<< << Attended a seminar on Rotax 9 series engines >>
How was this publicised - even service bulletins come only via Europa -
still wouldnt't have known anything about the dreaded stator mod. if it
hadn't been for Klaus posting about the Rotax owners web site. -yet some
users have already had it done !
Graham C G-EMIN
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The local FAA office sponsored "Safety Fest 1999" in Hartford, CT on May 8
and this seminar was one of several offered on various subjects.
The 912/914 stator mod was mentioned by Phil Lockwood and he had a stator for
display. In the US the stator costs about $250 if purchased outright. In
Rotax's replacement program here one must supply a deposit of $135 to get the
stator - this is refunded when the original stator is returned with the
paperwork identifying the engine and aircraft properly filled out. He said
they have not identified the cause of deterioration in the stator wire
insulation but suspect a solvent used to wash the engine.
Another hint from Lockwood: there is a small air inlet at the bottom of the
912's carburetor throat where the 2 inch scat connects. If a tiny piece of
dirt lodges in this inlet on either carb the symptom will be rough running at
middle rpm's with normal operation at both low and high rpm's.
A further Lockwood opinion: Tygon tubing works well for fuel, where it is
extensively used on ultralights. The Bing alcohol resistant blue tubing
seems prone to developing pinholes in his experience, as was confirmed by
several seminar attendees.
An EAA tech adviser who visited my project strongly advised replacing the PVC
with polyurethane which he said will last forever and is less expensive than
Tygon from ACS (local hardware stores reportedly have Tygon at very
attractive prices). The advisor's approach was: why build in an
inspection/replacement item when you don't have to? Has anyone tried an
alternative tubing, in particular for fhe Europa supplied fuel gauge? I
purchased short lengths of each of these and find that I cannot tell Tygon
---From polyurethane by feel - both are much more resilient than PVC. I have
several short lengths of tubing soaking in a jar of gasoline for evaluation
-- at 3 weeks the PVC was clearly much stiffer than it was initially. The
other materials were added more recently so no info yet.
Regards, John A044
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