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Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2006 18:44:18 -0700
From: Bob White <rlwhite@comcast.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: First Engine Start
Message-Id: <20060107184418.8655f749.rlwhite@comcast.net>
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I'm happy to report that I actually started my engine today.  The only
terrifying event was due to a momentary brain fade on my part.  For
some reason I was thinking the throttle had to be all the way in to be
off.  Not sure why I got that into my head.  Maybe because I've kept it
in that position just so it was out of the way while I worked on the
electrical for the last month.  Any way, I cranked it over, it sort of
fired a little but did't start.  I hit the cold start switch and BAM,
it took off at WOT.  Sorry to say I don't know what the RPM reading was
as I was flipping every switch I could get my hands on to get it
stopped.  Glad I had primed the oil pump with the starter the other
day.  So the first 10 seconds or so of my first start was at WOT.  Also
glad I had a prop on it.

I got that all sorted out and restarted the engine.  I ran it for 10-20
minutes and noted some random parameters.  Today's goal was to start the
engine, not take data.  I ran till the oil temp read 156 and water 182
before I shut it down.  Oil pressure at first start indicated 97 psi.
I didn't check at shutdown.

The gear box seemed to rattle around 1000 rpm, but it idles pretty good
above 1200 or so.  (I need to start reading some of the EC2 and EM2
instructions.)  I made no attempt to set mixture or anything, and all of
the sensors are using the default settings.  The actual values may
change as I get calibration data.  I do have Tracy's latest self
adjusting mixture feature, and it did seem like the engine smoothed out
as it ran.

 tried to take some video of the first start, but for some reason it
didn't work. The tape moved but nothing was recorded.  Later I recorded
running the engine again.  As soon as I relearn how to get it onto the
computer, I will post a short clip on my web site.

*Jerry Hey's Cool Tube Exhaust system.

The best I can tell, this exhaust is doing a great job.  I took one
quick reading from the wing tip on the exhaust side of the plane.  I
saw 97 db on mode C and about 3000 rpm (Radio Shack sound meter).  I
will get more complete data in days to come.  There were a half dozen
people standing around watching all this, and no one mentioned anything
about the exhaust noise.

All I can say is I'm thrilled to reach this milestone.

Bob W.

-- 
http://www.bob-white.com
N93BD - Rotary Powered BD-4 (The engine is running)
Custom Cables for your rotary installation -
http://www.roblinphoto.com/shop/