---------------------------------------------------------- Kolb-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 06/22/13: 16 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 04:33 AM - Pre-Purchase Inspection, Firestar (Allonsye) 2. 05:08 AM - Re: Pre-Purchase Inspection, Firestar (Richard Pike) 3. 05:18 AM - Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine (herbgh) 4. 05:49 AM - Rotax 447 RPM Varies (WhiskeyVictor36@aol.com) 5. 07:23 AM - Re: Pre-Purchase Inspection, Firestar (Allonsye) 6. 07:46 AM - Re: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine (Richard Girard) 7. 09:12 AM - Re: Pre-Purchase Inspection, Firestar (Dennis Thate) 8. 09:58 AM - Re: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine (Herb) 9. 11:26 AM - Re: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine (Richard Neilsen) 10. 12:19 PM - akron flyin of B-29 (Gary Aman) 11. 12:49 PM - Re: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine (Herb) 12. 04:00 PM - Re: Rotax 447 RPM Varies (David Kulp) 13. 04:16 PM - Spark Plug question (TheWanderingWench) 14. 06:58 PM - Re: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine (Richard Girard) 15. 07:11 PM - Re: Spark Plug question (Richard Girard) 16. 08:09 PM - Re: Rotax 447 RPM Varies (Richard Pike) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 04:33:02 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Pre-Purchase Inspection, Firestar From: "Allonsye" Greetings to the Collective - new member here. A little background on me: 57 y/o A&P, Fixed-wing pilot (been out of flying/aviation for the last 10-yrs). Wanting to get back to flying but on a tight budget. Interested in UL's and Powered Paragliders. The Kolbs appear to me to be most like 3-axis general aviation aircraft that I'm very familiar with so I think it might be the route to go especially since it's easy to store. I found a deal on a Firestar, 477 Rotax, 90 TT AF & Eng. Built in '96. Obviously sat for awhile but has been recently flown. I'm concerned about UL light wing loading. Can I expect to fly it as I would the Taylorcraft BC12D I used to own? The only differing characteristic I've seen addressed is the landing flares. What are the things - airframe & engine I should be particularly attentive to in inspecting for issues before I decide to close a sale on it? Thanks, Paul -------- "A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving" Lao Tzu (570-490 BC) Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=403143#403143 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 05:08:07 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Pre-Purchase Inspection, Firestar From: "Richard Pike" Greeting Paul, welcome to the group. Since I just did my annual yesterday, I would suggest checking it over just as you would when you annual it. Pop the exhaust header and look at the rings and the cylinder walls, stick a dental mirror in it and look at the underside of the head. Are the rings free? Do the piston and cylinder walls look good? Is the underside of the head fairly clean or is it all carboned up? How about the inside of the exhaust manifold? Is it all caked up? Get a general idea of how it is running. Drain the gearbox oil. Is it pretty clean or is it pretty nasty with lots of metal dust on the drain magnet? Mobil 1 keeps it cleaner. How are the carb boots? Cracked or nice? Does it have an after muffler and silencer box? Those two items help keep moisture further away from the exhaust ports and crankcase when the engine cools down after you run it. The airframe is simple, and what ever you would look for on any classic light fabric covered aircraft is what you would look for on a Kolb. Cosmetic items and new Lexan are things that are easily addressed, you are looking for signs of corrosion and poor workmanship overall. As far as flying - good control authority, but a lighter experience. Biggest difference you will notice is flying in the middle of the day, or windy days. Not that a Taylorcraft would punch through turbulence, but compared to a Kolb, or any other very light aircraft - yeah, it kind of does. In that respect, the Kolb is as good as any, and better than most very light aircraft, but it is still going to fly lighter than the T-craft. Aside from that, you will like the view a lot better and the handling is good. Plan to enjoy it. In fact, I need to finish this, I am going flying right now. -------- Richard Pike Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) richard (at) bcchapel(dot)org Kingsport, TN 3TN0 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=403145#403145 ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 05:18:16 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine From: "herbgh" Anyone have a guess or specifics as to the viability of the