---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 09/19/09: 24 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 09:23 AM - 3 blade vs 2 blade (Richard Girard) 2. 10:59 AM - Help please - can't take off (cristalclear13) 3. 11:01 AM - Re: Vortex Generators (Thom Riddle) 4. 11:49 AM - Sat morn fly-out (zeprep251@aol.com) 5. 11:49 AM - Re: 3 blade vs 2 blade (John Hauck) 6. 11:53 AM - Re: Help please- can't take off (william sullivan) 7. 01:03 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off (zeprep251@aol.com) 8. 01:15 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off (Richard Girard) 9. 01:15 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off (cristalclear13) 10. 01:52 PM - Re: Re: Help please - can't take off (Jim Kmet) 11. 01:58 PM - Re: Re: Help please - can't take off (Carlos) 12. 03:37 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off (cristalclear13) 13. 04:34 PM - Re: Re: Help please - can't take off (Richard Girard) 14. 04:36 PM - Re: Re: Help please - can't take off (Jim Kmet) 15. 05:17 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off (zeprep251@aol.com) 16. 05:17 PM - Re: boom tube bolt question? (Arksey@aol.com) 17. 05:47 PM - Re: Re: boom tube bolt question? (robert bean) 18. 05:47 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off (Jack B. Hart) 19. 05:59 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off (cristalclear13) 20. 06:06 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off (cristalclear13) 21. 06:44 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off (Ralph B) 22. 06:48 PM - Re: boom tube bolt question? (Ralph B) 23. 07:55 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off (Richard Pike) 24. 11:20 PM - Re: Help please - can't take off () ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 09:23:59 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: 3 blade vs 2 blade From: Richard Girard Apparently my nervousness at testing the new prop led me to not notice just how much more vibration was being generated. I put the three blade back together yesterday and flew it this morning. Smoother. No measure of how much, just a seat of the pants measurement.Almost all the tach problems went away. There is still some oscillation of the needle at certain RPM's but nothing like before. I think the 7 hour old plugs are fouling a bit as the idle is getting rougher. I'll put in new plugs and drop the needles one groove and see how the next set of plugs does and if all tach problems go away. On the flight testing program I validated what others have said here, that the Mk III will not do a departure stall. At least I couldn't get it to do one. I had the nose up so high it would have made the space shuttle proud. All I could get was a vibration caused, I assume, by the flow separation at the wing root that came and went as the flow separated and reattached at 37 mph IAS. Another data point to put in the log book. Okay, out to change plugs and go up again before the storms arrive. Rick Girard ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 10:59:39 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Help please - can't take off From: "cristalclear13" [Crying or Very sad] I put new choke seals on my Bing carbs. I am still having the same symptom...advance the throttle and I can't get over 3500-4000rpm. This is the same symptom she had before I took her apart. I took my carbs off and I thought the deteriorated choke seal was the culprit causing it to run too rich so I replaced it (and the other one at the same time even though it wasn't bad). She is running real good at idle and slow taxi. I took the air filter off and looked through the opening while it is not running and can see that the cable is raising and opening up all the way at full throttle. A technician made the suggestion to change my jets but I've flown with these jets for over a year and a half now, through all seasons. I don't understand why I would suddenly need to change the jets? While I had the carbs off I could see the jets were not clogged. I have a mechanical fuel pump so if it was that failing I would think I couldn't even idle or taxi. I put a new fuel filter in, just in case, but the old one wasn't clogged up at all. I put new spark plugs in even though I probably didn't have to do that either. What else?? What am I missing here? I wanna fly! -------- Cristal Waters Kolb Mark II Twinstar Rotax 503 DCSI Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263836#263836 ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 11:01:34 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Vortex Generators From: "Thom Riddle" This morning I was going to install VGs under the HS to see if I could get more nose up pitch to enable an actual stall. As you may recall, with the VGs installed I was able to get down to 42 mph IAS (no flaps) but ran out of elevator and the SS wing was not stalled, just mushing with good roll control. However, before doing this I decided to test the stall speed with 1/2 flaperons, which is as deep as I ever lower them since the SS sinks at 900 fpm at idle