Which generation fuel pump do I have? And should we install it?
Quite some time ago (20 Mar 2014) we purchased a spare Rotax fuel pump from California Power System. We didn't "need" it, but I think we got it just in case and because, if I remember right it was on sale at $98.
Because of simply age of our 912 ... about 20 years ... and hours, and there are neither logbook or any other reasons to believe it's anything but the original first generation pump on there..... periodically we think of installing the new spare as we often subscribe to the "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure school".
But I recently read in the EAA mag a Carol and Brian Carpenter article that made me hesitate to install the newer pump. It's on the Rotax fuel pump. It mentioned there are three generations of Rotax pumps. The crux of it was, if I understood, there were some design problems with the first two generations. And between the lines I inferred that perhaps the _second_ generation pumps might be potentially more problematical.
So before we take off our perfectly working original fuel pump I'd like to know what generation pump our off-the-shelf new spare pump is...hoping it's third generation. Determing that has me confused. Here's why:
In the article it says third generation pumps were introduced around pumps2013 (bulletin SB-912-063) have Rotax part number 893114 and 893115. Superseding the second generation pumps, part number 892542 and 892546.
Given the date of purchase of our spare pump (more than a year after third generation came out) it could be a third generation or maybe it was older stock CPS was clearing out.
The also mentions that the second generation pumps are "readily identified...by the distinctive 'AC' ..." stamped onto the top of the fuel pump. (I see no such AC on our new pump.... suggesting it's a third generation pump.
It should also be easy to tell...confirm our new pump is third generation ... by the part number on it. But here's the rub: The part number on ours clearly isn't what's stated second generation but doesn't exactly match what third should show.. The part number engraved on our new pump 893110. Since the article puts third generation as 893114 and 893115 (while second generation are 892xxx) that most of the numbers (89311x) match, plus the purchase date, make me think, despite the last digit not matching, that we have a third generation pump.
In short, the "preponderance of evidence" :unsure: is we have a third generation pump.
Yet it's troubling that the part number doesn't match exactly what the article say third generation should show. (FWIW the serial number on the pump is 13.0988. It also says MADE IN ITALY.)
Can anyone confirm we have a third generation pump for our replacement part in hand? Or comment on what I wrote? Or have other relevant advice?
I'd hate to replace our old perfectly working original pump with a newer, but known to be .... er..... possibly problematical second generation one.
All help/opinions appreciated.