Message-ID: <3FF3BB86.5040507@netdoor.com>
Date: Thu, 01 Jan 2004 00:17:42 -0600
From: Charlie & Tupper England <cengland@netdoor.com>
Reply-To: cengland@netdoor.com
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To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Rotary first run tips from Lehanover (was: Re: exhaust flange?)
References: <list-2912897@logan.com>
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repost to ease the archive search for 1st start info

Lehanover@aol.com wrote:

>In a message dated 12/31/2003 6:56:18 PM Central Standard Time, 
>sladerj@bellsouth.net writes:
>
><< Lynn,
> Since you're in a talkative mood....
> I'm almost ready to fire up my 13B for the first time. It was rebuilt and
> internally greased to keep it good. For the past 4 years it's been on my
> patio exposed to the Florida humidity with the holes plugged.... most of the
> time. It makes a nice sucking & blowing sound when turned by hand.
> 
> >  Be sure to establish that there is oil pressure. Then coolant
> > flow.
> 
> Anything else you'd suggest before the first run? Flush out the oil / water
> galleries? What with? How do you check that there's coolant flow? remove a
> hose? >>
>
>Remove the plugs. Take off the oil filter. Pour oil into the outer hole in 
>the filter adapter. The hole where the oil leaves the adapter and enters the 
>filter. Oil flow direction is outside in. When the oil stacks up and it won't 
>take any more, turn the engine over backwards. Eventually this will prime the 
>pump. Let it sit for a while and do the same thing again. Look into the exhaust 
>ports and push in on each apex seal to be sure none are stuck in the rotor. 
>Turning the engine backwards and keeping the adapter full of oil. Now pour some 
>oil into the center hole of the adapter. This hole takes filtered oil to all of 
>the bearings.  
>
>Check the oil level in the sump. Spin the engine with the starter for 2 
>seconds while watching the filter adapter. Oil should gush out of the outer hole. 
>Once this happens, fill a new filter full of oil. Pile wadded up paper towels 
>up around the filter adapter. Put oil on the filter gasket. Invert the filter 
>and quickly screw it into place. 
>Clean up the spilled oil.  
>
>Disconnect the oil pressure sender line at the gage. Spin the engine with the 
>starter until oil squirts from the sender line. Reconnect the oil pressure 
>gage.
>
>Now the pump should be primed and some oil from the inverted filter is 
>charging the upper oil passages. Spin the engine with the starter. Be sure to have 
>the ignition system disabled. Some can be damaged without a plug to fire. Watch 
>the oil pressure gage. Oil pressure will come in fits and starts as air is 
>forced through the bearings. Then after a few seconds of cranking pressure 
>should come up to 25 to 35 pounds.
>
> Let the starter rest a bit and do it again. Soon oil pressure will come up 
>right after the starter turns it over. Adjust the throttle system to fully 
>closed butterflies. Make sure both return springs are fully functional. Hook up 
>the header and the ignition. Put the plugs back in. 
>
>Squirt in some fuel from your specially marked oil can. Turn on the ignition 
>(timed at 20 degrees BTDC total). Keep your hand on some part of the ignition 
>system, a switch, a wire that can be pulled off, whatever. Should anything go 
>wrong, turn it off. 
>
>Crank it up. There will be some smoke from the preservative. It may be much 
>louder than you expected. First, check for oil pressure. Then hold your hand on 
>the water out let on top that goes to the radiator. It should start to warm 
>up within 60 seconds of starting. If not shut it down and let some more air out 
>of the upper engine. The high mounted pump is bad about loosing a prime if 
>any air goes by. You need oil pressure first. Then coolant flow second. Have a 
>test oil pressure gage where you can see it or have an informed helper watch 
>that gage.  Run it for one minute Shut it down and dance around the room. Look 
>in a mirror. See the big grin? Have a beer. 
>
>Check for oil and coolant leaks.
>
>Run it for two minutes checking as above. Put a fan in front of the radiator 
>and run it for an hour. With lots of ventilation. That should do it. If that 
>engine was fresh, 2 hours at fast idle, about 2000 RPM is enough break in. Move 
>timing to whatever the engine builder likes. Change the oil. 
>
>Lynn E. Hanover   
>
>  
>
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