Running on Condition
in 912 / 914 Technical Questions
6 years ago
Folk,
As per usual, looking to benefit from your invaluable experience...
My Rotax 912ULS will be celebrating its 12 birthday next year - not sure which month, but the Serial # is 5648209 with gearbox #35138 - in case anyone can get me more detailed information ?
Anyway, it has 190 hours on the engine, and along with the aircraft, it spent 3 years in storage 2014, 2015, 2016. It flew 12 hours last year and so far 15 hours this year. Except for storage years, it has had yearly oil changes, although its coolant was changed for first time this year! All fuel hoses were changed last year, and coolant hoses were changed this year. Finally, I am planning on overhauling the carburetors this winter.
Other than that, there has been no other maintenance forward of the firewall. The carburetors were balanced last year and rechecked again this year. It has always run on Unleaded, non ethanol MOGAS. The spark plugs and air filter were changed this year. I did a leak down test before I put away for winter last year and got 79/80 for every cylinder, along with 160 - 165 direct compression on each cylinder. Finally the last oil filter change saw no debris in the cut open filter, and the the magnetic plug had very minor debris.
So...
A local Rotax mechanic (and certified Canadian Aircraft mechanic) who checks over the aircraft every year says that Rotax 912's are 'bullet proof', and provided they are looked after correctly, they easily go well beyond 12 years TBO!
I am hoping to run the engine 'on condition' during its teenage years, and hopefully it will not be as troubling as most teenagers!. It is installed in a Canadian Advanced Ultralight aircraft, and therefore has no formal TBO requirements. However, safety is important, so does anyone have any advice on changes to maintenance schedule, or additional engine procedures that I should follow once it has gone past its 12 year TBO? I want straight talk, even if that means folk recommending not running on condition and replacing with a new engine - I have been told that is cheaper than an overhaul!
For example, should I start doing laboratory oil analysis on every oil change, etc?
Any suggestions / advice appreciated.
Roger
As per usual, looking to benefit from your invaluable experience...
My Rotax 912ULS will be celebrating its 12 birthday next year - not sure which month, but the Serial # is 5648209 with gearbox #35138 - in case anyone can get me more detailed information ?
Anyway, it has 190 hours on the engine, and along with the aircraft, it spent 3 years in storage 2014, 2015, 2016. It flew 12 hours last year and so far 15 hours this year. Except for storage years, it has had yearly oil changes, although its coolant was changed for first time this year! All fuel hoses were changed last year, and coolant hoses were changed this year. Finally, I am planning on overhauling the carburetors this winter.
Other than that, there has been no other maintenance forward of the firewall. The carburetors were balanced last year and rechecked again this year. It has always run on Unleaded, non ethanol MOGAS. The spark plugs and air filter were changed this year. I did a leak down test before I put away for winter last year and got 79/80 for every cylinder, along with 160 - 165 direct compression on each cylinder. Finally the last oil filter change saw no debris in the cut open filter, and the the magnetic plug had very minor debris.
So...
A local Rotax mechanic (and certified Canadian Aircraft mechanic) who checks over the aircraft every year says that Rotax 912's are 'bullet proof', and provided they are looked after correctly, they easily go well beyond 12 years TBO!
I am hoping to run the engine 'on condition' during its teenage years, and hopefully it will not be as troubling as most teenagers!. It is installed in a Canadian Advanced Ultralight aircraft, and therefore has no formal TBO requirements. However, safety is important, so does anyone have any advice on changes to maintenance schedule, or additional engine procedures that I should follow once it has gone past its 12 year TBO? I want straight talk, even if that means folk recommending not running on condition and replacing with a new engine - I have been told that is cheaper than an overhaul!
For example, should I start doing laboratory oil analysis on every oil change, etc?
Any suggestions / advice appreciated.
Roger
