---------------------------------------------------------- Stratus-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sun 08/10/03: 7 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 06:47 AM - Re: Stratus Test Message (The Meiste's) 2. 09:15 AM - My heads being reworked (billvt@together.net) 3. 09:31 AM - A Stratus Coil / Ignition Observation (billvt@together.net) 4. 04:39 PM - Re: My heads being reworked (The Meiste's) 5. 07:43 PM - Re: Stratus Test Message (RLucka@aol.com) 6. 07:52 PM - Stratus Engine Mount (RLucka@aol.com) 7. 08:12 PM - Re: A Stratus Coil / Ignition Observation (RLucka@aol.com) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 06:47:06 AM PST US From: "The Meiste's" Subject: Re: Stratus-List: Stratus Test Message --> Stratus-List message posted by: "The Meiste's" > > Testing good, Kelly. We're up! > > Thanks Matt. > > Gary Yup, looks like we're up & running! I'll second the motion ....... THANKS Matt! Now for an update on my engine out. Looks like Frank was right (again). My #1 coil was definitely toast (measures .2 ohms), and I suspect my chip is history also as after replacing the coil the engine still won't start. I've got the TP45 NAPA chip on order. Does anyone have any info on the correct procedure on how to swap the Stratus chip with the TP45 NAPA chip? The only info I see on the "AIRSOOB" list is how to convert a standard single ign distributor to a dual ign distributor. Kelly Thats easy...Your Nippon Denso ignitor chip has blown up...They are notoriously feeble. But get a resistance meter and measure the primary coil resistance, I had an internal short on my primary coil which dropped the resistance to half of the standard Soobaru manual value..this means the chip was switching TWICE as much current...pop! Whats more they cost $287 new! Now you have dropped to the floor I have a couple of options for you (I spent $100 for a sceond hand dizzy and it died immediatly I fired it up!) My second Stratus ignition also died eventually Option 1, (cheapest) Go to Napa and buy a GM 4 pin ignitor chip for $45. This is a heavy duty model and wire to to trigger from the soob pick up coil. This a bullet proof unit...You can even short it out completly and it will still work afterwards. Wiring diagram is on the "AIRSOOB" list ( in the files section) at www.yahoogroups.com Option 2 make a plate with two pu coils mounted 180 deg apart that fis in the dizzy...this is good for if you lose both igniton systems. This is what I got. Option 3 Check out Ram's new distributor. Apparently the standard dizzy bearings wear out in time...check side play on the shaft at the rotor... I don't know much avout this option yet, but my dizzy is wearing. Frank ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 09:15:27 AM PST US From: "billvt@together.net" Subject: Stratus-List: My heads being reworked --> Stratus-List message posted by: "billvt@together.net" Glad to see that our list is up and running. A bit of status on my Stratus which now has 261 hours. Even though I had checked my valve guides often and they had not moved, I would get this little nagging thought once in a while about valve guide failures. My last flight I was cranking along at 4800 rpm ( 115 mph) and I felt a sudden vibration and the first thing that popped into my head was "Valve Guides". I think it was a bit of turbulance but the fact remained, I was no longer relaxed flying this thing. I don't want to have to baby this thing at a reduced RPM so as not to worry about it. So on 8/4, I pulled my heads and shipped them off to Ron at Ram Performance. He will do a valve job, install new stepped guides (properly), install stainless steel valves and high performance valve springs. In the meantime there was a fair amount of deposits on the piston tops so I cleaned that off. Ron said he would have the heads on their way back to me in one week. I'm looking forward to getting back in the air. On the up side, the weather here in the Northeast has been cruddy for many days now so I'm not missing much good flying. On another note, I will be changing my reduction drive belt at thge 300 hour mark. The belt is manufacured by Jason and is an HTB 880-8M-60 (which means by the way 880 mm long, 8M tooth pitch, 60 mm wide). Stratus charges $79.95 for the belt. I sent an e-mail to Jason directly asking them for a name of a distributor but have not gotten a reply in several days. Anyone know of a source for these belts so I can compare prices? Regards, Bill ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 09:31:22 AM PST US From: "billvt@together.net" Subject: Stratus-List: A Stratus Coil / Ignition Observation --> Stratus-List message posted by: "billvt@together.net" After reading Kelly's note with regard to his coil and ignition module being bad, I thought about an experience I had with the Stratus ignitions way back during building. I had just gotten my engine running and one day I had shut it down and inadvertenly left my backup ignition switch on with the engine not running. Several minutes later I smelled something getting hot and found the ignition switch on, the coil hot and the backup ignition