power and approach speed of 65 mph and no flaps. Before the VGs stall with 1/2 flaps was 42-43 mph IAS. I was astonished to learn today that with 1/2 flaps and VGs, I had enough elevator to get an actual stall break at.... 34-35 mph IAS. Since I can get a stall break at such a low speed with 1/2 flaps (my normal landing and take-off configuration) I decided I didn't need to have a stall break without flaps. Therefore, I'm not adding the HS VGs. I am one very happy VG Kolber! -------- Thom Riddle Buffalo, NY Kolb Slingshot SS-021 Jabiru 2200A #1574 Tennessee Prop 64x34 A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that works. - John Gaule Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263837#263837 ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 11:49:43 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Sat morn fly-out From: zeprep251@aol.com Hi List, ? One of those picture perfect Kolb flying days.Geauga County ( former home field of CGS Hawk) airport days fly-in drive- in buggy-in breakfast. Lots of Amish present with a ton of questions about? the MK-3.Should have taken some pictures of all the kids sitting in it,but took a few on the way up. ?Here are a couple of the guys flying in with us,and for a few of the younger crowd,a picture of the infamous, Kent State University and their Dix Stadium sports complex. ? Food was mediocer but still a great day. ??? G.Aman ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 11:49:44 AM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: 3 blade vs 2 blade Rick G/Gang: Most every Kolb I have flown will climb with the stick full back to the stop, if it has any guts at all. Most of the time it will do it with two aboard with a mkIII. A good exercise to stay ahead of the airplane would be full power climbs with the stick full back (at a safe altitude, of course), then chop the throttle (to simulate engine failure), and see how long it takes to get the nose down or recover from the stall, if that should happen. john h mkIII Rock House, Oregon On the flight testing program I validated what others have said here, that the Mk III will not do a departure stall. Rick Girard ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 11:53:12 AM PST US From: william sullivan Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Help please- can't take off - Cristal- Just for form's sake, check to see if your fuel line is collap sed.- Mine was sucked flat from a deteriorated hose.- - ------------------------- --------------- Bill Sullivan ------------------------- --------------- Windsor Locks, Ct. ------------------------- --------------- FS 447 ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 01:03:26 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Help please - can't take off From: zeprep251@aol.com Cristal, ?When you reassembled the round slide,was the needle with the clip and o-ring the first thing you put in the slide? ?G.Aman -----Original Message----- From: cristalclear13 Sent: Sat, Sep 19, 2009 1:59 pm Subject: Kolb-List: Help please - can't take off [Crying or Very sad] I put new choke seals on my Bing carbs. I am still having the same symptom...advance the throttle and I can't get over 3500-4000rpm. This is the same symptom she had before I took her apart. I took my carbs off and I thought the deteriorated choke seal was the culprit causing it to run too rich so I replaced it (and the other one at the same time even though it wasn't bad). She is running real good at idle and slow taxi. I took the air filter off and looked through the opening while it is not running and can see that the cable is raising and opening up all the way at full throttle. A technician made the suggestion to change my jets but I've flown with these jets for over a year and a half now, through all seasons. I don't understand why I would suddenly need to change the jets? While I had the carbs off I could see the jets were not clogged. I have a mechanical fuel pump so if it was that failing I would think I couldn't even idle or taxi. I put a new fuel filter in, just in case, but the old one wasn't clogged up at all. I put new spark plugs in even though I probably didn't have to do that either. What else?? What am I missing here? I wanna fly! -------- Cristal Waters Kolb Mark II Twinstar Rotax 503 DCSI Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263836#263836 ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 01:15:10 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Help please - can't take off From: Richard Girard Check tank venting. If you have an electric start pull the fuel line and make sure your fuel pump is actually putting out a good stream of fuel. Is your pulse line soft? Poor pulse will make your fuel pressure soft too. Have you pulled the tank tap(s) to make sure you haven't pulled a piece of junk into the fuel line from the tank end? If you have room to pull off the runway after an aborted take off, let the engine get to stumble rpm, shut it off and drop the float bowl(s) to see if it's full of fuel or empty. DO NOT start messing around changing jets. If you know for