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donaho1(at)verizon.net
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 Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 9:34 am Post subject: Harsh words about Rotax |
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Hi all, I don`t want to start a peeing match here, however, I have flown
with two different Rotax engines and had good luck with both of them. I
have a 503 now that hasn`t given be any problems at all. Granted it only
has 60 hours on it but it has never skipped a beat. I put over 100 hours on
a used 377 (total hours around 250) and it never had a problem, except on
one flight when the diaphragm flapper in the fuel pump went bad. I don`t
blame that on the engine! I`m not saying they are bulletproof. Perhaps some
day I will have a different opinion. Would I fly a four stroke if I could?
Sure I would, but as of now I am happy with their two stroke
reliability. Just wondering Herb, have you ever owned a Rotax. If so,
what happened that soured you on them? Lanny Fetterman FSII N598LF
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herbgh(at)nctc.com
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| Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject: Harsh words about Rotax |
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Lanny
Not soured...I flew a 532 on my Kolb MkIII some years ago...no
problems...currently fly a 447 on my Firefly..no problems..
I think that Hirth is getting a bad rap...that is all...Herb
At 12:33 PM 4/5/2009, you wrote:
| Quote: |
Hi all, I don`t want to start a peeing match here, however, I have
flown with two different Rotax engines and had good luck with both
of them. I have a 503 now that hasn`t given be any problems at all.
Granted it only has 60 hours on it but it has never skipped a beat.
I put over 100 hours on a used 377 (total hours around 250) and it
never had a problem, except on one flight when the diaphragm flapper
in the fuel pump went bad. I don`t blame that on the engine! I`m not
saying they are bulletproof. Perhaps some day I will have a
different opinion. Would I fly a four stroke if I could? Sure I
would, but as of now I am happy with their two stroke
reliability. Just wondering Herb, have you ever owned a Rotax. If
so, what happened that soured you on them? Lanny Fetterman FSII N598LF
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Blumax008(at)aol.com
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 5:59 am Post subject: Harsh words about Rotax |
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In a message dated 4/5/2009 1:35:32 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, donaho1(at)verizon.net writes:
| Quote: | I
have a 503 now that hasn`t given be any problems at all. Granted it only
has 60 hours on it but it has never skipped a beat. I put over 100 hours on
a used 377 (total hours around 250) and it never had a problem |
My friend, if you own a Rotax 503 you are one very intelligent & lucky fellow! That motor will give you years & years of worry-free, enjoyable flying. Run that sucker wide open! It doesn't care a hoot! We tow hang gliders here in NW Florida using the 503. Mine has over 1,600 hours on it now with C-box, Pennzoil & Amoco Super Premium & still going strong. Will be 12 years old in September of this year. All with 3 tops. No major overhauls.
I'll leave you with my maxim for 503 owners...
IF IT AIN'T BROKE...DON'T FIX IT.
I've since added a new one...
GET OFF THE INTERNET & GO FLY! (which reminds me, I gotta' go fly!)
Bill Catalina
Ochlockonee Bay, Florida (on the coast south of Tallahassee)
Worried about job security? Check out the 5 safest jobs in a recession.
[quote][b]
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lucien
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 721
Location: santa fe, NM
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:05 am Post subject: Re: Harsh words about Rotax |
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FWIW,
Regarding the 503, I'm still building up trust in my 912 in hopes it measures up to my 503's in terms of reliability  .
But seriously, I've had more trouble with 4-strokes (not the 912) over the years than I've had with any of my 503's. They usually rot away long before they wear out or do something catastrophic.
Even at 4 large, the 503 is still the best deal in an aviation engine available today.
The only 2-stroke rotax I"m not too fond of is the 582. It's a little less durable than the aircooled motors.
And so far my 912 has been a good engine, but due to the far higher parts costs, I'm significantly more paranoid about something breaking in it.
I hope it holds together as well as my 2 447's and can't remember how many 503's..... (It is nice that the crank seals aren't leaking after a couple hundred hours tho).....
LS
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LS
Titan II SS |
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John Hauck
Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 4639
Location: Titus, Alabama (hauck's holler)
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:36 am Post subject: Harsh words about Rotax |
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> Regarding the 503, I'm still building up trust in my 912 in hopes it
measures up to my 503's in terms of reliability .
If you fly it enough, I bet you'll gain a little confidence in the 912.
I've been extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to enjoy many hours,
over the last 25 years, in Kolb airplanes. During that time, the first
eight years flying my own two strokes, and 15 years flying my own 912
engines. In between crashes and rebuilds, I put significant time on Kolb
Factory two and four strokes, of which, I never had either type engine in a
factory airplane quit.
With 2,660.00 hours of flying my own 912 series engines, I never had a
problem with the engine, although I have had a couple problems with the
pilot getting lazy and not checking fuel after topping off from unreliable
sources, 1994 and 1998.
Based on the places my 912 engines have pushed me, I'd say I have quite a
bit of confidence in their reliability, and have also helped prove that
reliability.
As far as high price of parts for 912 engines, aren't all engine parts
expensive now? Also, I haven't had to buy parts for my 912 engines. The
basic engine is close to bullet proof and do not wear out major parts.
Accessories, yes, they must be replaced, like spark plugs, oil filters, oil,
carb parts (probably weakest link of the 912), spark plug connectors, etc.
However, it takes a lot of flying to go through these parts like some of us
have done over the years.
I think getting out there and grinding out hour after hour in a short period
of time, 232 hours in 41 total days for example, and many other high flying
hour, short number of day trips, is an excellent example of the 912 engine's
reliability.
Don't think I'd bite off extremely long cross country flights, flying over
the inhospitible terrain, with a two stroke of any make. In fact, there is
no way I would have made the 2004 flight to and in Alaska with one. Not
that I do not like them, but I know the difference between two and four.
As far as 4 strokes rotting away from non-use, I don't think so. I have
antique tractors that are much older than me, that have sat and waited most
of their life, still running like the day they were built. I might
add, my 912ULS has not seen much use since last summer, but it will get out
there and run like it should today, if the rats haven't eaten it since I
last checked.
john h
mkIII
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John Hauck
MKIII/912ULS
hauck's holler
Titus, Alabama |
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lucien
Joined: 03 Jun 2007
Posts: 721
Location: santa fe, NM
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| Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:16 am Post subject: Re: Harsh words about Rotax |
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| John Hauck wrote: |
As far as high price of parts for 912 engines, aren't all engine parts
expensive now? Also, I haven't had to buy parts for my 912 engines. The
basic engine is close to bullet proof and do not wear out major parts.
Accessories, yes, they must be replaced, like spark plugs, oil filters, oil,
carb parts (probably weakest link of the 912), spark plug connectors, etc.
However, it takes a lot of flying to go through these parts like some of us
have done over the years.
john h
mkIII |
Actually, the value of the 912 overall is fixing to go up as the official TBO is being raised to 2000 hours, that according to Ronnie Smith IIRC.
And actually, for 100hp, with a 2000 hour TBO the 912ULS is probably going to be the highest bang/buck available in that power range if it isn't already.
And that TBO is pessimistic from what I've heard of the engines in the field, particularly at flight schools, where they go for as long as 3000 hours.
I try to run mine up to operating temperature at least once every 2 weeks (and usually every week) to keep any possibility of corrosion away. Even if it's a trip around the pattern in the holes between the 40knot winds.....
So far so good on mine at a little over 300 hours.....
LS
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LS
Titan II SS |
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