Kawasaki water craft engine on a mkIII...? I can get the whole craft for 1250.. It is a 4 cyl , fuel injected beast...Somewhere in the 2006 or 7 vintage...Herb Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=403146#403146 ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 05:49:22 AM PST US From: WhiskeyVictor36@aol.com Subject: Kolb-List: Rotax 447 RPM Varies Problem with Rotax 447 not holding steady RPM. After climbing to altitude and reducing the RPM to my cruise setting of 5,000, the RPM slowly decreases to about 4,000. I bump the throttle lever and get it back up to 5,000, and then it continues on up to 5,500 or even to 6,000 RPM. I cannot seem to get it to stay at 5,000 RPM. I had this problem about a year ago and at that time I tried cleaning the carb, fuel tank, installed new fuel lines and added fresh fuel (auto regular with up to 10% ethanol but adding stabil for control of that) to no avail. The problem eventually went away on it's own. Now it's back. Any ideas? Bill Varnes Original Kolb FireStar Audubon NJ Do Not Archive ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 07:23:14 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Pre-Purchase Inspection, Firestar From: "Allonsye" Thanks for the reply Richard. I'll incorporate your checklist. Not going to see it for another week or so. We're not too distant from each other. Perhaps a rendezvous in the future. P. -------- "A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving" Lao Tzu (570-490 BC) Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=403148#403148 ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 07:46:38 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine From: Richard Girard Herb, How long is a piece of string? Same answer as your engine question. Rick Girard do not archive On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 7:18 AM, herbgh wrote: > > Anyone have a guess or specifics as to the viability of the Kawasaki water > craft engine on a mkIII...? I can get the whole craft for 1250.. It is a 4 > cyl , fuel injected beast...Somewhere in the 2006 or 7 vintage...Herb > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=403146#403146 > > -- Zulu Delta Mk IIIC Thanks, Homer GBYM It isn't necessary to have relatives in Kansas City in order to be unhappy. - Groucho Marx ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 09:12:06 AM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Pre-Purchase Inspection, Firestar From: "Dennis Thate" Do a weight & Balance to make sure your aft CG Kolb is a safe flying machine. Many lighter Kolb Pilots need some nose ballast to be safe. -------- Both optimists and pessimists contribute to our society. The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist the parachute. ~Gil Stern Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=403155#403155 Attachments: http://forums.matronics.com//files/dscn4207_680.jpg ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 09:58:30 AM PST US From: Herb Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine Thought someone might recognize the engine and know more about its suitability....Heavy to be sure... string? 2 stroke or 4 stroke? Herb On 06/22/2013 09:46 AM, Richard Girard wrote: > Herb, How long is a piece of string? Same answer as your engine question. > > Rick Girard > do not archive > > > On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 7:18 AM, herbgh > wrote: > > > > > Anyone have a guess or specifics as to the viability of the > Kawasaki water craft engine on a mkIII...? I can get the whole > craft for 1250.. It is a 4 cyl , fuel injected beast...Somewhere > in the 2006 or 7 vintage...Herb > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=403146#403146 > > > ========== > arget="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List > ========== > http://forums.matronics.com > ========== > le, List Admin. > ="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution > ========== > > > -- > Zulu Delta > Mk IIIC > Thanks, Homer GBYM > > It isn't necessary to have relatives in Kansas City in order to be > unhappy. > - Groucho Marx > > * > > > * ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 11:26:29 AM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine From: Richard Neilsen Engine conversions take considerable effort even if it is well suited for the application. Don't think that engine has been done before. Heavy is bad. The string response was worthless. Rick Neilsen 1st redrive VW on Kolb Sent from my iPhone On Jun 22, 2013, at 4:18 AM, "herbgh" wrote: > > Anyone have a guess or specifics as to the viability of the Kawasaki water craft engine on a mkIII...? I can get the whole craft for 1250.. It is a 4 cyl , fuel injected beast...Somewhere in the 2006 or 7 vintage...Herb > > > > > Read this topic online here: > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=403146#403146 > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 12:19:17 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: akron flyin of B-29 From: Gary Aman Got to see it up close and hear those 3350's sing. ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 12:49:12 PM PST US From: Herb Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine rick I know all the standard stuff about engine conversions...how much time it takes to make a custom engine install...And the Kolb MkIII out West used a three cyl variant ...but was not sure of the manufacture ;Yamaha? . I was more interested in actual , hands on, experience with this engine(not that many 4 stroke , Kawasaki engines in water craft...maybe just this one...?) ...Someone who would know its actual wt etc.. or who had did some preliminary research.. I did the usual search with Google and Yahoo... Of course, I doubted that anyone was using it on a Kolb...never hurts to ask...unless someone wants to discuss string theory! :-) I have to get back to the boat dealer on Monday to get the model number,,,and so on.. Without going through the hoops; guessing that a full vw with redrive would max out the MkIII airframe...and naturally I know where to get the answers to that... :-) Herb On 06/22/2013 01:26 PM, Richard Neilsen wrote: > > Engine conversions take considerable effort even if it is well suited for the application. Don't think that engine has been done before. Heavy is bad. > > The string response was worthless. > > Rick Neilsen > 1st redrive VW on Kolb > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Jun 22, 2013, at 4:18 AM, "herbgh" wrote: > >> >> Anyone have a guess or specifics as to the viability of the Kawasaki water craft engine on a mkIII...? I can get the whole craft for 1250.. It is a 4 cyl , fuel injected beast...Somewhere in the 2006 or 7 vintage...Herb >> >> >> >> >> Read this topic online here: >> >> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=403146#403146 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > > ________________________________ Message 12 ____________________________________ Time: 04:00:34 PM PST US From: David Kulp Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Rotax 447 RPM Varies Hi Bill, This may be a bit like a house painter making a suggestion to Rembrandt, but I had a problem like that with my FireFly with a 447. What I found was that when it would fluctuate like that it was mostly due to the attitude of the plane. When I'd decrease RPMs it seemed the FF would slowly go to a steeper angle of attack which would put more resistance on the engine, slowing it down. Then when I gave it more throttle I believe the AOA lessened and I'd pick up speed and the revs would follow. When it does it for you watch your VSI if you have one, and play with giving a bit of back pressure on the stick. See if that affects the RPMs. Two strokes can be pretty cantankerous at times! Dave Kulp Bethlehem, PA FireFly 11DMK BTW, I got my wings and horiz stab back from the repairman (following my trailer hangar rolling 1 1/4 revolutions in Hurricane Sandy) at Shoestring and put them back on Thursday. I've still got a few things to take care of before I commit aviation, but I sure am getting anxious! On 6/22/2013 8:48 AM, WhiskeyVictor36@aol.com wrote: > Problem with Rotax 447 not holding steady RPM. > After climbing to altitude and reducing the RPM to my cruise setting > of 5,000, the RPM slowly decreases to about 4,000. I bump the > throttle lever and get it back up to 5,000, and then it continues on > up to 5,500 or even to 6,000 RPM. I cannot seem to get it to stay at > 5,000 RPM. > I had this problem about a year ago and at that time I tried cleaning > the carb, fuel tank, installed new fuel lines and added fresh fuel > (auto regular with up to 10% ethanol but adding stabil for control of > that) to no avail. The problem eventually went away on it's own. Now > it's back. Any ideas? > Bill Varnes > Original Kolb FireStar > Audubon NJ > Do Not Archive > * > > > * ________________________________ Message 13 ____________________________________ Time: 04:16:16 PM PST US From: TheWanderingWench Subject: Kolb-List: Spark Plug question I've always used NGK BR8ES plugs (solid cap) on both my 503 and 582 engines .=0A=0AToday a friend showed me NGK BR8EIX (solid cap) plugs which he's jus t started using. NGK claims that this Iridium fine wire plug causes smoothe r idling, faster spark resulting in quicker engine starts, and less fouling . He's used it for about 5 hours in his 582 and says that the claims are ju stified. The plugs are twice as expensive as the BR8ES, but have a longer =0Alife. (Just how much longer he didn't know.)