---------------------------------------------------------- Stratus-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Tue 03/16/04: 5 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 12:44 PM - 317 hours report (HINDE,FRANK (HP-Corvallis,ex1)) 2. 05:36 PM - Re: carb ice (Hugh & Sherry MacKenzie) 3. 05:40 PM - Re: oil temp (Hugh & Sherry MacKenzie) 4. 05:45 PM - Re: oil temp (gary) 5. 07:28 PM - Re: oil temp (Mike & Kathy Pfeifer) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 12:44:14 PM PST US From: "HINDE,FRANK (HP-Corvallis,ex1)" Subject: Stratus-List: 317 hours report --> Stratus-List message posted by: "HINDE,FRANK (HP-Corvallis,ex1)" Finally found the time to go take the cowling off the Stratus and found the following. 1) Crack in RH upper engine mount, same place as others have found but only about 1/4" long. Will make a reinforcing plate from a triangle of 1/8th mild steel welded on top of the existing mount. I intend to gas weld this in place. 2) Prop bearing with almost imperceptable noise but pretty sure noise is coming from the bearings and not the seals. For $14 each it is a pretty simple job to replace them...The worse part is retensioning the belt...:) 3) Engine vibration at cruise was an imbalance in carb cable pull. I have know about this for a while because the EGT's were much higer on one side than the other at just above idle to 2000 rpm. The EGTS balanced at cruise however. Running the engine without prop revealed where the engine roughness was coming from. I was glad it was not bearing noise from the engine...:) End of report! Frank 601 HDS 317 hours, Stratus with Ram heads ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 05:36:35 PM PST US From: "Hugh & Sherry MacKenzie" Subject: RE: Stratus-List: carb ice --> Stratus-List message posted by: "Hugh & Sherry MacKenzie" My inspector here in Canada made me install carb heat. Made something myself. During my five years and 100 hours or so, never needed it or had any sense of icing issues. But still apply it per my checklist. Hugh 601 HDS -----Original Message----- From: owner-stratus-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-stratus-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of The Meiste's Subject: Re: Stratus-List: carb ice --> Stratus-List message posted by: "The Meiste's" With two winters & one summer with mine I have yet to notice any problems. Seems to be plenty of under cowl heat so I believe the carbs are sucking fairly warm (and dry) air at all times. FWIW I also flew a Rotax 503 powered plane for 250 hours prior to my Zodiac construction. The carbs were the Bing 54 style, and were mounted outside of the aircraft. They also performed well with no icing problems. Kelly Stratus 601 HD +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > John, > "Bing carbs don't have a venturi that creates icing", so > carb heat is not needed, or so I've read. Alternative Engines Vol I > > Larry McFarland 601HDS (Stratus) > > > > > Just wondering if I need to worry about carb ice with these Bing carbs. > > Not that I could ever do anything about it since I have no "carb heat" to > > apply... > > > > John Karnes > > 601 HDS ________________________________ Message 3 _____________________________________ Time: 05:40:28 PM PST US From: "Hugh & Sherry MacKenzie" Subject: RE: Stratus-List: oil temp --> Stratus-List message posted by: "Hugh & Sherry MacKenzie" My pan didn't have the sender installed. The pan essentially has a nut welded to it that the sender is screwed into. Generally my water and oil temps are mid range except when it is really hot out (30 Dec.C+). Need to keep the rpm's down when it gets hot. Hugh 601 HDS -----Original Message----- From: owner-stratus-list-server@matronics.com [mailto:owner-stratus-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of gary Subject: Stratus-List: oil temp --> Stratus-List message posted by: "gary" is everyone using the oil temp sender that came in the oil pan? mine came with a note that said it was a 250 degree sender and 300 degree guage (or vice versa) so it may be off a bit. I think I swapped out the sender for a matched unit, but in any case I have to check my calibration. After two weeks of installing a whole new radiator, duct and cowling work, my WOT runup today still showed high oil temps (up to 255 when water stayed at 200). The oil pan is totally exposed to the prop blast and it was 35 degrees