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Firestar rebuild

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williamtsullivan(at)att.n
Guest

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 4:43 am Post subject: Firestar rebuild

After a couple of years of my kids needing money more than I did, I started working on the Firestar again.  The 447 had been pickled in fogging oil, and one of my sons had never heard it run.  Got it off the trailer, unfolded it, tied it down, and put a little gas in the tank.  First problem- couldn't get any gas up to the engine.  I have a bottom feed tank, and some gas was leaking around the grommet.  Can I use some gas resistant RTV to seal it?

  Second problem- the elbow at the bottom was rusted inside to the extent that gas wouldn't go through it.  I should have left some gas with Stabil in it.

  I jury rigged a gas can to the plane, and put the primer bulb back in.  Tried to start, and the bowl gasket leaked.  Took the gasket off and re-installed, and the leak stopped.  the engine fired  right up and sounded good.  I could only get 5100 rpm on it, so I have to adjust the prop pitch.  

  Another problem- looks like all the rubber cracked.  The cable boots split, and the 3 year old carb mounting rubber doesn't look that good.  All are Rotax parts, so I am going to try JBM this time.

  My 32 year old son was like a two year old at Christmas.

  Lots more work to go, plus the trailer.



                                           Bill  Sullivan

                                           Windsor Locks, Ct.

                                           Old FS, 447

 [quote][b]

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capedavis(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 8:36 am Post subject: Firestar rebuild

Bill Glad to hear you are back at it! Check everything 3 or 4 times.

 

  

 Chris Davis

KXP 503 492 hrs

Glider Pilot

Disabled from crash building Firefly



    

From: william sullivan <williamtsullivan(at)att.net>

To: kolb list <kolb-list(at)matronics.com> 

Sent: Tuesday, May 8, 2012 8:42 AM

Subject: Firestar rebuild



       After a couple of years of my kids needing money more than I did, I started working on the Firestar again.  The 447 had been pickled in fogging oil, and one of my sons had never heard it run.  Got it off the trailer, unfolded it, tied it down, and put a little gas in the tank.  First problem- couldn't get any gas up to the engine.  I have a bottom feed tank, and some gas was leaking around the grommet.  Can I use some gas resistant RTV to seal it?

  Second problem- the elbow at the bottom was rusted inside to the extent that gas wouldn't go through it.  I should have left some gas with Stabil in it.

  I jury rigged a gas can to the plane, and put the primer bulb back in.  Tried to start, and the bowl gasket leaked.  Took the gasket off and re-installed, and the leak stopped.  the engine fired right up and sounded good.  I could only get 5100 rpm on it, so I have to  adjust the prop pitch.  

  Another problem- looks like all the rubber cracked.  The cable boots split, and the 3 year old carb mounting rubber doesn't look that good.  All are Rotax parts, so I am going to try JBM this time.

  My 32 year old son was like a two year old at Christmas.

  Lots more work to go, plus the trailer.



                                           Bill Sullivan

                                           Windsor Locks,  Ct.

                                           Old FS, 447

 	  Quote: 	
		  



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Dana

Joined: 13 Dec 2007
Posts: 1047
Location: Connecticut, USA

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 11:30 am Post subject: Firestar rebuild

First:  Don't use RTV anywhere in your fuel system, even supposedly "fuel resistant" grades will be eaten by raw gas.  Get the proper rubber bushings, you can likely get them at your local lawnmower shop, if not, one of the aircraft supply houses like ACS, Air-Tech, or CPS.  They'll have the metal fittings, too.



Do replace the carb bout, cracks lead to air leaks which lead to lean running which leads to a seized engine.



Low rpm could be too much prop pitch, or it could be carb jetting or something else.  Is it the same prop from before?



What's left to do?



-Dana

william sullivan <williamtsullivan(at)att.net> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		  Â  After a couple of years of my kids needing money more than I did, I

started working on the Firestar again.Â  The 447 had been pickled in

fogging oil, and one of my sons had never heard it run.Â  Got it off the

trailer, unfolded it, tied it down, and put a little gas in the tank.Â 

First problem- couldn't get any gas up to the engine.Â  I have a bottom

feed tank, and some gas was leaking around the grommet.Â  Can I use some

gas resistant RTV to seal it?

Â  Second problem- the elbow at the bottom was rusted inside to the

extent that gas wouldn't go through it.Â  I should have left some gas

with Stabil in it.

Â  I jury rigged a gas can to the plane, and put the primer bulb back

in.Â  Tried to start, and the bowl gasket leaked.Â  Took the gasket off

and re-installed, and the leak stopped.Â  the engine fired right up and

sounded good.Â  I could only get 5100 rpm on it, so I have to adjust the

prop pitch.Â  

Â  Another problem- looks like all the rubber cracked.Â  The cable boots

split, and the 3 year old carb mounting rubber doesn't look that good.Â 

All are Rotax parts, so I am going to try JBM this time.

Â  My 32 year old son was like a two year old at Christmas.