=0A=0A=0ADo any of you have experience with these plugs, and what's your verdict?=0A=0AArty Trost=0ASan dy, Oregon=0A=0A-=0Awww.LessonsFromTheEdge.com/uladventure2009.htm=0A=0A =0A"Life's a daring adventure or nothing"=0AHelen Keller=0A=0A=0A"I refuse to tip toe through life just to arrive safely at death." ________________________________ Message 14 ____________________________________ Time: 06:58:38 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Kawasaki 4 cyl fuel injected engine From: Richard Girard http://www.jetski.com/article.cfm?id=618 Rick On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 2:48 PM, Herb wrote: > > rick > > I know all the standard stuff about engine conversions...how much time > it takes to make a custom engine install...And the Kolb MkIII out West used > a three cyl variant ...but was not sure of the manufacture ;Yamaha? . > > I was more interested in actual , hands on, experience with this > engine(not that many 4 stroke , Kawasaki engines in water craft...maybe > just this one...?) ...Someone who would know its actual wt etc.. or who > had did some preliminary research.. > > I did the usual search with Google and Yahoo... Of course, I doubted > that anyone was using it on a Kolb...never hurts to ask...unless someone > wants to discuss string theory! :-) > > I have to get back to the boat dealer on Monday to get the model > number,,,and so on.. > > Without going through the hoops; guessing that a full vw with redrive > would max out the MkIII airframe...and naturally I know where to get the > answers to that... :-) Herb > > > On 06/22/2013 01:26 PM, Richard Neilsen wrote: > >> >> Engine conversions take considerable effort even if it is well suited for >> the application. Don't think that engine has been done before. Heavy is bad. >> >> The string response was worthless. >> >> Rick Neilsen >> 1st redrive VW on Kolb >> >> Sent from my iPhone >> >> On Jun 22, 2013, at 4:18 AM, "herbgh" wrote: >> >>> >>> Anyone have a guess or specifics as to the viability of the Kawasaki >>> water craft engine on a mkIII...? I can get the whole craft for 1250.. It >>> is a 4 cyl , fuel injected beast...Somewhere in the 2006 or 7 vintage...Herb >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> Read this topic online here: >>> >>> http://forums.matronics.com/**viewtopic.php?p=403146#403146 >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> >> > > -- Zulu Delta Mk IIIC Thanks, Homer GBYM It isn't necessary to have relatives in Kansas City in order to be unhappy. - Groucho Marx ________________________________ Message 15 ____________________________________ Time: 07:11:54 PM PST US Subject: Re: Kolb-List: Spark Plug question From: Richard Girard I have to run Iridium plugs in my HKS. They last over 200 hours and come preset at the right gap. For the 582 consider that Iridium is brittle and you will need to close the gap down to .016/.018 for the 582 ignition to fire it efficiently (it comes set at .036 or so). One tap too many and you get to buy another twice as expensive plug. Up to you, but the BR8ES works good and lasts a long time. Rick Girard do not archive On Sat, Jun 22, 2013 at 6:16 PM, TheWanderingWench < thewanderingwench@yahoo.com> wrote: > I've always used NGK BR8ES plugs (solid cap) on both my 503 and 582 > engines. > > Today a friend showed me NGK BR8EIX (solid cap) plugs which he's just > started using. NGK claims that this Iridium fine wire plug causes smoother > idling, faster spark resulting in quicker engine starts, and less fouling. > He's used it for about 5 hours in his 582 and says that the claims are > justified. The plugs are twice as expensive as the BR8ES, but have a longer > life. (Just how much longer he didn't know.) > > Do any of you have experience with these plugs, and what's your verdict? > > Arty Trost > Sandy, Oregon > > www.LessonsFromTheEdge.com/uladventure2009.htm > > "Life's a daring adventure or nothing" > Helen Keller > > > "I refuse to tip toe through life just to arrive safely at death." > > * > > * > > -- Zulu Delta Mk IIIC Thanks, Homer GBYM It isn't necessary to have relatives in Kansas City in order to be unhappy. - Groucho Marx ________________________________ Message 16 ____________________________________ Time: 08:09:30 PM PST US Subject: Kolb-List: Re: Rotax 447 RPM Varies From: "Richard Pike" If you have a variable pitch prop, try changing the pitch a bit to load the torque curve in a different location. I had a 532 that would do that when the load on the prop was too great. Might not work, but at least it is a cheap experiment... -------- Richard Pike Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops) richard (at) bcchapel(dot)org Kingsport, TN 3TN0 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 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