Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 10:28 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] More Musings...ah screw it, just shoot me!
Got off work and happily headed to the hangar. I was able to get it to start and stay pretty cool for a while as I played with the settings. Switched from Controller A to B, back to A, disabled the Primary Injectors, the Secondary Injectors(in succession <g>), switched back to B, did the disable toggle spring switch with an expected drop in RPM...switch back to center and expected RPM returns. Throttled up and the RPM steadily increased without jumping around until it got to 4999 or so and went to zero and started jumping around above 5000 rpm......no big deal yet as we discussed the possible noise issue yesterday and I have not checked the problems yet. Used my laser temp gauge to see if the engine and the EM were kinda close, they were. Tried out my new Harbor Freight laser RPM gauge, but couldn't get it to work right. Ok, Several minutes has gone by so I shut down to let it cool. Tried to restart to no avail...so I decide to let the system cool for an extended period.
While waiting I decide to install my new B&C $230.00ish Regulator. Already have one of these gems on the primary battery system and feel it is time to install the new one that arrived a couple of weeks ago on the Aux side of things, so I shut down all the systems, disconnect the batteries, crimp some new connectors on some of the wires to fit the new regulator get everything hooked back up and feel pretty good about the night. Heh heh heh, silly me.
A while has gone by and everything seems to have cooled off. I hold my tongue just right and crank the engine and with some grace of the engine Gawds the thing cranks up. Wait...what is this...the EM is showing the RPM, but, but oh, damn it is flashing NOP. It was not doing that before. Damn. Hmmmm, the Coolant temp and Oil temp are showing exactly the same temp at 44 degrees....lets see if they start to raise....Agggghhh, no, they are both stuck on 44 degrees F. Geeeez. I know, lets try the "B" controller and see what happens......NOOOOOOOOO, I switch to the "B" controller and the engine starts to die. Damn, damn, damn. What the hell just happened????? Thoughts????????
Yes, I am disappointed in the evening that started on a positive note. This (Monday) is my Friday night and I have the next two days to make progress. If'n y'all have any easy answers for me I would love to hear 'em as I would like to think the next two days would be steps forward as opposed to just trying to get back to where I was. I did not even start to troubleshoot yet as I was too frustrated and needed to walk away for a while to sulk <g>. Did I fry the "B": controller with a new/better regulator. Everything was disconnected during the install and nothing else changed....OTHER than the instrument panel shifted from its temporary mount just before the second start.
Hopin' for some insight and perspective before I go kick my dog when I go to the hangar tomorrow (ok, I would never kick Winston he is really a good dog, but y'all get the idea). As always, THANKS for your support.
All the best,
Chris Barber
Houston