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

From: Bill Dube

To: Rotary motors in aircraft

>
>
>I'm reading between the lines of Al's posts but it seems that he is
>emphasizing the importance of leaving the engine as un-touched as
>possible.  I once wrote an article for Light Plane World (EAA's ultralight
>magazine back in the late 80's) and advocated the same thing after noting
>that many Rotax failures  occurred soon after the owner opened up the
>engine for maintenance.  Decarboning the piston ring grooves was important
>but many builders were causing more problems than they fixed when they
>went inside so I recommended some products and procedures that would do
>the job without opening the engine.
>

         This is the exact reason that I would prefer to not open up my
RX-8 engine.

         I plan to borescope it and compression test it and inspect it in
every way I can without taking it apart. If I don't find anything wrong (or
suspect) during these inspections, I plan to run it "un-touched" internally.

         There seems to always be something that goes amiss when you
disassemble and reassemble an engine. A prime example is the thick front
cover gasket versus o-ring problem.

         There is a lot to be said for, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

         Bill Dube'

In this case, I would agree.

 

It is the case where the builder buys a 2nd gen 13B  (now at least 15 years old) that I think an internal inspection or overhaul is called for unless you REALLY know the history of that particular engine .  It also goes without saying (Ahh! there is a silly assumption!) that you either have, get, or borrow the required expertise in order to do this successfully.

 

Tracy