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From: "Ed Anderson" <eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
References: <list-2048773@logan.com>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Problem found and fixed.
Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 22:32:13 -0400
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You could be right about that Finn.  At the time I designed and built the 
electrical system, there was not any ready available information on what the 
current draw of a rotary running 6000 rpm would place on the ignition 
system.  I found out early on when I blew the ballast resistor in the bottom 
of my Leading ignition module that it was probably higher than for auto 
application.  Its a fairly robust pin, but may not be up to the task 
demanded of it - at least not for 10 years {:>).   As I mentioned, I believe 
I will  separate the two ignition modules and give each its own circuit 
which should help that end of things.

Ed
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Finn Lassen" <finn.lassen@verizon.net>
To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 10:19 PM
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Problem found and fixed.


> Ed is it possible that just using one pin for both coils puts too much 
> current through that one pin? How many amps is it designed for?
> Could be it's heating up and that is contributing to the "corrosion".
>
> Finn
>
> Ed Anderson wrote:
>> After my  uneventful 1600 mile detour through Louisiana after Sun & Fun, 
>> I went out several days later and could not start the engine.  Didn't 
>> have time to trouble shoot it then, but I did today.
>>  The simulation modes were a great help.  If put the EC2 in mode 1 (fuel 
>> pumps off) and pushed the store button - the injectors clicked like mad. 
>> I detached one sparkplug wire , placed a screw driver in it and laid it 
>> on the motor mount.  I put the EC2 in mode 8 (ignition) and pressed the 
>> store button - nothing, nada, not a spark.
>>  So I started from the circuit breaker, confirmed I had voltage on each 
>> side.  Next was a Molex circular plug which connects the instrument panel 
>> wiring to the airframe, I have  6 of them.   I pulled the one which had 
>> the power line to the ignition coils and noticed that the power pin did 
>> not look bright and shiny as did the others.   I sprayed some Corrosion X 
>> on it and stuck it back on - the engine fired right up.
>>  However, during the running it died  at low rpm, so I pulled the plug 
>> back off an got out my near vision glasses and noticed that not only did 
>> it not look shiny but it looked slightly pitted and corroded.  So I got 
>> out some fine sand paper and clean the pin and took a small fine tooth 
>> file and gentle "reamed" the socket.  Put it back together and that 
>> apparently did the job.  I wiggled the plug quite a bit while the engine 
>> was running and no further disruption of the ignition.
>>  Lesson Learned? Well, way back when I was doing my wiring (hard to 
>> believe over a decade ago), I was faced with a choice of pins - tin or 
>> gold plated.  Well, need I say which one I went with - the tin ones, they 
>> were cheaper naturally.  Later on I decided to use gold plated 
>> pins/sockets for the critical circuits (of which this is one), but never 
>> went back and changed this one (after all I did want to fly in my life 
>> time).  Perhaps Bob White can chime in here, my recommendation would be 
>> to go with the gold plated pins vice the tin plated on for critical 
>> systems especially where they might be exposed to weather (like the tip 
>> up canopy can do).   Anyhow, back in running shape - I did pull all the 
>> remaining plugs and squirted some Xrossions on the pins.  None of the 
>> others had the dark/pitted look to them.
>>  Those simulations modes are really an asset in trouble shooting. 
>> Thought I would pass this on.
>>  Ed
>> Ed Anderson
>> Rv-6A N494BW Rotary Powered
>> Matthews, NC
>> eanderson@carolina.rr.com <mailto:eanderson@carolina.rr.com>
>> http://members.cox.net/rogersda/rotary/configs.htm#N494BW
>> http://www.dmack.net/mazda/index.html
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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>
>
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