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Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

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thughes0202(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 2:57 pm Post subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

I am in the final stages of installing a 912ULS in a Kitfox IV and I am having a problem with lack of clearance between the top cowl piece and the top oil line (the OUT line from the oil tank). 

   

  Actually, clearance isn't the right word here -- my oil line is actually lightly touching the underside of the top cowl piece. I'm using the Skystar-modified elbow fitting (thanks to John McBean) but that still isn't providing enough clearance. Although the fitting itself fits under the cowl, once the oil hose is attached and clamped all clearance between the oil hose and cowl is gone. 

   

  Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do?

   

  I see several solutions, but so far I don't like any of them (or can't make them work). One, try to find a "lower profile" fitting for the OUT oil line. I've been looking, but so far no joy.

   

  Two, try to  bend the existing elbow beyond 90 degrees, which might get the oil hose low enough to clear the cowl.

   

  Three, try to lower the oil tank. At best, I think I could lower it maybe a 1/4 of an inch, which I don't think would be enough.

   

  Four, cut a hole in the top cowl and fabricate a little "power bulge" to provide adequate oil line clearance. This seems to be the most drastic approach, particularly given my meager fiberglass-working skills, but it also gives the most clearance.

   

  Any other suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

   

  Terry Hughes



  [quote][b]

lcfitt(at)sbcglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Tue Aug 15, 2006 3:52 pm Post subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

Terry,



have you permanently mounted the cowl and windshield, If so, the first thing 

I would try is to drop the tank and then try to bend the exit line if 

necessary or maybe find a local that could cut and reweld the SS tube.  If 

all else fails drop a note and I have a neat trick for adding a contour to 

fiberglass.



Lowell



---

barry(at)pgtc.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 3:12 am Post subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

Terry, I also have a Model IV with the 912 ULS  engine.  I really don't know if the oil line is in contact with the cowling  but I will check it.  Anyway, if it is in contact it has been that way for  5 years and over 400 hours without a problem or any indication of wear.  I  will let you know after I check it.

  

 Barry West

 [quote]   ---

dan(at)azshowersolutions.
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 6:23 am Post subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

This may sound like a drastic measure, however a few guys have done this in the Phoenix area and it works great... make the oil tank shorter.

  Dan B

  KF-IV



Barry West <barry(at)pgtc.com> wrote:

  [quote]        Terry, I also have a Model IV with the 912 ULS engine.  I really don't know if the oil line is in contact with the cowling but I will check it.  Anyway, if it is in contact it has been that way for 5 years and over 400 hours without a problem or any indication of wear.  I will let you know after I check it.

   

  Barry West

  [quote]  ---

Bill Willyard

Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 34
Location: Grandville, Michigan U.S.A.

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 8:21 am Post subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

I relocated the drain connection on my tank towards the firewall to incorporate a quick drain (before they were available for Rotax). This allowed me to lower the tank enough that I can use the cap supplied by Rotax rather than the SkyStar version. Makes oil changes much easier as a result.

    

   Bill W.

   Classic IV 912ul 

    

     

  

   	  Quote: 	
		    	  Quote: 	
		    I am in the final stages of installing a 912ULS in a Kitfox IV and I am having a problem with lack of clearance between the top cowl piece and the top oil line (the OUT line from the oil tank). 

    

 	
	


    

    [quote][b]

_________________
Bill Willyard
Classic IV 912UL

jdmcbean(at)cableone.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:23 pm Post subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

Terry,  

            Just an FYI.. When the engine is ordered the tank is modified and shortened in house.  Sorry I didn’t mention that previously… thought maybe the tank was already modified.  

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>  

 AUTOTEXTLIST \s "E-mail  Signature" <![endif]-->Fly Safe !!  

John & Debra McBean  

208.337.5111  

www.kitfoxaircraft.com   www.sportplanellc.com  

"The Sky is not the Limit...  It's a Playground"  

<![endif]--><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>  

-----Original Message-----

 From: owner-kitfox-list-server(at)matronics.com [mailto:owner-kitfox-list-server(at)matronics.com]On Behalf Of Terry Hughes

 Sent: Tuesday, August 15, 2006 4:57 PM

 To: kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

 Subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation  

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>  

I am in the final stages of installing a 912ULS in a Kitfox IV and I am having a problem with lack of clearance between the top cowl piece and the top oil line (the OUT line from the oil tank).   

   

Actually, clearance isn't the right word here -- my oil line is actually lightly touching the underside of the top cowl piece. I'm using the Skystar-modified elbow fitting (thanks to John McBean) but that still isn't providing enough clearance. Although the fitting itself fits under the cowl, once the oil hose is attached and clamped all clearance between the oil hose and cowl is gone.   

   

Has anyone else had this problem? What did you do?  