sure they're clear that's all they can be, clogged or clear. Rick Girard On Sat, Sep 19, 2009 at 12:59 PM, cristalclear13 < cristalclearwaters@gmail.com> wrote: > cristalclearwaters@gmail.com> > > [Crying or Very sad] > I put new choke seals on my Bing carbs. I am still having the same > symptom...advance the throttle and I can't get over 3500-4000rpm. This is > the same symptom she had before I took her apart. I took my carbs off and I > thought the deteriorated choke seal was the culprit causing it to run too > rich so I replaced it (and the other one at the same time even though it > wasn't bad). > She is running real good at idle and slow taxi. > > I took the air filter off and looked through the opening while it is not > running and can see that the cable is raising and opening up all the way at > full throttle. > > A technician made the suggestion to change my jets but I've flown with > these jets for over a year and a half now, through all seasons. I don't > understand why I would suddenly need to change the jets? While I had the > carbs off I could see the jets were not clogged. > > I have a mechanical fuel pump so if it was that failing I would think I > couldn't even idle or taxi. > > I put a new fuel filter in, just in case, but the old one wasn't clogged up > at all. I put new spark plugs in even though I probably didn't have to do > that either. > > What else?? What am I missing here? I wanna fly! > > -------- > Cristal Waters > Kolb Mark II Twinstar > Rotax 503 DCSI > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263836#263836 > > ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 01:15:25 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off From: "cristalclear13" williamtsullivan(at)att.n wrote: > Cristal- Just for form's sake, check to see if your fuel line is collapsed. Mine was sucked flat from a deteriorated hose. > Bill Sullivan > Thanks for the reply Bill. My fuel line is in good shape. A good friend wrote: > What happens after you get the maximum power of 35 to 4000 rpm? Does the engine run rough after you continue to increase throttle? or does the engine max out smoothly at that power? > I know you said throttle cable operation is fine, when its not running & you are looking in carbs, but is it possible the Throttle cable end, (Either end, in the plane or at splitter) slips, while the engine is running (Vibrating)? > When max power is reached it runs "sluggish". I don't know how else to describe it. Maybe I can get a video with sound of it. I don't know how I'd check to see if the throttle cable is slipping while it's running. Could I tie it down and run it up with the air filters off and watch it from the side (carefully away from the prop) while the throttle is advanced? (Or would that make a mess or not run at all?) What about the fan belt? This website: http://www.ultralightnews.ca/rotax503/fanbeltadjustment.htm says that a loose fan belt could cause loss of horsepower. I've never been real good/accurate at checking the "proper 1/4 in deflection at 5 lbs pressure". They say to check it with your finger but how do I know when I'm pushing at 5lbs of pressure? When I push it it seems to deflect at least half an inch. If that were the problem wouldn't it not run well at lower power settings too? -------- Cristal Waters Kolb Mark II Twinstar Rotax 503 DCSI Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263860#263860 ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 01:52:46 PM PST US From: "Jim Kmet" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off Sluggish means it`s probably not the cables, probably one carb, or a fuel supply problem. Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "cristalclear13" Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 3:15 PM Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off > > > > williamtsullivan(at)att.n wrote: >> Cristal- Just for form's sake, check to see if your fuel line is >> collapsed. Mine was sucked flat from a deteriorated hose. >> Bill Sullivan >> > > > Thanks for the reply Bill. My fuel line is in good shape. > > > A good friend wrote: >> What happens after you get the maximum power of 35 to 4000 rpm? Does the >> engine run rough after you continue to increase throttle? or does the >> engine max out smoothly at that power? >> I know you said throttle cable operation is fine, when its not running & >> you are looking in carbs, but is it possible the Throttle cable end, >> (Either end, in the plane or at splitter) slips, while the engine is >> running (Vibrating)? >> > > > When max power is reached it runs "sluggish". I don't know how else to > describe it. Maybe I can get a video with sound of it. > > I don't know how I'd check to see if the throttle cable is slipping while > it's running. Could I tie it down and run it up with the air filters off > and watch it from the side (carefully away from the prop) while the > throttle is advanced? (Or would that make a mess or not run at all?) > > What about the fan belt? This website: > http://www.ultralightnews.ca/rotax503/fanbeltadjustment.htm > says that a loose fan belt could cause