outside temp is below 40 degrees I put a hair dyer into the front of the cowl and a blanket over the cowl and leave it for 30-45 minutes. All you have to do is get the carbs warm. I have a primer system and I give it four squerts. hit the starter and it will start right up with out all of the shaking. On shut down I stablize the rpm to 2000 and shut off the ignition. It stops without any shaking. The only issue I have had with this engine is that I have had to replace the rubber flange that holds the right carb on. I have had it split three times, always on the right side. Floran Higgins Helena Mt Speedster 912 ULS ----- Original Message ----- From: Catz631@aol.com To: kitfox-list@matronics.com Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 7:24 AM Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: rotax engines Ed, I appreciate your candor ! You have a pretty accurate view of the Rotax ,I think. (although overall,I do like mine, most of the time,....maybe) We had an Escapade drop by our strip on his way to south Fl to have a Viking engine installed about a year ago. He had a Jabaru engine that he was very displeased with and wanted it out ! You can see his plane on the Viking web site. How about some info,flight report with the Viking engine. Did you make the mount or did they ? How much did it cost ? Who did the installation ? How about weight and CG ? What other mods did you have to do to accommodate the engine? As you can see, I am interested in that engine especially after talking with the Escapade owner. Dick Maddux Fox 4 912 UL Milton,Fl ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 08:25:18 AM PST US From: "Lowell Fitt" Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: rotax engines Interesting discussion. Dick's mention of the Jabaru guy not liking his engine - which when introduced was to be the wave of the future, then a friend who put a UL engine in his Just Highlander - with lots of growing pains including a replaced crank. You guys that are going "Infant" - hats off to you but I'm too old for that. Everything I had go wrong with my first and now my second 912 was caused by me just as Dave suggests. What will prove to be best? For sure, only some aging will tell that and for me that is good reason to stay with the 20 year old and multi million hour Rotax regardless of the fires per rev. Sorry to bring this up but price? It is the sorry state of the US $. My wife flies internationally with United Airlines and she will be happy to tell what a $ will buy overseas compared to what it bought in the $10,000 Rotax days - I just asked. In the early 90s the exchange rate in Japan was ~ 250 yen per dollar. Now it is about 70 yen per dollar. A thought on choosing an engine. Check to see if the engine manufacturer issues service bulletins. In the past some did not. An auto conversion company I have in mind never did. Looking at UL and Viking shows that as with the Rotax, neither came out of the Engineers Shed perfect. And both of these companies are still in diapers comparatively speaking so no one really knows yet what will be found there down the way. Lowell From: Catz631@aol.com Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 6:24 AM Subject: Re: Kitfox-List: rotax engines Ed, I appreciate your candor ! You have a pretty accurate view of the Rotax ,I think. (although overall,I do like mine, most of the time,....maybe) We had an Escapade drop by our strip on his way to south Fl to have a Viking engine installed about a year ago. He had a Jabaru engine that he was very displeased with and wanted it out ! You can see his plane on the Viking web site. How about some info,flight report with the Viking engine. Did you make the mount or did they ? How much did it cost ? Who did the installation ? How about weight and CG ? What other mods did you have to do to accommodate the engine? As you can see, I am interested in that engine especially after talking with the Escapade owner. Dick Maddux Fox 4 912 UL Milton,Fl ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 02:27:40 PM PST US From: "Tex Mantell" Subject: Kitfox-List: crush washers 12mm They are availabe from : Monarch Products Inc 951-672-8501 Part # p-678 Tex ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.