   

I see several solutions, but so far I don't like any of them (or can't make them work). One, try to find a "lower profile" fitting for the OUT oil line. I've been looking, but so far no joy.  

   

Two, try to bend the existing elbow beyond 90 degrees, which might get the oil hose low enough to clear the cowl.  

   

Three, try to lower the oil tank. At best, I think I could lower it maybe a 1/4 of an inch, which I don't think would be enough.  

   

Four, cut a hole in the top cowl and fabricate a little "power bulge" to provide adequate oil line clearance. This seems to be the most drastic approach, particularly given my meager fiberglass-working skills, but it also gives the most clearance.  

   

Any other suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!  

   

Terry Hughes  

    [quote]<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>          - The Kitfox-List Email Forum -   -->               - NEW MATRONICS WEB FORUMS -   -->               - NEW MATRONICS LIST WIKI -   -->              - List Contribution Web Site -  Thank you for your generous support!                              -Matt Dralle, List Admin.   --> <![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]>[b]

dafox(at)ckt.net
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:07 pm Post subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

Terry,

  

         After  transistioning from the 582 to the 912, I also had the same  problem with oil tank clearence.   First,

 Skystar sent me the modified elbo fiting, that  helped a lot, but not enough, I got the lowest oil cap I could  find,

 from Napa,  I lowered the Oil tank as low as  possible, I used a paint stir stick between the engine and the oil  

 tank to gauge the clearence, as low as I dared to  go without touching, and tighten the clamps around the oil Tank

 as tight as I possibly could so  there would be no chance for slippage.    There still  was a slight touch to the cowling 

 from one edge of the oil cap.  I had some  asbestous from a long time ago and glued a piece with high temp  silicone

 where the cap touched.  That was the  best I could do.   That was fifty hours ago, nothing has  slipped, the cowling

 still fits snug around the oil cap, ( with the  sabestous coushion ).  and I don'i worry about it anymore,  however,

 I still keep an eye on it.

  

                                              David                                                 

 [quote]   ---

gjfpilot(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2006 7:25 pm Post subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

Terry,

  I had the same problem as you with my oil tank. I

cut an inch out of the middle and had a welding shop

tig weld it together for $60. The stock fitting will

then work fine.

Grant Fluent

Classic IV 912ULS



--- jdmcbean <jdmcbean(at)cableone.net> wrote:



[quote] Terry,

             Just an FYI.. When the engine is ordered

 the tank is modified

 and shortened in house.  Sorry I didn’t mention that

 previously… thought

 maybe the tank was already modified.

 

 Fly Safe !!

 John & Debra McBean

 208.337.5111

 www.kitfoxaircraft.com   www.sportplanellc.com

 <http://www.sportplanellc.com/>

 "The Sky is not the Limit...  It's a Playground"

 

 --

barry(at)pgtc.com
Guest

Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2006 2:19 am Post subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

Terry, sorry I didn't remember this before but John  McBean's email reminded me of it.  I believe Skystar cut the oil tanks in  two, removed about an inch of it's length and welded it back together.  If  you got your engine elsewhere this has probably not been done.  I have been  building a Pulsar from Skystar and the muffler would not fit because they failed  to shorten it.  I had to get it done myself.

  

 Barry West

 [quote]   ---

thughes0202(at)yahoo.com
Guest

Posted: Sat Aug 19, 2006 10:14 am Post subject: Kitfox IV and 912ULS installation

I'll give a collective "thanks all" here rather than reply separately....so, thanks for all the suggestions. 

   

  The cowl and windshield are permanently mounted already, so I'm stuck with what I've got. I'm sure I had more clearance as I prepared the cowl and windshield, but I guess things shifted around a bit during permanent installation.

   

  Thanks for bringing up the issue with oil-tank shortening. I had forgotten about that. I think my tank was already shortened by SkyStar. Although I bought the engine elsewhere, I sent the tank and the water pump cover to SkyStar, at their request.  I'm going to take another look at that at see if it can be shortened any more.

   

  So far I've got about 1 hour on the engine (taxi-testing) and that has produced minor discoloration on the underside of the cowl. That's what made me worry that the situation wasn't good for the long term.  However, I've heard some encouraging things here so I think my next step will be to lower the tank another 1/4", add a very very slight bend to the fitting, and then add an asbestos shield. Actually, the best news that I heard is that nobody has had to modify the cowl, even though others have very tight clearances also. 

   

  Thanks again for all the help. 

   

  -Terry 

   

  Barry West <barry(at)pgtc.com> wrote:

  [quote]    Terry, sorry I didn't remember this before but John McBean's email reminded me of it.  I believe Skystar cut the oil tanks in two, removed about an inch of it's length and welded it back together.  If you got your engine elsewhere this has probably not been  done.  I have been building a Pulsar from Skystar and the muffler would not fit because they failed to shorten it.  I had to get it done myself.

   

  Barry West

  [quote]  ---

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