Received-SPF: none
 receiver=logan.com; client-ip=206.18.177.51; envelope-from=rlwhite@comcast.net
Date: Fri, 9 Feb 2007 19:11:01 -0700
From: Bob White <rlwhite@comcast.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] First engine start!
Message-Id: <20070209191101.97c9623a.rlwhite@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To: <list-1827395@logan.com>
References: <list-1827395@logan.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Hi Bill,

Fantastic, in spite of the minor problems.  Glad to hear it started
right away.  I don't have any other suggestions on the starter except
make sure it's the right one.  There are two that are very similar
except for the number of teeth on the starter gear.  The correct one is
Duralast No. 16896 for the 86-91 non-turbo standard transmission RX-7.
I purchased mine at AutoZone. Otherwise check the starter and the ground
as already mentioned.  If for some reason you need to increase the
clearance on the gears it would probably be sufficient to file one of
the holes a little larger.  I would be surprised if that's the problem
though.

I cranked my engine until I had oil pressure before first start.  It
didn't take too long, and pressure came up to 50 psi.  It was a good
thing too because my mistake was to leave the throttle wide open.  I
also had a prop on it.

Bob W.  (0.7 hours flight time today.)

On Fri, 09 Feb 2007 18:54:45 -0500
Bill Bradburry <bbradburry@allvantage.com> wrote:

> My engine started immediately today!  Probably between first and second 
> blades!  It also ran very smoothly.  Thank God and thank you, Tracy!
> 
> The only problem was...I removed the oil pressure switch about a year 
> ago and never got around to putting a plug in the hole...You would not 
> believe how much oil that engine can put through a 1/8 pipe fitting in a 
> few seconds!!!
> 
> So, anyway, here is my present difficulty....The starter will only try 
> to move the prop about 5 degrees or so and then starts to click.
> I have been using the starter to turn the engine to get oil and water to 
> move through (apparently not enough to discover the missing plug!) and 
> the engine started effortlessly and ran for a few seconds.  After the 
> leak, I turned the engine over with the starter to determine where the 
> leak was located.  It worked fine all these times.
> 
> After the leak was plugged, I made another attempt to start and this 
> time the starter would not move the engine.  I thought that maybe the 
> battery was down, so I charged the battery and tried again.  No Joy! 
> Then I moved my truck over and tried to jump start the battery.  Still 
> no joy.
> Now one thing is happening that I am suspicious of..When the starter 
> engages and fails to turn the engine, the pinion stays engaged in the 
> flywheel and will only retract when the prop is moved a little.  I 
> really do not think this is a problem, since if the engine should start, 
> the pinion would probably retract...??
> 
> Does anyone have any ideas?
> Here is my plan for tomorrow:
> I am going to try and move the starter a little in the mount on Tracy's 
> drive to provide a little relief in case it is binding.  I do not know 
> if this is possible...(how much slop is in the starter hole on the drive)
> If this fails to fix it, I will take the starter off and to a shop to 
> have it tested.  It is a rebuilt starter and has only been operated 
> about less than 10 times, so I am doubtful of this as the problem.
> The engine turns over by hand both by using the flywheel and by using 
> the prop, so I am doubtful that the drive is somehow out of alignment (I 
> hope Tracy has some input here)
> 
> So, what do you think??
> 
> Thanks,
> Bill B
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
> Archive and UnSub:   http://mail.lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/


-- 
N93BD - Rotary Powered BD-4 - http://www.bob-white.com
First Flight:  11/23/2006 7:50AM - 2.4 Hours Total Time
Cables for your rotary installation - http://www.roblinphoto.com/shop/