Â  Lots more work to go, plus the trailer.



Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Bill Sullivan

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Windsor Locks, Ct.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â  Old FS, 447

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williamtsullivan(at)att.n
Guest

Posted: Tue May 08, 2012 1:40 pm Post subject: Firestar rebuild

I just put in a big order to JBM, so no RTV.  I had to change the prop blades after it flipped over, and went conservative on the pitch.  I also put in a carb rebuild kit, including a new enrichener.  Runs a lot better now, but I won't play with the carb adjustments before the pitch adjustments.  Another week, weather permitting.



--- On Tue, 5/8/12, Dana Hague <d-m-hague(at)comcast.net> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  

From: Dana Hague <d-m-hague(at)comcast.net>

Subject: Re: Firestar rebuild

To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com, kolb-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 3:29 PM



--> Kolb-List message posted by: Dana Hague <[url=/mc/compose?to=d-m-hague(at)comcast.net]d-m-hague(at)comcast.net[/url]>



First:  Don't use RTV anywhere in your fuel system, even supposedly "fuel resistant" grades will be eaten by raw gas.  Get the proper rubber bushings, you can likely get them at your local lawnmower shop, if not, one of the aircraft supply houses like ACS, Air-Tech, or CPS.  They'll have the metal fittings, too.



Do replace the carb bout, cracks lead to air leaks which lead to lean running which leads to a seized engine.



Low rpm could be too much prop pitch, or it could be carb jetting or something else.  Is it the same prop from before?



What's left to do?



-Dana

william sullivan <[url=/mc/compose?to=williamtsullivan(at)att.net]williamtsullivan(at)att.net[/url]> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		    After a couple of years of my kids needing money more than I did, I

started  working on the Firestar again.  The 447 had been pickled in

fogging oil, and one of my sons had never heard it run.  Got it off the

trailer, unfolded it, tied it down, and put a little gas in the tank. 

First problem- couldn't get any gas up to the engine.  I have a bottom

feed tank, and some gas was leaking around the grommet.  Can I use some

gas resistant RTV to seal it?

  Second problem- the elbow at the bottom was rusted inside to the

extent that gas wouldn't go through it.  I should have left some gas

with Stabil in it.

  I jury rigged a gas can to the plane, and put the primer bulb back

in.  Tried to start, and the bowl gasket leaked.  Took the gasket off

and re-installed, and the leak stopped.  the engine fired right up and

sounded good.  I could only get 5100 rpm on it, so I have to adjust  the

prop pitch.  

  Another problem- looks like all the rubber cracked.  The cable boots

split, and the 3 year old carb mounting rubber doesn't look that good. 

All are Rotax parts, so I am going to try JBM this time.

  My 32 year old son was like a two year old at Christmas.

  Lots more work to go, plus the trailer.



                                           Bill Sullivan

                                           Windsor Locks,  Ct.

                                   &nb="http://www.matronics.com/Navigator?Kolb-List" target="_blank">http:// - MATRONICS WEB FORUMS ;               -Matt Dralle, List Admin==========


	




	
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Richard Pike

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 1670
Location: Blountville, Tennessee

Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 6:11 am Post subject: Re: Firestar rebuild

If it used to turn up to 6,000 or so and now it turns only 5,100 your problem is not the prop. Leave the prop alone and look for something else. Is it a CDI 447 or points? If you have points, check them. After this long, might not be a bad idea to do a crankcase pressure check. Or look for mud daubers in the muffler....



Taking pitch out of the prop is simply adjusting the prop to accommodate reduced horsepower.

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_________________
Richard Pike
Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)
Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Forgiving is tough, being forgiven is wonderful, and God's grace really is amazing.

williamtsullivan(at)att.n
Guest

Posted: Wed May 09, 2012 7:05 am Post subject: Firestar rebuild

Richard- good point.  I'll start with the carb adjustments.  I haven't started it since putting a kit in.  I'm not touching it until I get the new parts from JBM.  Could it be a leak in the carb boot?  New one coming.



--- On Wed, 5/9/12, Richard Pike <richard(at)bcchapel.org> wrote:

 	  Quote: 	
		  

From: Richard Pike <richard(at)bcchapel.org>

Subject: Re: Firestar rebuild

To: kolb-list(at)matronics.com

Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 10:11 AM



--> Kolb-List message posted by: "Richard Pike" <[url=/mc/compose?to=richard(at)bcchapel.org]richard(at)bcchapel.org[/url]>



If it used to turn up to 6,000 or so and now it turns only  5,100 your problem is not the prop. Leave the prop alone and look for something else. Is it a CDI 447 or points? If you have points, check them. After this long, might not be a bad idea to do a crankcase pressure check. Or look for mud daubers in the muffler....



Taking pitch out of the prop is simply adjusting the prop to accommodate reduced horsepower.



--------

Richard Pike

Kolb MKIII N420P (420ldPoops)

richard (at) bcchapel(dot)org

Kingsport, TN 3TN0

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Hebrews 11:1





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