----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, April 20, 2009 12:50
AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Forced
landings
Bill,
I got my staging issues under control by
following others advice and moving the staging point up in the RPM
range.
Unfortunately I have had two random
cases of the EC2 loosing pieces of its non-volatile memory. The last case was
the worst - the entire B program appears to have been lost. It would not run
at any throttle setting on B. Fortunately I found this on the ground during a
preflight runup. Copying A to B restored the program and the engine runs
fine. I'd sure like to find something conclusive to indicate what
happened, but this was 2 random events in over 20 hours of engine running and
I have no idea what triggered it. I've exchanged emails with Tracy and he
says its likely a grounding issue. So I've spend the last month going through
all of my wiring looking for some sort of problem. Havent found anything on
the ground side.
As mentioned previously I do have a little
hum noticeable in the headset when the alternator is energized. I was
preparing to look into this - dug out the O'scope and everything -
when the stupid fuel tanks (both) decided to start leaking 1 1/2
years after I first put fuel in them. Just about have the leaks resolved and
time to get back on the electrical. If I can get rid of the hum then I'll
probably still be looking at a couple of hours of ground running before I'm
willing to fly it again.
Intermittant problems suck. Thing is you
never really know if whatever caused it has somehow been fixed unless you
actually find an obvious smoking gun. Not clear to me that I am going to find
that.
I've been hesitant to post about this
unless/until I had something conclusive. Didnt want anyone to leap to the
conclusion that there is an EC2 issue. I assume that whatever it is, its
particular to my install.
Mike Wills
RV-4 N144MW
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 11:01
AM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Forced
landings
Mike,
What kinds of problems are you having? Looking
back over your posts, it looks like you were having problems with the
staging set right over your approach power setting. What else is
happening and have you moved the staging yet?
Bill B
From:
Rotary motors in aircraft
[mailto:flyrotary@lancaironline.net] On
Behalf Of Mike Wills
Sent: Sunday, April 19, 2009 11:24
AM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Forced
landings
OK, I can accept that. It
may seem from some of my recent posts that I'm down on the rotary -
not the case. I just want to make sure that we paint a fair picture which is
frequently not the case on an enthusiasts
website.
I'm probably a little
negatively biased right now having done my first couple of flights, come
across a couple of problems that are unresolved, and am currently grounded.
I really want to fly this thing again but havent had as much time as I would
like to fix the problems and get it airworthy
again.
----- Original Message -----
Sent:
Saturday, April 18, 2009 1:08 PM
Subject:
[FlyRotary] Re: Forced landings
I
understand and agree with what you are saying regarding the experimental
nature of these one off installations. But if you dont compare them to the
norm, what do you compare them to? I guarantee you that is what the LyCont
flyers are comparing them to
Mike;
Sorry I wasn’t
clear – I meant it wasn’t a fair comparison during the first couple
hundred hours, while we are still in the debugging phase. After tha, go
ahead and compare. If we can get to some comparable reliability
level in that short a time, compared to their 100’s of thousands of hours,
we’re really on to something.
I’m actually
not an avid proponent of alternative engines. I just happened to
have chosen that route, and it’s been a rewarding challenge; and working
well.
Al
G