F outside! No way this could be right (could it?). I'll definitely do a boiling water dip to check the calibration. Where would the oil temp sender be in a car if it was installed (probably not stock in the EA-81)? I've got my redline at 260 like the manual says but I always cut it back at 255. Seems way too high. Water temp is solid now, 195 normal and 200 after WOT for a few minutes. Had to pull back to idle because of oil temp. kinda frustrating but I'll get it. Gary ________________________________ Message 4 _____________________________________ Time: 05:45:33 PM PST US From: "gary" Subject: Re: Stratus-List: oil temp --> Stratus-List message posted by: "gary" I went for a flight with my new cooling system yesterday and the water temp stayed below 190 but the oil temp crept up to 255. I landed and had to check my oil temp sensor because I was hoping it was wrong. I checked the sender with the wiring and guage as-is in the plane and it was right on 210-ish when I put it in boiling water. So, the bigger radiator worked great but I made my oil temp worse with my duct for the radiator. It's blocking the normal airflow thru the cowling so I think the muffler is just cooking the back of the oil pan where the sender is without any airflow. I'm going to try one more bandaid. I'll try to let more in front around the rest of the oil pan and over the muffler (the bottom of the oil pan sticks thru my duct and is open to fresh air - thought that would do it) and I'll try to pull the air out by making some outlets on the bottom of each side of the cowling. Could I get some details or pictures of how the 601 and Kitfox airflow works? Mike, what size radiator does your Kitfox use? I see the little hole in the front of the 601 cowling for the oil pan and the big inlet around the prop, but what does the outlet area look like? Wouldn't this dump the hot cowling air into the radiator? I like your setup Larry but I heard a radiator won't cool as good on the ground if it's too far back so I'm trying to keep it in front without changing anything. Maybe something in-between. Everybody says to add an oil cooler but if nobody else with a Stratus needs one then it's definitely my airflow. My next big step would be to reweld the exhaust to move it back, or go straight back with duals and SuperTrap's but I think that would loose power and I hate to change the engine when there are plenty out there working fine stock. I'd have to order a new radiator to put where the muffler is, then make a dedicated fiberglass duct. I'm not sure of what size to get because it would have to be smaller than the one I have (that I know works) so it will fit between the exhaust in back of the oil pan. Or get a RAM exhaust that goes forward. Confused right now but I'll keep up the "experimental" work. I'm really earning those letters inside my cockpit. I've got a ton of pictures that I'm trying to get on a website so everyone can see (and help!). I'm having as much luck doing that as I am with my cooling system design work. But, I'm persistant - I'll get both squared away someday. Thanks, Gary ________________________________ Message 5 _____________________________________ Time: 07:28:04 PM PST US From: "Mike & Kathy Pfeifer" Subject: RE: Stratus-List: oil temp --> Stratus-List message posted by: "Mike & Kathy Pfeifer" Gary, I have the same size radiator as Larry, it's a VW Rabbit unit that I purchased from Lockwood Aviation Supply Inc. only difference is that mine is currently rotated 90 degrees from Larry's installation but, I'm getting very interested in copying his design. As for your oil temp problem, if your gauges are telling the truth then I would look at the muffler/oil pan spacing. When I installed my muffler it was less than 3/4 inches away from the oil pan and even though the pan will be in direct air flow from the front cowl opening I plan to install a heat shroud/baffle between the two. My engine is the Asian dual carb variety and I had to cutoff the exhaust flanges on the Stratus exhaust and re-weld them as the mounting studs are clocked different from the US model. So, my muffler is probably a bit closer than the standard Stratus installation. Don't know yet how it will work as haven't run the engine yet. Making a living keeps slowing up the project!! Mike >Could I get some details or pictures of how the 601 and Kitfox airflow >works? >Mike, what size radiator does your Kitfox use?