loss of horsepower. > I've never been real good/accurate at checking the "proper 1/4 in > deflection at 5 lbs pressure". They say to check it with your finger but > how do I know when I'm pushing at 5lbs of pressure? When I push it it > seems to deflect at least half an inch. > If that were the problem wouldn't it not run well at lower power settings > too? > > -------- > Cristal Waters > Kolb Mark II Twinstar > Rotax 503 DCSI > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263860#263860 > > > ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 01:58:31 PM PST US From: "Carlos" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off Hi Cristal, Sorry to hear about your "Tales of Woe" For what ever it's worth I'd would check the engine compression to see if the engine is in good mechanical conditon. Your compression should be around 160psi or so. It should also be close to the same pressure for both cylinders. What color are the spark plugs? If they are dark and or covered with soot than you are getting too much fuel thru the engine. If the plugs are pale tan to white then the engine is running too lean. It could also be that one of the ignition coils is breaking down under load or perhaps the spark is not reaching the plug. You might check for loose or chafed ignition wires. A wet looking spark plug would indicate a lack of ignition. Hope this helps. Carlos G AKA BaronVonEvil ----- Original Message ----- From: "cristalclear13" Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 1:15 PM Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off > > > > williamtsullivan(at)att.n wrote: >> Cristal- Just for form's sake, check to see if your fuel line is >> collapsed. Mine was sucked flat from a deteriorated hose. >> Bill Sullivan >> > > > Thanks for the reply Bill. My fuel line is in good shape. > > > A good friend wrote: >> What happens after you get the maximum power of 35 to 4000 rpm? Does the >> engine run rough after you continue to increase throttle? or does the >> engine max out smoothly at that power? >> I know you said throttle cable operation is fine, when its not running & >> you are looking in carbs, but is it possible the Throttle cable end, >> (Either end, in the plane or at splitter) slips, while the engine is >> running (Vibrating)? >> > > > When max power is reached it runs "sluggish". I don't know how else to > describe it. Maybe I can get a video with sound of it. > > I don't know how I'd check to see if the throttle cable is slipping while > it's running. Could I tie it down and run it up with the air filters off > and watch it from the side (carefully away from the prop) while the > throttle is advanced? (Or would that make a mess or not run at all?) > > What about the fan belt? This website: > http://www.ultralightnews.ca/rotax503/fanbeltadjustment.htm > says that a loose fan belt could cause loss of horsepower. > I've never been real good/accurate at checking the "proper 1/4 in > deflection at 5 lbs pressure". They say to check it with your finger but > how do I know when I'm pushing at 5lbs of pressure? When I push it it > seems to deflect at least half an inch. > If that were the problem wouldn't it not run well at lower power settings > too? > > -------- > Cristal Waters > Kolb Mark II Twinstar > Rotax 503 DCSI > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263860#263860 > > > ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 03:37:29 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off From: "cristalclear13" I pulled out the Rotax repair manual and in the troubleshooting section it has three conditions under the "no" answer for "Is the engine running well at high speed?" 1. Engine "four-stroking" 2. Backfiring through carb 3. Prevailing pinking of engine and it lists lots of possible faults under each one of those. However...I don't know which section applies to my engine, except I don't hear any backfiring. This is something that started at the beginning of summer (June when I flew my dad to Douglas and some thought it was carb ice upon landing), but it just happened once or twice since then and things would go back to normal after pulling the throttle back to idle and then advancing it again. But it has just recently gotten so bad it doesn't clear up on its own. That choke seal was probably bad since I had it because that spark plug would always come out black and wet. Maybe something is messed up from running too rich for so long. The repair manual mentions exhaust port or exhaust pipe blocked by deposits. (That is the exhaust that has been leaking, but it didn't look blocked when I had it off a month or two ago.) It also mentions heavy carbon deposits in combustion chamber causing pre-ignition. (When I look in through the spark plug hole the middle of the top of the piston head looks clean but the sides of the top of the piston head look black from what I could see.) Anyone know what "four-stroking" vs "pinking" is? -------- Cristal Waters Kolb Mark II Twinstar Rotax 503 DCSI Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263873#263873 ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 