2006 Engine Tappets
in General Tech Discussion
11 years ago
Has anyone had issues with a 2006 912ULS? Rotax were brought to task by EASA (2006-042-IN-ENG)regarding poorly finished tappets - rough machined finished. This resulted in a polishing machine being purchased. However no attempt was made to recall engines in the field - only a directive to inspect the magnetic plug. An incident in early 2007 indicated that this did not give much warning of future problems.
My camshaft failed in July this year with minutes of notice (just climbing CHT and Oil temps - on a very hot day)when returning on a trip. Luckily we were only 6 miles from a good airfield and made it in. This trip was meant to be across the English Channel but it got postponed!! The engine was scrap and a new one had to be purchased - a big unexpected expense at only 970 hours. A few weeks later the old one was taken apart and to my horror I saw that 5 of the tappets must have had a rough finish when new. The other three were polished. I have since heard that of our fleet of eight C42s at the airfield three have had the camshaft fail too - all 2006 engines and around the 1000 hour mark! Logic says that a camshaft working against rough and hardened tappet is not going to last like one operating with polished tappets. Inspecting the mag plug every 100 hours very likely won't catch an incipient failure and ruined engine.
My camshaft failed in July this year with minutes of notice (just climbing CHT and Oil temps - on a very hot day)when returning on a trip. Luckily we were only 6 miles from a good airfield and made it in. This trip was meant to be across the English Channel but it got postponed!! The engine was scrap and a new one had to be purchased - a big unexpected expense at only 970 hours. A few weeks later the old one was taken apart and to my horror I saw that 5 of the tappets must have had a rough finish when new. The other three were polished. I have since heard that of our fleet of eight C42s at the airfield three have had the camshaft fail too - all 2006 engines and around the 1000 hour mark! Logic says that a camshaft working against rough and hardened tappet is not going to last like one operating with polished tappets. Inspecting the mag plug every 100 hours very likely won't catch an incipient failure and ruined engine.
Tappeta.jpg (You do not have access to download this file.)
