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On Sun, 8 Jan 2006 14:04:32 EST
Lehanover@aol.com wrote:
>
> In a message dated 1/8/2006 12:03:03 PM Eastern Standard Time,
> rlwhite@comcast.net writes:
>
> Thanks Bill,
>
> After reading the horror stories of engine starts without a load, I had
> vowed to not even try. For once I made the right choice. Maybe Tracy
> needs to add a rev limiter feature so that the engine won't run over
> 9000 rpm for those others that insist on doing it. Sounds like an easy
> software change to me. :) Anybody want to go over 9K? (Except Lynn)
>
> Bob W.
>
>
>
>
>
> Once years ago, a young fellow asked me to help him tune up his rotary at
> the track. I walked over and he fired up and revved his engine to a scream and
> it 4 cycled solid for a second. I backed away from the flywheel scatter zone,
> giving him the cut sign.
>
> The engine returned to idle, and ran normally, (for a Bridgeport) at 2,000
> RPM).
>
> He thought the awful sound (of the rev limiter) was a tuning problem.
> With no load, from zero to the Moon is 1/4 second. The Moon is 59,000 miles
> past ruined engine.
>
> A rev limiter on both leading and trailing is required since either will
> take it past the other rev limiter with no load. I run two MSDs with 9,600 RPM
> chips. I like to hear it hit the limiters once in a while just to be sure the
> driver is trying real hard.
>
> With a prop mounted, damage is unlikely.
>
> A first start check list should confirm wheels chocked. Plane tied to
> immovable object. Throttle closed. Experienced pilot at the controls. Full up
> elevator. Toe brakes on. A positive method for shutting off ignition energy, with
> switch or breaker exposed and with a finger on that switch, or breaker. An
> adult standing by with a Co2 fire bottle with the pin pulled.
> Assume that the fuel system will leak and cause a fire. It will. Maybe not
> this time, but it will.
>
> Assume that oil pressure will drop to zero right after you look at it the
> first time. Maybe not this time, but it will. Lost prime, oil lines not filled,
> coolers not filled, sump not full, plastic pressure gage line melted in two,
> Fram car filter can split open, oil line not tightened fully.
>
> Assume that all of your help are blithering idiots. Including that imbecile
> you put in the cockpit. Explain at length that anyone seeing anything they
> even suspect as abnormal, should wave an arm overhead so as to alert the cockpit
> guy to shut it off. No other thoughts are to be transmitted in this fashion.
> Just shut it off. If somebody points at anything having forgotten the wave
> rule, shut it off. If somebody runs away, shut it off. If somebody puts both
> hands over their mouth and backs away slowly, shut it off
>
> To the pilot weight equivalent in the cockpit, anybody waves an arm, or you
> think you saw anything that may have looked even remotely like an arm waving,
> you shut it off. Shut it off after one minute no matter what. To check the
> water and to see if the shut it off scheme really works.
>
>
>
> And the number one killer of rotaries............................No water
> flow on start up.
>
> The pump is mounted high on the block. The air in the block takes several
> heat cycles to remove. A dose of air in the pump, stops flow cold. I hold one
> hand on the water pump outlet, and wait for one minute for heat at the outlet.
> No heat? shut it off and get the air out of the pump. Once heat starts to
> build, I take the cap off of the swirl pot and watch water enter the pot. The
> pump will stop no matter what the water temperature. So just because it gets
> hot means nothing. Let it run for one minute, and shut it down to check that
> water level at the top of the pump. It takes me three heat cycles to get all of
> the air out. And my system works great.
>
> Do all of this outside the hanger. That way all of the planes in the hanger
> will not be lost when the hanger goes up in flames.
>
> If you are alone, Don't even try it.
>
> Lynn E. Hanover
>
Hi Lynn,
Sound like great rules to follow. I have at least one advantage. My
water pump is at the lowest point in the system, and I ran it for at
least an hour before starting the engine. (Of course EWP's don't work,
but I'll find that out later.) :)
I did have a couple of people standing around with fire extinguishers,
but it would have been good to put a bit more of a plan in place.
I was pleasantly surprised that my leaks were minimal. There is one
very small drip and it may be coming from the oil vent tube. I never
got around to running it anywhere. The caution about lines not being
properly tightened also applies to the gas lines. I tested the fuel
system before trying to start the engine. I found one fitting weeping
slightly. The fitting was only finger tight. I checked the others and
found two more that weren't tight but were, at least temporarily, not
leaking a drop.
Bob W.
--
http://www.bob-white.com
N93BD - Rotary Powered BD-4 (first engine start 1/7/06)
Custom Cables for your rotary installation -
http://www.roblinphoto.com/shop/
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