04:34:39 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off From: Richard Girard Cristal, Two stroke engines fire the plug each time the piston comes to the top of its stroke. When it is four stroking it is missing. It usually happens when the mixture is so rich that the plug can't spark. Pinking is the same as pinging, ie cylinder has a hot spot that is causing combustion to begin before the plug fires. Usually caused by a lean mixture while loading the engine excessively. Rick Girard On Sat, Sep 19, 2009 at 5:37 PM, cristalclear13 < cristalclearwaters@gmail.com> wrote: > cristalclearwaters@gmail.com> > > I pulled out the Rotax repair manual and in the troubleshooting section it > has three conditions under the "no" answer for "Is the engine running well > at high speed?" > 1. Engine "four-stroking" > 2. Backfiring through carb > 3. Prevailing pinking of engine > > and it lists lots of possible faults under each one of those. > However...I don't know which section applies to my engine, except I don't > hear any backfiring. > > This is something that started at the beginning of summer (June when I flew > my dad to Douglas and some thought it was carb ice upon landing), but it > just happened once or twice since then and things would go back to normal > after pulling the throttle back to idle and then advancing it again. But it > has just recently gotten so bad it doesn't clear up on its own. > > That choke seal was probably bad since I had it because that spark plug > would always come out black and wet. Maybe something is messed up from > running too rich for so long. The repair manual mentions exhaust port or > exhaust pipe blocked by deposits. (That is the exhaust that has been > leaking, but it didn't look blocked when I had it off a month or two ago.) > It also mentions heavy carbon deposits in combustion chamber causing > pre-ignition. (When I look in through the spark plug hole the middle of the > top of the piston head looks clean but the sides of the top of the piston > head look black from what I could see.) > > Anyone know what "four-stroking" vs "pinking" is? > > -------- > Cristal Waters > Kolb Mark II Twinstar > Rotax 503 DCSI > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263873#263873 > > ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 04:36:45 PM PST US From: "Jim Kmet" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off Back in My old R/C flying days, we called 4 stroking an excessively rich mixture. One thing I recall reading in the Mike Stratman columns was that if you experienced a rough running engine, pulling the choke lever during this time could help in determining the problem, in that if it got worse, it was already recieving to much fuel before the enricher ciciut was open, & if it ran better, it was starving for fuel. This might help in the diagnosis, but wouldn`t solve it of course. I don`t remember if you said if you talked to Ronnie yet, But That seems to be what`s next. ?? Jim ----- Original Message ----- From: "cristalclear13" Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 5:37 PM Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off > > > I pulled out the Rotax repair manual and in the troubleshooting section it > has three conditions under the "no" answer for "Is the engine running well > at high speed?" > 1. Engine "four-stroking" > 2. Backfiring through carb > 3. Prevailing pinking of engine > > and it lists lots of possible faults under each one of those. > However...I don't know which section applies to my engine, except I don't > hear any backfiring. > > This is something that started at the beginning of summer (June when I > flew my dad to Douglas and some thought it was carb ice upon landing), but > it just happened once or twice since then and things would go back to > normal after pulling the throttle back to idle and then advancing it > again. But it has just recently gotten so bad it doesn't clear up on its > own. > > That choke seal was probably bad since I had it because that spark plug > would always come out black and wet. Maybe something is messed up from > running too rich for so long. The repair manual mentions exhaust port or > exhaust pipe blocked by deposits. (That is the exhaust that has been > leaking, but it didn't look blocked when I had it off a month or two ago.) > It also mentions heavy carbon deposits in combustion chamber causing > pre-ignition. (When I look in through the spark plug hole the middle of > the top of the piston head looks clean but the sides of the top of the > piston head look black from what I could see.) > > Anyone know what "four-stroking" vs "pinking" is? > > -------- > Cristal Waters > Kolb Mark II Twinstar > Rotax 503 DCSI > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263873#263873 > > > ________________________________ Message 15 ____________________________________ Time: 05:17:14 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Help please - can't take off From: zeprep251@aol.com Cristal, ?Make certain that the gaskets on the intake and on the exhaust are properly in place.Check to see if one