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From: "Ed Anderson" <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
To: "'Rotary motors in aircraft'" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: RE: [FlyRotary] Another pix of center iron
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:15:52 -0400
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Sounds like a "good news" "bad news" tale, Chris.

The good news is that you found the problem, the bad news is you found the
problem fix may cost $500.00

I have heard of folks building up metal through welding and grinding and
"fixing" that kind of flaw - but, I don't think I would want it in my
aircraft.

If anyone had any center housings in the local area, you might be able to
find a good "used" one for considerably cheaper than $500.00.  Someone on
the list may have a good "used" one for the price of shipping.  

Hard to say what caused the problem, there had been occasional problems
reported  with casting core shifts which produced thin "O" ring walls, but
that does not appear to be the cause in your case. 


I think we all automatically give a visual check - However, if the piece
were broken but still in place, it might have been hard to detect that way.
The Coolant "O" ring lans is one area that I recommend folks check using a
dental pick.  I run it around on the inside and outside corner bottom of the
"O" ring groove and if it catches or hangs on anything - check that area
thoroughly - it may indicate a crack or weak casting area.

I know its easy for somebody watching from a distance to say , well, now you
have identified the problem and a fix is available ($$), given the time and
effort you have put into it - perhaps one more push is all that is needed to
produce a good reliable engine (i.e. new center housing).  

I have had a leaking coolant situation twice in my rotor flying (once early
on when I over heated while using stock coolant "O" rings - went to the
Teflon encapsulated silicone O rings) and once when I stupidly decided to
ignore a sign of a problem during a hasty engine rebuild which led to
cooking even an TES O ring.  During my Louisiana rebuild back a few years
ago, I aborted a take off due to a engine which was missing (producing
plenty of power but missing slightly), back on the ramp, when I pulled the
prop through water spewed from the spark plug hole like old faithful - not a
nice sight.  Spent 4 weeks in Louisiana taking care of that problem.

I personally believe you should find another housing and try one more time.

Good luck, whatever your decision.
  
Ed Anderson

Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered

Matthews, NC

eanderson@carolina.rr.com

http://www.andersonee.com

http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html

http://www.flyrotary.com/

http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW

http://www.rotaryaviation.com/Rotorhead%20Truth.htm

-----Original Message-----
From: Rotary motors in aircraft [mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of cbarber@texasattorney.net
Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 12:58 AM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Another pix of center iron

Another picture of my bad center plate.  Sigh....

Chris


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