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Europa-List: Inspecting Rotax Oil Filters

Subject: Europa-List: Inspecting Rotax Oil Filters
From: Carl Pattinson <carl@flyers.freeserve.co.uk>
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:58:14

I have been intending to inspect my oil filter (as per the service manual) 
for some while but without the necessary servicing tool never got round to 
it till today.

So I neatly opened the used oil filter that had been on my workshop shelf 
only to find that it wasnt as easy as it looked. Once opened it seems that 
you have to surgically remove (ie: cut out with a sharp knife) the filter 
paper from the filter mechanism which is not a neat or a clean job.

Then you have to remove the oil from the filter paper without presumably 
removing any of the mettallic debris which may or may not be present.

We split the corrugated filter lengthwise into approximately 4 even sections 
(about 18 ins each) and blotted them with clean kitchen towel to remove the 
oil (without hopefully removing any metal particles). The kitchen towel was 
also inspected for metal bits before discarding it. I guess a centrifuge 
would come in handy here.

Eventually we ended up with relatively oil less filter paper which we could 
inspect.

Did we find metal particles - yes, definitely
Were there lots - not sure, whats a lot ???

The wording in the Rotax manual is IMHO pretty ambiguous. It says "if an 
increased amount of metal particles is found, search for the cause and 
correct".

INCREASED ????? ----- From what???

My point is the maintenance manual dosent help here. In fact the coverall/ 
disclaimer is that you need to get an expert engine person to give you a 
diagnosis.

So basically its NOT a job the average aircraft owner can competently carry 
out.

Are there any resources out there that might help - eg: a picture diagnosis 
chart. Is this perhaps covered in one of the service bulletins in more 
detail?

Any suggestions here would be greatly appreciated.

Carl Pattinson
G-LABS


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Parkin" <mikenjulie.parkin@btinternet.com>
Sent: Saturday, July 26, 2008 11:49 AM
Subject: RE: Europa-List: Pneumatic Installation


> <mikenjulie.parkin@btinternet.com>
>
> "A second thought is that i am not really interested in AoA, because
> especially in the Europa, the AoA varies greatly between flyable speeds
> between 50 and 150 knots. It's the stall that i am interested in, and that
> has little to do with the Angle of Attack. But please correct me if this
> makes no sense!"
>
>
> OH Dear !!!!!  The AOA has EVERYTHING to do with the stall!!!
>
> Regards,
>
> Mike
>
>
> 



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