of the spark plugs is wetter,darker than the other.? You have points ignition I believe,so you may have to check there also . ?G.Aman -----Original Message----- From: cristalclear13 Sent: Sat, Sep 19, 2009 1:59 pm Subject: Kolb-List: Help please - can't take off [Crying or Very sad] I put new choke seals on my Bing carbs. I am still having the same symptom...advance the throttle and I can't get over 3500-4000rpm. This is the same symptom she had before I took her apart. I took my carbs off and I thought the deteriorated choke seal was the culprit causing it to run too rich so I replaced it (and the other one at the same time even though it wasn't bad). She is running real good at idle and slow taxi. I took the air filter off and looked through the opening while it is not running and can see that the cable is raising and opening up all the way at full throttle. A technician made the suggestion to change my jets but I've flown with these jets for over a year and a half now, through all seasons. I don't understand why I would suddenly need to change the jets? While I had the carbs off I could see the jets were not clogged. I have a mechanical fuel pump so if it was that failing I would think I couldn't even idle or taxi. I put a new fuel filter in, just in case, but the old one wasn't clogged up at all. I put new spark plugs in even though I probably didn't have to do that either. What else?? What am I missing here? I wanna fly! -------- Cristal Waters Kolb Mark II Twinstar Rotax 503 DCSI Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263836#263836 ________________________________ Message 16 ____________________________________ Time: 05:17:30 PM PST US From: Arksey@aol.com Subject: Kolb-List: Re: boom tube bolt question? Hi group, I was looking over the boom tube on my firestar ll the other day and got to wondering if a person should remove the large bolt that goes thru the boom tube where it attaches to the rear of the cockpit cage when a person does a annual inspection to see if the bolt is ok. Do you think it is necessary to do that? I have been doing a lot of flying the last couple of weeks, weather is good up here in Michigan...went to fly in last weekend and meeting some people today for lunch today. The firestar is getting a work out, already been over to a breakfast get together for coffee and donuts, cool ride even with a coat this morning at 9 am. thanks in advance....jswan do not archive JIM SWAN firestar ll, 503, N663S Eaton Rapids, Mi. 48827 PH 517-663-8488 runway 2300' E & W (42-28.58N 084-44.69 W ) ________________________________ Message 17 ____________________________________ Time: 05:47:20 PM PST US From: robert bean Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Re: boom tube bolt question? Jim, it would be interesting to do a one time inspection after several hundred hours and report to the list. I doubt that bolt would show anything unless it was loose and spinning around. Better to check what visible rivets you can see on the tube, cracks around them, etc. The bolt goes in a sleeve built into the H-frame. The rivets inside the cage are tougher to see. The bolt mount area on the cage is usually covered with enough paint (or fabric) that visual inspection can't reveal any early problems. Maybe some owners who have done some damage could report what failed first. The Kolb's H-frame is designed to taper the load at the boom and on the spars. The Rans aircraft didn't have this feature and had a few shear failures on their tails. BB On 19, Sep 2009, at 7:55 PM, Arksey@aol.com wrote: > > Hi group, > I was looking over the boom tube on my firestar ll the other > day and got to wondering if a person should remove the large bolt > that goes thru the boom tube where it attaches to the rear of the > cockpit cage when a person does a annual inspection to see if the > bolt is ok. Do you think it is necessary to do that? I have been > doing a lot of flying the last couple of weeks, weather is good up > here in Michigan...went to fly in last weekend and meeting some > people today for lunch today. The firestar is getting a work out, > already been over to a breakfast get together for coffee and > donuts, cool ride even with a coat this morning at 9 am. thanks in > advance....jswan > > do not archive > > JIM SWAN > firestar ll, 503, N663S > Eaton Rapids, Mi. 48827 > PH 517-663-8488 runway 2300' E & W (42-28.58N 084-44.69 W ) > > ________________________________ Message 18 ____________________________________ Time: 05:47:21 PM PST US From: "Jack B. Hart" Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Help please - can't take off At 10:59 AM 9/19/09 -0700, you wrote: > Cristal, Since this has been a slow onset, it may be caused by carbon build up under the rings. When was the last time the engine was decarbed? You have mentioned that one choker seal was bad and one cylinder was running rich. What happens is the carbon or coke can build up under the ring. This prevents the ring from expanding back into the slot. As the engine runs at higher speed, the ring, piston and cylinder all heat up. The aluminum piston expands