flyrotary@lancaironline.net Mailing List Archive

Message

John,

Have you checked you fuel filter(s)? Composite planes often begin to plug them after some run time with small debris that remained after you thought the tanks were clean. Happened to a E-racer near me -- had flown a number of times, then engine started not generating full power -- checked the filters and they were almost plugged.

Bill Schertz
KIS Cruiser # 4045

----- Original Message -----

From: Ed Anderson

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Sunday, October 03, 2004 9:04 PM

Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Low power 20B operation

I could be wrong, but I sort of doubt its an apex seal, John.

The reason is a bad apex seal will generally make starting very difficult (two chambers down on compression), but once started an engine with a bad apex seal will generally produce power (just not as much as with good seals) enough to get you up into the 4000-5000 rpm. Generally just a normal compression gauge will tell you whether you have a bad apex seal as you will get one face with good compression and two with low compression. But, of course, a professional Mazda compression test is the ultimate.

You generally will also find a bit of vibration when an apex seal goes as the power pulses are no longer in balance.

It sounds to me like your are not getting enough fuel if you can not make enough power to get beyond 2300 rpm. Even if you were not staging and getting all four injectors, two should easily get you up into the 4000-5000 rpm range. I presume the throttle body is opened fully when you are at 2300 rpm - no slipping throttle cables? No pinched fuel hoses? No collapsed air filters/hoses?

Ed Anderson

----- Original Message -----

From: Russell Duffy

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Monday, October 04, 2004 8:45 PM

Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Low power 20B operation

After fixing the injector switches, EC2, PCM and triple checking all the ignition and injector circuits I STILL have an engine that runs like sh.t. 2300 rpm full throttle. I'm beginning to suspect an internal problem like an apex seal or O rings. Tomorrow I'm having a professional mazda compression test done.

Is it running incredibly rough? It's semi-likely that you could have a stuck apex seal as long as the engine has sat around. I think Ed is our resident expert on trying to free those. Even an unprofessional compression test would tell the tale.

John (Please tell me it's not a blown engine)

Your neighbors must get tired of that black cloud over your house all the time. I'm starting to think you and Al need to take a trip to New Orleans and have a consult with one of the voodoo folks :-)

Seriously, I'm sorry to hear of your continued problems. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be. Hang in there.

Rusty (feeling better about my engine with every message I read)