The ROTARY PRAGMA with the one rotor engine is finally doing taxi tests. This is without cowling. Every thing, almost, is running good. Temperatures were good with 160F for oil and water at 70F OAT. All systems seem to be working as planed. I had to play a little bit with the throttle setting for starting, but after a couple of times it became real easy and it started every time.  She is really wanting to fly now!

 

The recently reported blowout of the oil filter gasket was traced to two causes. One was the oil I used. I concluded from the testing on the stand that using 40 or 50 weight VR1 racing oil would be a good choice. It did work on the test stand satisfactory. However, at 45F temperature it is awfully thick, and my conclusion was it was a major contributor to the blow out. The other thing was, the oil filter I used was a general type filter. When I had a closer look at the design of the rubber gasket and its placement in the filter body in different filters, especially on an old Delco fro m one of my 1987/88 RX7 engines, I realized a significant difference. These filters have an o-ring as a seal placed in a groove which makes it possible to tighten the filter to the metal to metal point keeping the rubber seal completely enclosed. Looking for this kind of filter in the auto parts store led me to a K&N filter. It is pricy at $15.00 but is the same seal design as that old Delco.

Using the K&N filter and W20/50 VR! oil solved the problem.

 

Richard Sohn

N2071U

 

 

                                                

Sorry for the first one, it got out of my hand.