Congratulations on the first engine run, Bob. Glad you had a 'load' on it since it went WOT.
Bill Schertz
KIS Cruiser # 4045
----- Original Message ----- From: "Bob White" <rlwhite@comcast.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 7:44 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] First Engine Start


>
> I'm happy to report that I actually started my engine today.  The only
> terrifying event was due to a momentary brain fade on my part.  For
> some reason I was thinking the throttle had to be all the way in to be
> off.  Not sure why I got that into my head.  Maybe because I've kept it
> in that position just so it was out of the way while I worked on the
> electrical for the last month.  Any way, I cranked it over, it sort of
> fired a little but did't start.  I hit the cold start switch and BAM,
> it took off at WOT.  Sorry to say I don't know what the RPM reading was
> as I was flipping every switch I could get my hands on to get it
> stopped.  Glad I had primed the oil pump with the starter the other
> day.  So the first 10 seconds or so of my first start was at WOT.  Also
> glad I had a prop on it.
>
> I got that all sorted out and restarted the engine.  I ran it for 10-20
> minutes and noted some random parameters.  Today's goal was to start the
> engine, not take data.  I ran till the oil temp read 156 and water 182
> before I shut it down.  Oil pressure at first start indicated 97 psi.
> I didn't check at shutdown.
>
> The gear box seemed to rattle around 1000 rpm, but it idles pretty good
> above 1200 or so.  (I need to start reading some of the EC2 and EM2
> instructions.)  I made no attempt to set mixture or anything, and all of
> the sensors are using the default settings.  The actual values may
> change as I get calibration data.  I do have Tracy's latest self
> adjusting mixture feature, and it did seem like the engine smoothed out
> as it ran.
>
> tried to take some video of the first start, but for some reason it
> didn't work. The tape moved but nothing was recorded.  Later I recorded
> running the engine again.  As soon as I relearn how to get it onto the
> computer, I will post a short clip on my web site.
>
> *Jerry Hey's Cool Tube Exhaust system.
>
> The best I can tell, this exhaust is doing a great job.  I took one
> quick reading from the wing tip on the exhaust side of the plane.  I
> saw 97 db on mode C and about 3000 rpm (Radio Shack sound meter).  I
> will get more complete data in days to come.  There were a half dozen
> people standing around watching all this, and no one mentioned anything
> about the exhaust noise.
>
> All I can say is I'm thrilled to reach this milestone.
>
> Bob W.
>
> -- > http://www.bob-white.com
> N93BD - Rotary Powered BD-4 (The engine is running)
> Custom Cables for your rotary installation -
> http://www.roblinphoto.com/shop/
>
> --
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