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

From: Jim Sower

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 10:04 PM

Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Coolant Pressure Gauge

<... I was surprised that when I inspected the belt there were no signs of slipping or heat produced by the slippage such as a glazed surface or cracks ...>

Strange.  That's exactly how I would determine that my belt(s) were slipping.  Absent damage to the belts, I don't know how I could conclude they were slipping.  Turning the water pump by hand is certainly a loose belt, but would not the centrifugal force of >5000 rpm "tighten" it enough to overcome much if not all of that looseness?  And of course the same centrifugal tension is operating on the alt pulley so I'd be at least casually looking for another reason for the electrical problems that I could support by pointing to a damaged part.

Just a theory .. Jim S.

Ed Anderson wrote:

Jim, I was surprised that when I inspected the belt there were no signs of
slipping or heat produced by the slippage such as a glazed surface or
cracks.  I was using top of the line GATES belts which may have helped.  I
do intend to swap the set of belts out. There could be damage or
deterioration that a visual inspection could not spot.

Yes, if both belts had gone, then it would haven been  either glider time
(again) or cook the engine.  Neither one desirable.
I generally plan my flights from airport to airport to enhance the chances
of having a reachable one should the need arise, but of course, can not
always been within gliding distance.

Ed

Ed Anderson
RV-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
Matthews, NC
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Sower" <canarder@frontiernet.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 8:53 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Coolant Pressure Gauge

> What did the belt look like after all that sliding across the alternator
> pulley?  Sounds like someone's lucky he didn't heat the belt until it
broke and
> really have a problem.
>
> Ed Anderson wrote:
>
> > Actually, Mark,  I did not notice any variance in the cooling system
from
> > the normal.  I just checked my flight log for that trip and at cruise my
oil
> > and coolant ranged from 160-170F which is normal.  I too  would have
thought
> > that as loose as the belts were (I could easily turn the water pump
against
> > the belt friction by hand) that the water pump would have slowed down
> > sufficiently to have elevated the coolant temp.  But, it apparently did
not.
> >
> > Perhaps another way of looking at it is in regards to the power needed
to
> > drive sufficient coolant, apparently not very much which corresponds
well
> > with the 1/3 - 1/2 HP of the EWPs.
> >
> > Ed
> > .
> > Ed Anderson
> > RV-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
> > Matthews, NC
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Mark Steitle" <msteitle@mail.utexas.edu>
> > To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
> > Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 8:57 AM
> > Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Coolant Pressure Gauge
> >
> > > Ed,
> > > You reported a loose alternator/water pump belt(s) while on your way
back
> > > from SNF causing the alternator field breaker to trip.  Did you notice
any
> > > changes in water pressure that could be associated with the loose
> > > alternator belts?
> > >
> > > Mark S.
> > >
> > >
> > > At 08:09 AM 5/5/2004 -0400, you wrote:
> > > >Steve,
> > > >
> > > >     I use a 0-30 psi fuel pressure sensor and gauge for my coolant
> > pressure
> > > >sensor and its still working fine after close to 300 hours.  At one
time
> > > >(and they may still do) UMA offered a coolant (or water) pressure
gauge
> > so
> > > >marked - they actually silk screened a new placard and placed it in
the
> > fuel
> > > >gauge I purchased from them.  So my fuel gauge actually says "Water
> > > >Pressure"
> > > >
> > > >    The coolant gauge gives you pressure information that you soon
begin
> > to
> > > >correlate with your coolant temperature as well as OAT.  You soon
begin
> > to
> > > >notice when anything departs from the norm.  Its simple another bit
of
> > > >information about your system which does nothing for you most of the
time
> > > >but provide that comfort level that things are nominal - but, can
alert
> > you
> > > >to departures from the nominal which bear investigating.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >Ed
> > > >
> > > >Ed Anderson
> > > >RV-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
> > > >Matthews, NC
> > > >----- Original Message -----
> > > >From: "Steve Brooks" <steve@tsisp.com>
> > > >To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
> > > >Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 7:18 AM
> > > >Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Mystery of the leaking coolant
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Yes, it does sound like a good idea.  I've looked for a sender and
> > gauge,
> > > > > but haven't found any.  Does anyone have a good source for these ?
> > > > >
> > > > > Steve Brooks
> > > > >
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net]On
> > > > > Behalf Of Bill Dube
> > > > > Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 9:04 PM
> > > > > To: Rotary motors in aircraft
> > > > > Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Mystery of the leaking coolant
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >With the overflow plugged it was probably building up some pretty
> > good
> > > > > >pressure, which I'm sure led to the failure of the pump seal.  It
is
> > such
> > > > > an
> > > > > >odd thing to have happened, but I'm glad that my days of chasing
the
> > > >drips
> > > > > >of coolant are over.  I think that the hoses must be there to
stay,
> > since
> > > > > >they didn't blow off.
> > > > >
> > > > >          In "The Book" Tracy strongly suggests installing a
coolant
> > system
> > > > > pressure gauge. It sounds like it might be a good suggestion, in
light
> > of
> > > > > the trouble you had.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > >>  Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
> > > > > >>  Archive:   http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > >>  Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
> > > > > >>  Archive:   http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > >>  Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
> > > > >>  Archive:   http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html
> > >
> > >
> > > >>  Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
> > > >>  Archive:   http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html
> >
> > >>  Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
> > >>  Archive:   http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html
>
> --
> Jim Sower ... Destiny's Plaything
> Crossville, TN; Chapter 5
> Long-EZ N83RT, Velocity N4095T
>
>
>
> >>  Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
> >>  Archive:   http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html

>>  Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
>>  Archive:   http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html

--
Jim Sower ... Destiny's Plaything
Crossville, TN; Chapter 5
Long-EZ N83RT, Velocity N4095T