---------------------------------------------------------- RotaxEngines-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Fri 09/05/14: 11 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 02:49 AM - Re: AN fuel line fittings (Jay Hyde) 2. 07:08 AM - Bad Carburetor Floats (Don Maxwell) 3. 08:18 AM - Re: Bad Carburetor Floats (Roger Lee) 4. 11:39 AM - Re: AN fuel line fittings (Guy Buchanan) 5. 11:46 AM - Re: Bad Carburetor Floats (Guy Buchanan) 6. 11:55 AM - Re: Bad Carburetor Floats (Gale Derosier) 7. 11:59 AM - Re: AN fuel line fittings (FLYaDIVE) 8. 04:16 PM - Re: AN fuel line fittings (Guy Buchanan) 9. 04:41 PM - Re: AN fuel line fittings (FLYaDIVE) 10. 05:39 PM - Re: Bad Carburetor Floats (Roger Lee) 11. 07:30 PM - Re: Re: Bad Carburetor Floats (John Hauck) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 02:49:37 AM PST US From: "Jay Hyde" Subject: RE: RotaxEngines-List: AN fuel line fittings Hello Guy, One problem with brass is that it may corrode in such a way to block your small orifices- although I think that with fuel it would be ok. The reason for this is that brass will corrode in the presence of water (as do other metals, but I have noticed that brass will do that in a pain in the arse way in particular situations). Because you are using brass in your fuel lines it shouldn't be a problem- except where you have small orifices. But it looks as if you have that figured out. Johannesburg Jay ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HH Enterprises * Aircraft assembly, repair, wiring and avionics * Flight instruction * General and Electrical Engineering services (NHD Elec Eng, BTech Elec Eng, GDE ELec Eng) * Great dinner parties and conversation * General adventuring, climbing, kayaking and living Blog: www.rawhyde.wordpress.com Cel: 083 300 8675 Email: jay@horriblehyde.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From: owner-rotaxengines-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-rotaxengines-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of Guy Buchanan Sent: 05 September 2014 02:45 AM Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: AN fuel line fittings Lots of people do, indeed possibly most out there. I used them throughout, my only question was whether to use aluminum of steel. I used steel and brass on fuel, and used steel on a couple of the oil lines; the rest aluminum. Hope it works, as I'm not quite flying yet. Guy Buchanan Ramona, CA Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded Now a glider pilot, too. On 9/4/2014 3:00 PM, frank3 wrote: Has any one gone to the trouble (and expense) of using AN fittings on their fuel or oil lines, i.e. used Aeroquip or Stratoflex fittings? How'd that work out for ya? -------- Frank McDonald Kitfox S7 912S, Sensenich Composite 3 Blade Acworth, GA Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=430002#430002 ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 07:08:56 AM PST US From: Don Maxwell Subject: RotaxEngines-List: Bad Carburetor Floats Has anyone heard recently of new Rotax four-stroke engines with faulty carburetor floats? I'm curious because I know of three brand new engines--one 912ULS, two 914UL--that have had multiple floats fill with gasoline and sink within the first 50 hours of operation in new airplanes. Each of these engines has had at least two bad floats and one had 3 of 4. I don't know the engine serial numbers, but all three engines are on brand new, factory-fresh S-LSA Seareys, all produced within a few weeks of each other. The sunken floats caused flooding in all three engines--so severe that the engine wouldn't run at low throttle settings and soon the 914s wouldn't run at all with either fuel pump on. One owner had to make an emergency landing by turning the fuel pumps off until the engine stumbled and then switching one on just long enough to get it running again. One of the 914s had fuel staining in an air box drain hose. Fuel was discovered running from the 912 carburetor vent while burping the engine during preflight. Lockwood is assisting the owners, and one hopes that by now Rotax has been informed. But The Question is: How many more bad floats are in service? ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 08:18:13 AM PST US Subject: RotaxEngines-List: Re: Bad Carburetor Floats From: "Roger Lee" I haven't heard of any sudden failed in floats on new planes. That said it is possible Bing got a bad batch. It is the outside coating on the float that seals the airy foam inside from the fuel. If the outside gets a hole then fuel can enter the inside of the float. The floats and carbs are made by Bing here in the US. I have seen sunken floats, but it isn't that common. I did just have a bad float on an RV12 with 60 hrs. Symptoms are fuel smell and fuel coming out the vent. If you suspect a bad float by a rough running engine and fuel venting then just pop the bowl off and look at the floats in the fuel. The pins that stick out the side of the float should be equal to the fuel level. If the float is bad that pin and float will be down under the fuel level. These are covered by warranty if you are still under your warranty. -------- Roger Lee Tucson, Az. Light Sport Repairman - Maintenance Rated Rotax Repair Center - Heavy Maint. Rated Home 520-574-1080 TRY HOME FIRST Cell 520-349-7056 Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=430059#430059 ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 11:39:03 AM PST US From: Guy Buchanan Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: AN fuel line fittings Thankfully the brass parts are limited to 3/8" openings and I don't plan on running alcohol fuel, so it shouldn't be a problem. Guy On 9/5/2014 2:47 AM, Jay Hyde wrote: > > Hello Guy, > > One problem with brass is that it may corrode in such a way to block > your small orifices- although I think that with fuel it would be ok. > The reason for this is that brass will corrode in the presence of > water (as do other metals, but I have noticed that brass will do that > in a pain in the arse way in particular situations). Because you are > using brass in your fuel lines it shouldnt be a problem- except where > you have small orifices. > > But it looks as if you have that figured out > > Johannesburg Jay > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > *HH Enterprises *** > > * Aircraft assembly, repair, wiring and avionics > * Flight instruction > * General and Electrical Engineering services > > (NHD Elec Eng, BTech Elec Eng, GDE ELec Eng) > > * Great dinner parties and conversation > * General adventuring, climbing, kayaking and living > > Blog: www.rawhyde.wordpress.com > > Cel: 083 300 8675 > > Email: jay@horriblehyde.com > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > *From:*owner-rotaxengines-list-server@matronics.com > [mailto:owner-rotaxengines-list-server@matronics.com] *On Behalf Of > *Guy Buchanan > *Sent:* 05 September 2014 02:45 AM > *To:* rotaxengines-list@matronics.com > *Subject:* Re: RotaxEngines-List: AN fuel line fittings > > Lots of people do, indeed possibly most out there. I used them > throughout, my only question was whether to use aluminum of steel. I > used steel and brass on fuel, and used steel on a couple of the oil > lines; the rest aluminum. Hope it works, as I'm not quite flying yet. > > Guy Buchanan > Ramona, CA > Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded > Now a glider pilot, too. > > > On 9/4/2014 3:00 PM, frank3 wrote: > > > > > Has any one gone to the trouble (and expense) of using AN fittings on their fuel or oil lines, i.e. used Aeroquip or Stratoflex fittings? How'd that work out for ya? > > > > -------- > > Frank McDonald > > Kitfox S7 > > 912S, Sensenich Composite 3 Blade > > Acworth, GA > > > > > > > > > > Read this topic online here: > > > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=430002#430002 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > * * > * * > http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RotaxEngines-List > http://forums.matronics.com > http://www.matronics.com/contribution > * * > * > > > * ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 11:46:27 AM PST US From: Guy Buchanan Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: Bad Carburetor Floats Sounds like having one or two in the repair kit might not be a bad idea. Speaking of which, what 912 spares do you guys generally carry? I was thinking: * Float * Needle * Fuel filter * Spark plug(s) * 1 qt. oil Can't think of anything else. Carb boot? Guy Buchanan Ramona, CA Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded Now a glider pilot, too. On 9/5/2014 7:08 AM, Don Maxwell wrote: > Has anyone heard recently of new Rotax four-stroke engines with faulty > carburetor floats? > > I'm curious because I know of three brand new engines--one 912ULS, two > 914UL--that have had multiple floats fill with gasoline and sink > within the first 50 hours of operation in new airplanes. Each of these > engines has had at least two bad floats and one had 3 of 4. I don't > know the engine serial numbers, but all three engines are on brand > new, factory-fresh S-LSA Seareys, all produced within a few weeks of > each other. > > The sunken floats caused flooding in all three engines--so severe that > the engine wouldn't run at low throttle settings and soon the 914s > wouldn't run at all with either fuel pump on. One owner had to make > an emergency landing by turning the fuel pumps off until the engine > stumbled and then switching one on just long enough to get it running > again. > > One of the 914s had fuel staining in an air box drain hose. Fuel was > discovered running from the 912 carburetor vent while burping the > engine during preflight. > > Lockwood is assisting the owners, and one hopes that by now Rotax has > been informed. > > But The Question is: How many more bad floats are in service? > > * > > > * ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 11:55:19 AM PST US Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: Bad Carburetor Floats From: Gale Derosier With a Rotax you could go all the way to Alaska and back without using any oil. There is virtually no oil consumption on the road tax per Lockwood at Oshkosh. On Sep 5, 2014 1:50 PM, "Guy Buchanan" wrote: > Sounds like having one or two in the repair kit might not be a bad idea. > Speaking of which, what 912 spares do you guys generally carry? I was > thinking: > > - Float > - Needle > - Fuel filter > - Spark plug(s) > - 1 qt. oil > > Can't think of anything else. Carb boot? > Guy Buchanan > Ramona, CA > Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded > Now a glider pilot, too. > > On 9/5/2014 7:08 AM, Don Maxwell wrote: > > Has anyone heard recently of new Rotax four-stroke engines with faulty > carburetor floats? > > I'm curious because I know of three brand new engines--one 912ULS, two > 914UL--that have had multiple floats fill with gasoline and sink within the > first 50 hours of operation in new airplanes. Each of these engines has had > at least two bad floats and one had 3 of 4. I don't know the engine serial > numbers, but all three engines are on brand new, factory-fresh S-LSA > Seareys, all produced within a few weeks of each other. > > The sunken floats caused flooding in all three engines--so severe that the > engine wouldn't run at low throttle settings and soon the 914s wouldn't run > at all with either fuel pump on. One owner had to make an emergency > landing by turning the fuel pumps off until the engine stumbled and then > switching one on just long enough to get it running again. > > One of the 914s had fuel staining in an air box drain hose. Fuel was > discovered running from the 912 carburetor vent while burping the engine > during preflight. > > Lockwood is assisting the owners, and one hopes that by now Rotax has been > informed. > > But The Question is: How many more bad floats are in service? > > > * > > > * > > ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 11:59:56 AM PST US Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: AN fuel line fittings From: FLYaDIVE Hi Jay & Gaggle: Brass does not corrode. It can oxidize the same as aluminum, forming Brass Oxide. As for small orifices - There should NOT be any small orifices in a fuel system. There is a simple and basic requirement that the fuel line have a diameter large enough to supply twice the full power hourly fuel flow of the engine under a gravity feed system. Now, there are BRASS nozzles used on many Lycoming & Continental engines for the Primer Lines which are quite small. In the range of 0.060" Diameter. So, once again orifice size in not an issue. MANY carburetors use brass nozzles and valve seats internally - So, once again orifice size in not an issue. Sorry Jay, your information is not correct. Barry On Fri, Sep 5, 2014 at 5:47 AM, Jay Hyde wrote: > Hello Guy, > > One problem with brass is that it may corrode in such a way to block your > small orifices- although I think that with fuel it would be ok. The reason > for this is that brass will corrode in the presence of water (as do other > metals, but I have noticed that brass will do that in a pain in the arse > way in particular situations). Because you are using brass in your fuel > lines it shouldn't be a problem- except where you have small orifices. > > But it looks as if you have that figured out... > > Johannesburg Jay > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > *HH Enterprises * > > - Aircraft assembly, repair, wiring and avionics > - Flight instruction > - General and Electrical Engineering services > > (NHD Elec Eng, BTech Elec Eng, GDE ELec Eng) > > - Great dinner parties and conversation > - General adventuring, climbing, kayaking and living > > > Blog: www.rawhyde.wordpress.com > > Cel: 083 300 8675 > > Email: jay@horriblehyde.com > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > > *From:* owner-rotaxengines-list-server@matronics.com [mailto: > owner-rotaxengines-list-server@matronics.com] *On Behalf Of *Guy Buchanan > *Sent:* 05 September 2014 02:45 AM > *To:* rotaxengines-list@matronics.com > *Subject:* Re: RotaxEngines-List: AN fuel line fittings > > > Lots of people do, indeed possibly most