---------------------------------------------------------- RotaxEngines-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 11/01/08: 9 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 12:21 AM - Matronics Email List Fund Raiser During November! (dralle@matronics.com) 2. 02:32 AM - Re: setting prop pitch (David Joyce) 3. 03:33 AM - Re: Changing Coolant (Carlos Trigo) 4. 05:49 AM - Re: setting prop pitch (Dave Austin) 5. 07:38 AM - Re: setting prop pitch (benburb) 6. 09:05 AM - Re: setting prop pitch (Roger Lee) 7. 09:12 AM - Re: Changing Coolant (Roger Lee) 8. 07:12 PM - Re: setting prop pitch (benburb) 9. 09:14 PM - Re: setting prop pitch (Roger Lee) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 12:21:56 AM PST US From: dralle@matronics.com Subject: RotaxEngines-List: Matronics Email List Fund Raiser During November! Dear Listers, Each November I hold a PBS-like fund raiser to support the continued operation and upgrade of the List services at Matronics. It's through soley through the Contributions of List members that these Matronics Lists are possible. You have probably noticed that there are no banner ads or pop-up windows on any of the Matronics Lists or related web sites such as the Forums site ( http://forums.matronics.com ), Wiki site ( http://wiki.matronics.com ), or other related pages such as the List Search Engine ( http://www.matronics.com/search ), List Browse ( http://www.matronics.com/listbrowse ), etc. This is because I believe in a List experience that is completely about the sport we all enjoy - namely Airplanes and not about annoying advertisments. During the month of November I will be sending out List messages every few days reminding everyone that the Fund Raiser is underway. I ask for your patience and understanding during the Fund Raiser and throughout these regular messages. The Fund Raiser is only financial support mechanism I have to pay all of the bills associated with running these lists. Your personal Contribution counts. Once again, this year I've got a terrific line up of free gifts to go along with the various Contribution levels. Most all of these gifts have been provided by some of the vary members and vendors that you'll find on Matronics Lists and have been either donated or provided at substantially discounted rates. This year, these generous people include Bob Nuckolls of the AeroElectric Connection (http://www.aeroelectric.com/), Andy Gold of the Builder's Bookstore (http://www.buildersbooks.com/), and Jon Croke of HomebuiltHELP (http://www.homebuilthelp.com/). These are extremely generous guys and I encourage you to visit their respective web sites. Each one offers a unique and very useful aviation-related product line. I would like publicly to thank Bob, Andy, and Jon for their generous support of the Lists again this year!! You can make your List Contribution using any one of three secure methods this year including using a credit card, PayPal, or by personal check. All three methods afford you the opportunity to select one of this year's free gifts with a qualifying Contribution amount!! To make your Contribution, please visit the secure site below: http://www.matronics.com/contribution I would like to thank everyone in advance for their generous financial AND moral support over the years. I know it sounds a little cliche, but you guys really do feel like family. Thank you for your support! Matt Dralle Matronics Email List Administrator ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 02:32:39 AM PST US From: "David Joyce" Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: setting prop pitch Ben, For VP/CS props the PFA recommended a max static fine pitch figure of 5650, which also works pretty well for the go around situation when you slam on full throttle from approach configuration at 60 knots. If you are talking about a fixed pitch prop then I guess other considerations will come in and you may want to compromise some take off performance for better cruise performance. Regards, David Joyce, G-XSDJ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ben Burbridge" Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2008 2:56 AM Subject: RotaxEngines-List: setting prop pitch > > > I have a 912UL with a two-blade Warp Drive prop, and am not getting static > rpm of 5,200. I am about to re-set the pitch, and can't remember the > recommended degrees of pitch. Does anybody know? Thanks. Ben > > > ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 03:33:13 AM PST US From: "Carlos Trigo" Subject: RE: RotaxEngines-List: Changing Coolant I am far from being an expert in cooling, and also about EVANS+, but I do know that Evans itself, every time you buy a bottle, gives you a sticker to be put in your coolant cap that says: NEVER ADD WATER!! Further, engine manufacturers that I am aware of (car engine conversions), do recommend : When you change your coolant from water or water/antifreeze mix to Evans, or backwards, you MUST thoroughly flush your cooling system! That's what I have been told Carlos > -----Original Message----- > > > Michael, > > There is no real need to flush the cooling system after using Evans +. > It is mainly propylene glycol, which mixes nicely with water. By the > way, there is no problem with adding water to Evans+. What happens is > just that any amount of water will tend to lower the advertised higher > boiling point of pure Evans. > Ordinary 50/50 mix contains ethylene glycol. No problem with traces of > Evans in 50/50 . > ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 05:49:03 AM PST US From: "Dave Austin" Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: setting prop pitch Ben, A static pitch of 5200 rpm will give you great climb but very poor cruise. Unless you are flying from a short strip I'd suggest 4800 static. Dave Austin 601HDS - 912 ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 07:38:56 AM PST US Subject: RotaxEngines-List: Re: setting prop pitch From: "benburb" Guys- thanks for all the responses. Seems we have many opinions. I haven't changed my setting for 13 years (912UL and 2-blade Warp Drive) I have always gotten about 4800 max rpm WOT, straight and level. I get great climb rates on my Kitfox III. I got to thinking that 4800 meant I wasn't getting all 80hp I paid for. Suggestions ranged from 4800 to 5,650 max static. Looks like it my not be a critical issue. Ben Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=211466#211466 ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 09:05:14 AM PST US Subject: RotaxEngines-List: Re: setting prop pitch From: "Roger Lee" Ben, Rotax designed the 912's to run optimally between certain rpms for several reasons (4800-5200 for best torque, 5000 peak). Cruise should usually be around 5000 give or take a hundred rpm depending on your plane. Some like to cruise at even higher rpms, 5500 is max continuous , but not preferable. Running your engine to get only 4800 at WOT is lugging your engine too far down and in fact over time won't be good for it. Rotax jumped on a few Mfgs. for running the engine at 5100 WOT or lower. Rotax classes teach setting the max rpm for 5500 WOT unless you have a need for special performance. On my plane 4950 rpm on takeoff puts me right at 5500 rpm flat and level full throttle. Using the ground adjustable prop is a compromise between several flight characteristics. You are loosing "tremendous" flight performance from your plane with a WOT set at 4800 flat and level. Try 5500 WOT flat and level. Then get back here and tell us your experience. If it is like most people you will think you have a new turbo charged engine. I guarantee it. -------- Roger Lee Tucson, Az. Light Sport Repairman - Maintenance Rated Rotax Service Center 520-574-1080 Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=211482#211482 ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 09:12:19 AM PST US Subject: RotaxEngines-List: Re: Changing Coolant From: "Roger Lee" Evans can mix with water, but then you don't have Evans any longer just a plain diluted anti freeze at what ever concentration of the water mix ratio you added. The whole idea behind Evans was to eliminate the water. This for the most part got rid of the water boiling point / boil over issue. Once you put water in Evans and you add more and more water the Boiling point starts to drop. Give or take a few degrees and "generally" speaking a 50/50 mix boils at around 270F and by removing all the water and just keeping the base anti freeze the boiling point goes up to about 370F, but pure anti freeze does not absorb and transfer heat as well as pure water. -------- Roger Lee Tucson, Az. Light Sport Repairman - Maintenance Rated Rotax Service Center 520-574-1080 Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=211557#211557 ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 07:12:56 PM PST US Subject: RotaxEngines-List: Re: setting prop pitch From: "benburb" Roger- thanks for the input. I'm excited about the prospect of feeling like I have a turbo-charged engine- especially after 13 years at 4800. I am a little puzzled though when you said you run 5500 WOT and recommend the same for me, yet you said "Some like to cruise at even higher rpms, 5500 is max continuous , but not preferable." If it's not preferable... Ben -------- Kitfox III/IV. Rotax 912UL. Warp Drive 2 blade. On and off Aerocet amphibs. Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=211704#211704 ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 09:14:19 PM PST US Subject: RotaxEngines-List: Re: setting prop pitch From: "Roger Lee" Ben, My prop is set to achieve 5500 WOT flat and level at the altitude range I usually fly. I cruise at 5000-5100. Rotax does recommend a little higher rpms if you burn 100LL all the time. Run 5200-5350. This will help some on the lead build up and use a fuel additive like Decalin if you use 100LL.. Set the prop to 5500 WOT flat and level, but that is not where you cruise. When the prop is set to 5500 you benefit from the prop pitch during other times such as in takeoff with better climb performance, lower throttle setting for cruise means a little better fuel economy. If it is set for 5500 and lets say you bounce up off the runway and you go "oh no I'm going to drop it in", then when you give it full throttle trying to save yourself the engine will spin up faster to save you, compared to, if you had too big a bite of air with the prop and it had to struggle to spin up. If the prop is pitched too much you will need to give it more throttle/fuel to achieve your cruise speed. When it is set for 5500 you will be able to pull back on the throttle/less fuel and still cruise at the speed you want. You will have a higher top end speed, too. Mind you we are comparing 5500 to your 4800 here. A 700 rpm gain will make a big difference. I know some that cruise at 5500 WOT just to cruise. This will cause extra wear over time. My question is why? Do you need to get somewhere a few miles per hour faster all the time? Why wear and tear any extra on the engine than need be. We want it to be reliable for its 1500 hours and more. Try it, I know you will be happier. -------- Roger Lee Tucson, Az. 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