module box, very hot. I then started the engine and low and behold, my backup ignition would not work. So after freaking out, kicking the dog, etc. I measured the coil resitance and the backup coil read about .4 ohms while the good #1 coil read 1 ohm. I thought for sure that the ignition module was cooked also. I then swapped coils and to my surprise, the backup module was OK???? I eventually replaced the coil and have been running with the same backup module for 260 hours now. I know Frank H. had an ignition module or two fail and Kelly has had one. Maybe the chip they use in the backup module is differnt than the standard Sub chip that is in the distributor?? So, do not leave ignition powered without the engine running!! Regards, Bill ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 04:39:38 PM PST US From: "The Meiste's" Subject: Re: Stratus-List: My heads being reworked --> Stratus-List message posted by: "The Meiste's" > On another note, I will be changing my reduction drive belt at thge 300 > hour mark. The belt is manufacured by Jason and is an HTB 880-8M-60 (which > means by the way 880 mm long, 8M tooth pitch, 60 mm wide). Stratus charges > $79.95 for the belt. I sent an e-mail to Jason directly asking them for a > name of a distributor but have not gotten a reply in several days. > > Anyone know of a source for these belts so I can compare prices? Bill, I purchased a Jason belt a few years back for my Challenger thru our purchasing agent were I work (like Radar on MASH he's got lot's of connections). I'll see if he can get me a price so you have something to compare too. Great that your heads are off being reworked! Can't what until I can get to do it also!! But unlike your area this part of the country has perfect for flying, and my flying club is even having their club picnic today .... and I'm grounded! Kelly ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 07:43:29 PM PST US From: RLucka@aol.com Subject: Re: Stratus-List: Stratus Test Message --> Stratus-List message posted by: RLucka@aol.com In a message dated 8/10/2003 9:47:31 AM Eastern Standard Time, meiste@essex1.com writes: > Now for an update on my engine out. Looks like Frank was right (again). My > #1 coil was definitely toast (measures .2 ohms), and I suspect my chip is > history also as after replacing the coil the engine still won't start Kelly, I wouldn't throw out the coil just yet. A coil is like a step-up transformer and the long wires inside exhibit low resistances. It is only if you have a short between both windings (primary & secondary) or if a wire inside the coil breaks (showing high resistance, as what happened to me that one time) is when the coil is bad. It looks to me your problem is the chip that needs replacing, as you already discovered when the engine won't start. Sorry, I don't have info on how to replace the chip. Dick ________________________________ Message 6 _____________________________________ Time: 07:52:13 PM PST US From: RLucka@aol.com Subject: Stratus-List: Stratus Engine Mount --> Stratus-List message posted by: RLucka@aol.com Hi List I just wanted to tell everyone that I got the upper-right engine mount fixed. As you may recall, I discovered a second crack immediately following the weld that fixed the first crack. The crack started from the top of the mount, just forward and above the rear-most nut that attches the mount to the engine head. The crack ended where the tab is welded to the side of the mount that is attched to the engine by a smaller bolt. The aviation welder welded a steel rod all along the top of the mount from where the top gusset ends all the way to near where the forward-most nut attaches the mount to the head. He also welded the crack closed on both sides. In effect, he thickened the top mount and it looks like there should be no more crack, but I will continue to watch that mount carefully. I thought everyone would like to know... Dick (CH601-HDS, Stratus, 156 hours) ________________________________ Message 7 _____________________________________ Time: 08:12:14 PM PST US From: RLucka@aol.com Subject: Re: Stratus-List: A Stratus Coil / Ignition Observation --> Stratus-List message posted by: RLucka@aol.com In a message dated 8/10/2003 12:35:09 PM Eastern Standard Time, billvt@together.net writes: > I then started the engine and low and behold, my backup ignition would not > work. So after freaking out, kicking the dog, etc. I measured the coil > resitance and the backup coil read about .4 ohms while the good #1 coil > read 1 ohm. I thought for sure that the ignition module was cooked also. I > then swapped coils and to my surprise, the backup module was OK???? > Well, it looks like my previous post about Kelly's coil possibly being OK should be ignored. There is something to a drop in resistance in the coil that can render the coil ineffective. The wires inside a coil is coated with enamel and provides some insulation to the wires. If the wires get hot, as Bill described in his previous post, it melts the enamel and thus the wires touch each other, which explains the drop in resistance. Well, I learned something today... Dick