out there. I used them throughout, > my only question was whether to use aluminum of steel. I used steel and > brass on fuel, and used steel on a couple of the oil lines; the rest > aluminum. Hope it works, as I'm not quite flying yet. > > Guy Buchanan > Ramona, CA > Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded > Now a glider pilot, too. > > > On 9/4/2014 3:00 PM, frank3 wrote: > > > > Has any one gone to the trouble (and expense) of using AN fittings on their fuel or oil lines, i.e. used Aeroquip or Stratoflex fittings? How'd that work out for ya? > > > -------- > > Frank McDonald > > Kitfox S7 > > 912S, Sensenich Composite 3 Blade > > Acworth, GA > > > Read this topic online here: > > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=430002#430002 > > > http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RotaxEngines-List > > http://forums.matronics.com > > http://www.matronics.com/contribution > > > * > > > * > > ________________________________ Message 8 _____________________________________ Time: 04:16:28 PM PST US From: Guy Buchanan Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: AN fuel line fittings I think I agree on the corrosion, unless it's electrolytic. As to the orifices, there is one in the stock return line. Not sure what size it is, but it is pretty small, certainly smaller than .06". Guy Buchanan Ramona, CA Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded Now a glider pilot, too. On 9/5/2014 11:59 AM, FLYaDIVE wrote: > Hi Jay & Gaggle: > > Brass does not corrode. It can oxidize the same as aluminum, forming > Brass Oxide. As for small orifices - There should NOT be any small > orifices in a fuel system. There is a simple and basic requirement > that the fuel line have a diameter large enough to supply twice the > full power hourly fuel flow of the engine under a gravity feed system. > Now, there are BRASS nozzles used on many Lycoming & Continental > engines for the Primer Lines which are quite small. In the range of > 0.060" Diameter. So, once again orifice size in not an issue. MANY > carburetors use brass nozzles and valve seats internally - So, once > again orifice size in not an issue. > Sorry Jay, your information is not correct. > > Barry > > > On Fri, Sep 5, 2014 at 5:47 AM, Jay Hyde > wrote: > > Hello Guy, > > One problem with brass is that it may corrode in such a way to > block your small orifices- although I think that with fuel it > would be ok. The reason for this is that brass will corrode in > the presence of water (as do other metals, but I have noticed that > brass will do that in a pain in the arse way in particular > situations). Because you are using brass in your fuel lines it > shouldnt be a problem- except where you have small orifices. > > But it looks as if you have that figured out > > Johannesburg Jay > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > *HH Enterprises *** > > * Aircraft assembly, repair, wiring and avionics > * Flight instruction > * General and Electrical Engineering services > > (NHD Elec Eng, BTech Elec Eng, GDE ELec Eng) > > * Great dinner parties and conversation > * General adventuring, climbing, kayaking and living > > Blog: www.rawhyde.wordpress.com > > Cel: 083 300 8675 > > Email: jay@horriblehyde.com > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > > *From:*owner-rotaxengines-list-server@matronics.com > > [mailto:owner-rotaxengines-list-server@matronics.com > ] *On Behalf > Of *Guy Buchanan > *Sent:* 05 September 2014 02:45 AM > *To:* rotaxengines-list@matronics.com > > *Subject:* Re: RotaxEngines-List: AN fuel line fittings > > Lots of people do, indeed possibly most out there. I used them > throughout, my only question was whether to use aluminum of steel. > I used steel and brass on fuel, and used steel on a couple of the > oil lines; the rest aluminum. Hope it works, as I'm not quite > flying yet. > > Guy Buchanan > Ramona, CA > Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded > Now a glider pilot, too. > > > On 9/4/2014 3:00 PM, frank3 wrote: > > > > > Has any one gone to the trouble (and expense) of using AN fittings on their fuel or oil lines, i.e. used Aeroquip or Stratoflex fittings? How'd that work out for ya? > > > > -------- > > Frank McDonald > > Kitfox S7 > > 912S, Sensenich Composite 3 Blade > > Acworth, GA > > > > > > > > > > Read this topic online here: > > > > http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=430002#430002 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > * * > > * * > > http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RotaxEngines-List > > http://forums.matronics.com > > http://www.matronics.com/contribution > > * * > > * > > ist" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RotaxEngines-List > tp://forums.matronics.com > _blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution > > * > > > * > > > * ________________________________ Message 9 _____________________________________ Time: 04:41:11 PM PST US Subject: Re: RotaxEngines-List: AN fuel line fittings From: FLYaDIVE Guy: You cannot agree to the corrosion as it is nonexistent. Did you read my post? Just in case you missed it:- Hi Jay & Gaggle: Brass does not corrode. It can oxidize the same as aluminum, forming Brass Oxide. As for small orifices - There should NOT be any small orifices in a fuel system. There is a simple and basic requirement that the fuel line have a diameter large enough to supply twice the full power hourly fuel flow of the engine under a gravity feed system. Now, there are BRASS nozzles used on many Lycoming & Continental engines for the Primer Lines which are quite small. In the range of 0.060" Diameter. So, once again orifice size in not an issue. MANY carburetors use brass nozzles and valve seats internally - So, once again orifice size in not an issue. Sorry Jay, your information is not correct. Barry ======================== And if you wonder what my qualifications are for making my statements, I was a QA Manager and Technical Sales Engineer for a metal coatings company for 8 years and a QA Test Engineer for 20+ working years of my life. Add to that the little fact about brass being used in carbs for decades you will realize Jay in incorrect. Barry On Fri, Sep 5, 2014 at 7:15 PM, Guy Buchanan wrote: > I think I agree on the corrosion, unless it's electrolytic. As to the > orifices, there is one in the stock return line. Not sure what size it is, > but it is pretty small, certainly smaller than .06". > > Guy Buchanan > Ramona, CA > Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded > Now a glider pilot, too. > > > On 9/5/2014 11:59 AM, FLYaDIVE wrote: > > Hi Jay & Gaggle: > > Brass does not corrode. It can oxidize the same as aluminum, forming > Brass Oxide. As for small orifices - There should NOT be any small > orifices in a fuel system. There is a simple and basic requirement that > the fuel line have a diameter large enough to supply twice the full power > hourly fuel flow of the engine under a gravity feed system. Now, there are > BRASS nozzles used on many Lycoming & Continental engines for the Primer > Lines which are quite small. In the range of 0.060" Diameter. So, once > again orifice size in not an issue. MANY carburetors use brass nozzles and > valve seats internally - So, once again orifice size in not an issue. > Sorry Jay, your information is not correct. > > Barry > > > On Fri, Sep 5, 2014 at 5:47 AM, Jay Hyde wrote: > >> Hello Guy, >> >> One problem with brass is that it may corrode in such a way to block your >> small orifices- although I think that with fuel it would be ok. The reason >> for this is that brass will corrode in the presence of water (as do other >> metals, but I have noticed that brass will do that in a pain in the arse >> way in particular situations). Because you are using brass in your fuel >> lines it shouldn't be a problem- except where you have small orifices. >> >> But it looks as if you have that figured out... >> >> Johannesburg Jay >> >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> >> *HH Enterprises * >> >> - Aircraft assembly, repair, wiring and avionics >> - Flight instruction >> - General and Electrical Engineering services >> >> (NHD Elec Eng, BTech Elec Eng, GDE ELec Eng) >> >> - Great dinner parties and conversation >> - General adventuring, climbing, kayaking and living >> >> >> >> Blog: www.rawhyde.wordpress.com >> >> Cel: 083 300 8675 >> >> Email: jay@horriblehyde.com >> >> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >> >> >> >> *From:* owner-rotaxengines-list-server@matronics.com [mailto: >> owner-rotaxengines-list-server@matronics.com] *On Behalf Of *Guy Buchanan >> *Sent:* 05 September 2014 02:45 AM >> *To:* rotaxengines-list@matronics.com >> *Subject:* Re: RotaxEngines-List: AN fuel line fittings >> >> >> >> Lots of people do, indeed possibly most out there. I used them >> throughout, my only question was whether to use aluminum of steel. I used >> steel and brass on fuel, and used steel on a couple of the oil lines; the >> rest aluminum. Hope it works, as I'm not quite flying yet. >> >> Guy Buchanan >> Ramona, CA >> Kitfox IV-1200 / 912-S / Warp 3cs / 500 hrs. and grounded >> Now a glider pilot, too. >> >> >> >> On 9/4/2014 3:00 PM, frank3 wrote: >> >> >> >> >> Has any one gone to the trouble (and expense) of using AN fittings on their fuel or oil lines, i.e. used Aeroquip or Stratoflex fittings? How'd that work out for ya? >> >> >> >> -------- >> >> Frank McDonald >> >> Kitfox S7 >> >> 912S, Sensenich Composite 3 Blade >> >> Acworth, GA >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Read this topic online here: >> >> >> >> http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=430002#430002 >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RotaxEngines-List >> >> http://forums.matronics.com >> >> http://www.matronics.com/contribution >> >> >> >> * >> >> ist" target="_blank">http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?RotaxEngines-List >> tp://forums.matronics.com >> _blank">http://www.matronics.com/contribution >> >> * >> >> > > > * > > > * > > ________________________________ Message 10 ____________________________________ Time: 05:39:57 PM PST US Subject: RotaxEngines-List: Re: Bad Carburetor Floats From: "Roger Lee" If you look at the shear numbers of Rotax engines with Bing carbs on them then any failure rate is very minuscule. They tend to hold up well for long periods. I don't know of a single person that carries carb parts as spares. -------- Roger Lee Tucson, Az. Light Sport Repairman - Maintenance Rated Rotax Repair Center - Heavy Maint. Rated Home 520-574-1080 TRY HOME FIRST Cell 520-349-7056 Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=430088#430088 ________________________________ Message 11 ____________________________________ Time: 07:30:13 PM PST US From: "John Hauck" Subject: RE: RotaxEngines-List: Re: Bad Carburetor Floats 20 years ago I flew a 17,400.0 sm flight. I had a spare set of spark plugs for my 912 80 hp. In 1993, there was no 912UL or ULS. I had 100 hours on the oil when I got to North Pole, Alaska. Got the guys at Bradley Sky Ranch to run me down to NAPA to pick up two qts of Mobile I and a Fram PH3614. I dumped my spare qt of oil in the tank, and never carried any spare oil after that. That was 3,000.0 plus hours and three 912's ago. On that flight I flew 232.0 hours in 41 days. Averaged 8 hours per day for the 30 days I actually flew. The only engine problem I had was occasional spark plug lead fouling. When that happened, I would feel a periodic tapping in the airframe. Next landing, pull the plugs, take my pen knife, clean out the lead, put them back in and keep on flying. I was extremely impressed with the 912 on that flight, and every long flight since then. I did have a carb tuning problem that I encountered once I got up into BC where the temps dropped on me. Didn't know it at the time, nor did any of the Rotax experts from Eric Tucker right on down, what to do with me as I sat weathered-in at Deadhorse, AK. Only on my return to Alabama, where I had no fear of losing a carb part if I should be so club fisted, did I finally solve my problem. On a flight down to Ronnie Smith's in Lucedale, MS, I was flying with some slower ULs. Flying at about 4,200 rpm there was a really rough spot. I don't know why, but I pulled on the enricher. The engine picked up 200 rpm. Push off the enricher, the engine lost 200 rpm and ran a rough again. When I landed I raised the fuel needles one notch. That fixed my problem, a midrange, very lean condition. Never had that problem with my 912ULS's. They have run great, right out of the box, hot or cold weather. Getting ready to fly from Alabama to my friends at the Rock House, near Burns Junction, Oregon. Plan to depart first light Sunday morning, if I can get up and get going that early. Route of flight is Sherman, TX, Clovis, NM, Los Lunas, NM, Gallup, NM, Monument Valley, UT, Bryce Canyon, UT, Ely, NV, Owyhee, NV, and finally the Rock House, OR. We are having our annual/semi-annual Kolb (and any other airplane) Flyin. A bunch of us have been getting together since 2003 when we had our first Monument Valley Kolb Unplanned/Unorganized Flyin. Plan to RON Sherman, Los Lunas, MV, and Elko. Give me a shout if you have time for a cup of coffee and I am in your neck of the woods. john hauck Kolb MKIII Titus, Alabama 334-315-2621 If you look at the shear numbers of Rotax engines with Bing carbs on them then any failure rate is very minuscule. They tend to hold up well for long periods. I don't know of a single person that carries carb parts as spares. -------- Roger Lee Tucson, Az. Light Sport Repairman - Maintenance Rated Rotax Repair Center - Heavy Maint. Rated Home 520-574-1080 TRY HOME FIRST Cell 520-349-7056 Read this topic online here: http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=430088#430088 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message rotaxengines-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/RotaxEngines-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/rotaxengines-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/rotaxengines-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.