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Hi Randy
1. Do you have a coolant pressure gauge? If
you have a leak between combustion chamber and coolant galley - running the
engine should cause a rise in pressure due to combustion gases pushing into
coolant galley.
2. Take off the radiator cap and see if you can find
oil floating on top (not a guaranteed test - but clean water top would be
good).
3. Also check after a period of time and see whether
you see coolant leaking back into combustion chamber.
Removing leading plug from both rotors and rotate the engine with starter -
if you spark plug hole resembles "ole Faithful" then you likely have a
leak.
I would want to make certain I had a leak before tearing
down what appears to be a roaring engine.
I flew from North Carolina to Louisiana with my coolant
pressure slowly increasing the entire trip. When I got there I pulled the
two plugs and coolant shot feet into the air when I triggered the starter.
Yes, I had blown a coolant "O" ring.
Good Luck
Ed
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 6:53 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Not a good sign
AcroSport
biplane 13B using EC3., EM3, dash C psru, 74X64 Sterba prop. Hobbs
shows 5 hours of ground running...WOT static shows 6500RPM 170 HP, 17 GPM.
Well dream on concerning that number. After about ten minutes of variable
throttle settings we read water and oil at 158 degrees, day was cool for
Houston, 70 degrees. To approximate take off power, and time, ran
6000RPM for four minutes and observe water at 208 F oil about the same, and
climbing slowly. Hope she cools better in flight. At my next trip to the hangar I pulled the dip
stick and found traces of condensed oil/water slime on the rod. The crank
case oil was at the proper level and was clear and appeared normal. Back
in December 2007 when I assembled this 13B I had a lot of problems because the
oil and water seals would not stay in their grooves...appeared to be too
small, had to slide the housings around to get closure and allow the assembly
bolts to pass through. So who knows what twisted condition they may now
lay in. Losing a little water this way is like begin a little pregnant,
isn't it? I checked the oil/vapor separator and it shows nothing from the
engine after these 5 hours of run time. At 72 years of age, I really
want to install the wings and fly this 15 year project for some gratification
before the delay of a complete engine re-do. What do you
think?
Randy
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