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Anyone considering a Franklin to power their 640?

 
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FlyGuyTililDie



Joined: 22 Jan 2009
Posts: 26
Location: Germany/Italy

PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 2:27 am    Post subject: Anyone considering a Franklin to power their 640? Reply with quote

I visited the Franklin booth at Sun-N-Fun last April. It seems they intend to make a come-back in the US and beat the prices of Lycomings and their clones by a significant amount.

One of the challenges in building a 640 is that there aren't that many out there. I don't know of anyone who has put anything other than a Lyc on the front of their 640.

There are several examples of 801s flying around with different powerplants from LOMs to Fords and Subarus. There are also companies that make the FWF kits for the Franklin on the 801.

How different is the 640 firewall from that of the 801? I know Chris Heintz likes to keep as much commonality with his airframes as possible, i.e. the 750 shares the same FWF as the 601/650.

Plus, take a look at the cowling used for the Franklin. It is just so much more attractive than the standard 640 cowl with the "blisters" bulging out to accommodate the O-360.

Any thoughts?

James
s/n 086


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pilot4pay



Joined: 01 Jan 2007
Posts: 171
Location: Louisville, KY

PostPosted: Mon Sep 21, 2009 3:47 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone considering a Franklin to power their 640? Reply with quote

I have been told that the 640 and 801 have identical FWF, with only one significant difference. The 801 has an engine mount attachment top center firewall that the CH-640 does not have. The purpose is to transfer loads up to the high wing.
The thrust line drawing is strangely missing from the 640 plans package.
I'm going Mazda 13b p-port rotary conversion. About half the cost of Lycoming. Much higher reliability.
Just ordered the fuselage kit.


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_________________
Craig Smith
CH640 builder
SN: 0078

"Just think how stupid the average person is,
and then realize that half of them are even stupider!"
--George Carlin
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steveadams



Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 191

PostPosted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 4:11 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone considering a Franklin to power their 640? Reply with quote

At least at the time I finished my plane, the FWF of the 640 was the same as the 801 except for the engine mount. So theoretically, FWF packages for the 801 could easily be adapted to the 601 as far as getting it to fit. W+B issues, thrust line issues, and engine mount attachment points would seem to me to be the main things to check out prior to going that route.

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FlyGuyTililDie



Joined: 22 Jan 2009
Posts: 26
Location: Germany/Italy

PostPosted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 6:14 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone considering a Franklin to power their 640? Reply with quote

I actually wrote Tim Ward yesterday asking this question.

This was the reply:

"Tim is no longer with Zenair. I will be handling all technical questions and any sales support is handled by Anita Mitchell."

Anybody know what happened to Tim?

and they also said...

"The firewall is the same on a CH801 & a CH640. I have spoken with Travis (at) Kobush Welding and he has built engine mounts for the Franklin engine on the CH640 & would be glad to build one for you."

So this verifies the fact that the 801 and the 640 have the same FWF.

I suppose the thrust line (as mentioned) would also have to be considered.


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pilot4pay



Joined: 01 Jan 2007
Posts: 171
Location: Louisville, KY

PostPosted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:01 am    Post subject: Re: Anyone considering a Franklin to power their 640? Reply with quote

If you dig around on the Zenith 801 builder resources section I think you can actually find the thrust line drawing for the 801 still. I could be wrong.

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_________________
Craig Smith
CH640 builder
SN: 0078

"Just think how stupid the average person is,
and then realize that half of them are even stupider!"
--George Carlin
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