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Yes, that was Andy (forget his last name). You need understand his lubrication system configuration which was plugs-up as is mine. No one else with Plugs Up has had that problem that I am aware of.

Two things about his set up doomed it from my view point.

1. He had approx 18-24" of distance between his pump pickup and the bottom of his sum - clearly a long way uphill if the pump had drained and was not primed. He told me that it often took over a minute for the oil pressure to come up.

2. Instead of using a metal tube, he used a rubber hose. Any small air leak in a hose and the pump will suck air rather than heavy oil. The day his engine seized, he had been making numerous take offs for Young Eagles, stopping the engine each time to let the on and off board. Then restarting the engine each time probably with inadequate oil pressure - it eventually caught up with him.

Given that combination, it is clear that Andy had numerous starts with little/no oil pressure for a long period of time, not surprising that the bearings finally wore out without adequate lubrication. I would not completely agree with Dave - Plugs Up itself was not the problem, inadequate understanding or attention to the details of lubrication subsystem was the problem.

Dave now uses one of powersports spur gear PSRUs, the one that weights 65 lbs and cost $6500. He apparently went through several Ross drives and having gone through one myself I can understand - although not agree - with his views concerning the planetary drive. Simply a less than adequate design as embodied in the Ross drive. Tracy's drive is a different breed of cat altogether.

FWIW

Ed A

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

From: Echo Lake Fishing Resort (Georges Boucher)

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Friday, May 20, 2005 12:12 PM

Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Sized 13b

Group FWIW

I had heard of a Christavia Mk IV that had a 13B with plugs up that "sized up". I tracked him down & phoned him, he told me that the engine sized while taxing for take off. I asked him what the problem was he told me that he didn't know, he said that he sent the engine back to Atkins. I sent Atkins an email to enquire about the reason for the seizure. To my surprise at 7:30 this morning Atkins phoned me,

he said that the engine was mounted "plugs up" with a home made dry sump system that allowed the engine to run without oil pressure on start up until the system primed itself. The results was that all the bearings in the engine were "wiped out" completely (didn't size up really just stopped). Atkins claims the plugs up added to the problem. He said he no longer uses "planetary "gear reduction drive & that he uses Castrol 20/50 instead of synthetic also said he had a customer with over 2000 hrs, He mumbled something when I mentioned Tracy's 1450 hours but I didn't get what it was. I guess he called me to avoid speculation that the engine failure was a result of his workmanship. I asked him about engine balancing, he said they do "static" balancing in house (what ever that means). so it seems like this was "builder error" He ran it for over 200hrs, replaced it with a220hp Franklin 6 cyl. & is as happy with the change as " a pig in s..."

Thought you might be interested.

Georges B.

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