faster than the cast iron cylinder. With the carbon under the ring the steel ring cannot move deeper into the slot and the ring is forced out against the cylinder. If the carbon is severe enough this force will become high enough (drag) to prevent the engine from running faster. It might be best to pull the heads and cylinders, and to check for carbon under the rings. If you do not find any all well and good. If you do you may prevent scoring the piston and cylinder. FWIW Jack B. Hart FF004 Winchester, IN ________________________________ Message 19 ____________________________________ Time: 05:59:53 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off From: "cristalclear13" aslsa.rng(at)gmail.com wrote: > Cristal, Two stroke engines fire the plug each time the piston comes to the top of its stroke. When it is four stroking it is missing. It usually happens when the mixture is so rich that the plug can't spark. Pinking is the same as pinging, ie cylinder has a hot spot that is causing combustion to begin before the plug fires. Usually caused by a lean mixture while loading the engine excessively. > > Rick Girard > > Ok, I'm not pinging and not backfiring so looking at the possible faults for "four-stroking": a.) Clogged airfilter element (I don't know how much you can tell by looking, but it doesn't look clogged. Maybe I'll go ahead and clean it.) b.) Worn needle jet (I can take it apart and see how that looks) c.) Carb jets too large (I have the standard sizes, but Ronnie did suggest dropping from 158 to 155 and 45 to 40 back when I first called him. I didn't call him today because I heard he was on vacation. I only have Saturdays to work on my plane, makes it hard to find help.) d.) Mixture too rich (I thought fixing the choke seal would fix this.) e.) Wrong ignition timing (I'd have to take it somewhere to check this, but I could look at the wiring as Carlos suggested) f.) Exhaust port or exhaust pipe blocked by deposits (I could take the muffler off. I've been meaning to put on the muffler I got from Jimmy anyways.) g.) Needle position too high (The o-ring is on the top slot of the needle and the clip is in the second slot.) h.) Choke activated (It is not activated. When I activate it it runs rough.) i.) Float stuck or faulty (I will have to investigate this further.) Thanks for your tips and suggestions. Now I just need some cooler weather to work in the hanger comfortably and some extra Saturdays in the week. :) -------- Cristal Waters Kolb Mark II Twinstar Rotax 503 DCSI Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263896#263896 ________________________________ Message 20 ____________________________________ Time: 06:06:25 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off From: "cristalclear13" jbhart(at)onlyinternet.ne wrote: > > Cristal, > > Since this has been a slow onset, it may be caused by carbon build up under > the rings. When was the last time the engine was > decarbed? > > You have mentioned that one choker seal was bad and one cylinder was running > rich. What happens is the carbon or coke can build up under the ring. This > prevents the ring from expanding back into the slot. As the engine runs at > higher speed, the ring, piston and cylinder all heat up. The aluminum > piston expands faster than the cast iron cylinder. With the carbon under > the ring the steel ring cannot move deeper into the slot and the ring is > forced out against the cylinder. If the carbon is severe enough this force > will become high enough (drag) to prevent the engine from running > faster. > > It might be best to pull the heads and cylinders, and to check for carbon > under the rings. If you do not find any all well and good. If you do you > may prevent scoring the piston and cylinder. > > FWIW > > Jack B. Hart FF004 > Winchester, IN That makes sense Jack. I don't have the tools to do this so I may just take her down to Gerry at Green Sky. He is closer to me than Ronnie. I trust them both. -------- Cristal Waters Kolb Mark II Twinstar Rotax 503 DCSI Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263898#263898 ________________________________ Message 21 ____________________________________ Time: 06:44:59 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off From: "Ralph B" Cristal, make sure the jet needle and clip are under the white cup in the carb slide. It's easy to get it on top which would make it run very rich and give you the problem that you are seeing. Ralph B -------- Ralph B Original Firestar 447 N91493 E-AB 970 hours 22 years flying it Kolbra 912UL N20386 1 year flying it Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263902#263902 ________________________________ Message 22 ____________________________________ Time: 06:48:13 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: boom tube bolt question? From: "Ralph B" I removed the main fuse tube bolt after 19 years of flying and found absolutely no wear. Ralph B -------- Ralph B Original Firestar 447 N91493 E-AB 970 hours 22 years flying it Kolbra 912UL N20386 1 year flying it Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263903#263903 ________________________________ Message 23 ____________________________________ Time: 07:55:16 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Help please - can't take off From: "Richard Pike" [/quote] Ok, I'm not pinging and not backfiring so looking at the possible faults for "four-stroking": a.) Clogged airfilter element (I don't know how much you can tell by looking, but it doesn't look clogged. Maybe I'll go ahead and clean it.) b.) Worn needle jet (I can take it apart and see how that looks) c.) Carb jets too large (I have the standard sizes, but Ronnie did suggest dropping from 158 to 155 and 45 to 40 back when I first called him. I didn't call him today because I heard he was on vacation. I only have Saturdays to work on my plane, makes it hard to find help.) d.) Mixture too rich (I thought fixing the choke seal would fix this.) e.) Wrong ignition timing (I'd have to take it somewhere to check this, but I could look at the wiring as Carlos suggested) f.) Exhaust port or exhaust pipe blocked by deposits (I could take the muffler off. I've been meaning to put on the muffler I got from Jimmy anyways.) g.) Needle position too high (The o-ring is on the top slot of the needle and the clip is in the second slot.) h.) Choke activated (It is not activated. When I activate it it runs rough.) i.) Float stuck or faulty (I will have to investigate this further.) Thanks for your tips and suggestions. Now I just need some cooler weather to work in the hanger comfortably and some extra Saturdays in the week. :)[/quote] Cristal, one of the guys mentioned that you have points - Ka-Ching! Check your points, as they wear down, the timing retards, the engine runs smooth, but won't rev up. The problems you describe are exactly what happened to me a number of years ago when I still had my 532 on the MKIII. I bought a set of points from a company that (hopefully) is no longer in business, Airstar Discount Sales. Installed the points the week before leaving for Oshkosh, flew for several hours, and checked them. OK. By the time we got to Illinois, the engine was running exactly like yours. It never occurred to me that the points could have been wearing down that fast, so I repitched the prop to allow the engine to rev up and we kept going. Spent most of my time at Oshkosh fooling around with the engine, but didn't check the points. (duh) By the time we got back to Illinois heading south, I was really getting tired of repitching the prop, and the two Maxair Drifters were no longer the slowest airplanes of our threesome... Finally one of the other guys suggested that I check the points, and they had worn excessively and quickly. Reset them and added a hair because I knew they would keep wearing, repitched the prop again, (sigh) back to normal and continued home without incident. Perhaps it is as simple as that. Good luck. Richard Pike MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263916#263916 ________________________________ Message 24 ____________________________________ Time: 11:20:16 PM PST US From: Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Help please - can't take off Have you tried running it with the airfilter off. If the airfilter gets gloged with oil it will limit RPM. have had this happen a few times. Regards Tony Downunder MK111c ----- Original Message ----- From: "cristalclear13" Sent: Sunday, September 20, 2009 5:59 AM Subject: Kolb-List: Help please - can't take off > > > [Crying or Very sad] > I put new choke seals on my Bing carbs. I am still having the same > symptom...advance the throttle and I can't get over 3500-4000rpm. This is > the same symptom she had before I took her apart. I took my carbs off and > I thought the deteriorated choke seal was the culprit causing it to run > too rich so I replaced it (and the other one at the same time even though > it wasn't bad). > She is running real good at idle and slow taxi. > > I took the air filter off and looked through the opening while it is not > running and can see that the cable is raising and opening up all the way > at full throttle. > > A technician made the suggestion to change my jets but I've flown with > these jets for over a year and a half now, through all seasons. I don't > understand why I would suddenly need to change the jets? While I had the > carbs off I could see the jets were not clogged. > > I have a mechanical fuel pump so if it was that failing I would think I > couldn't even idle or taxi. > > I put a new fuel filter in, just in case, but the old one wasn't clogged > up at all. I put new spark plugs in even though I probably didn't have to > do that either. > > What else?? What am I missing here? I wanna fly! > > -------- > Cristal Waters > Kolb Mark II Twinstar > Rotax 503 DCSI > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=263836#263836 > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message kolb-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/Kolb-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/kolb-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/kolb-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.