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From: Chris Barber <cbarber@texasattorney.net>
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
CC: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Subject: Re: [FlyRotary] Re: Thermostats.
Thread-Topic: [FlyRotary] Re: Thermostats.
Thread-Index: AQHM9MARcbjnIp2VA06oSGaKh/sIsZZP6O+a
Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2012 00:47:09 +0000
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Thanks Dave. Yes the larger radiators I purchased (between the size of Dave=
 Leanards and John Slades, also turbos) is double pass. I tested the thermo=
stat today and it open as designed. I did drill a couple of holes in it tho=
. I also tried to belch my system. I ran for awhile with the radiator cap o=
ff and also loosened the AN fitting for the hose that comes from the coolan=
t port on the top rear side plate to hopefully get the air out. I even lift=
ed the nose a shook the plane attempting to force air out. Ok. Lifting the =
nose may have been useful only in my mind.=20

Well, seems like I have some improvement. I idled for quite a while (didn't=
 check the clock as intended) at around 1700 rpm, prop fine pitched (45 - 1=
05 IVO), 68 inch prop. Temps stabilized at about 193 coolant, 180 oil. When=
 I increased power a bit temps rose, but they would slowly come down when p=
owered back. Oh, for Houston it was chilly at 60 ish degrees.=20

Sent from my iPhone 4

On Feb 26, 2012, at 1:51 PM, "Dave" <david.staten@gmail.com> wrote:

> On 2/26/2012 11:29 AM, Chris Barber wrote:
>> I have been searching the archives but to scant successes regarding ther=
mostats use or lack of use for cooling.
>>=20
>> I have been having issue with cooling lately. I use to be able to idle o=
n the ramp for over an hour in the middle of a Houston summer with adequate=
 cooling. However, lately temps are rising faster and higher.
>>=20
>> Yesterday, while troubleshooting this issue I noted that after about a t=
en minute taxi that the mounting location of my coolant temp probes was rea=
ding about 220 degrees measured with a handheld thermo gage, close to what =
was being indicated on the panel  However, the top of the radiator was cool=
 to the touch. The handheld thermo gage read 45 degrees.   Ok. Seems to be =
a flow/thermostat/pump issue. I will be Looking into this ASAP.
>>=20
>> This got me to think about thermostat usage. I have one. I know some do =
not use them.
>>=20
>> It is my understanding that if you remove the thermostat you have to clo=
se some passage off. What passage is this and why does this need to be done=
. Also, what is the accepted method.
>>=20
>> While researching I also saw discussion on restrictive plates. While I a=
m not considering a restrictive plate, the thread discussed drilling holes =
in the thermostat itself. Lynn mentioned do it caught my interest.
>>=20
>> It seems this is something I use to know but now forget where I saw it. =
I just finished reviewing my partial scan of Tracy's conversion manual to n=
o avail and my archive search is giving me hundreds of returns.
>>=20
>> Thanks,
>>=20
>> Chris
>>=20
>> Sent from my iPhone 4
>> --
>> Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
>> Archive and UnSub:   http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/Li=
st.html
>>=20
>=20
> The first engine we built had no thermostat, and had "that" port plugged.=
 The thermostat is essentially a Y valve... When cold, it is closed, and wa=
ter is diverted through a bypass hole back to the engine. When warm it open=
s, diverting water from the bypass channel and sending it through the radia=
tor.  Of course this is a gradual change from one position to the other, as=
 a result of thermal expansion.
>=20
> If you believe your instrumentation is correct now, and was correct then,=
 with regards to temperatures and your idle ability, then what has changed?
>=20
> Has the thermostat failed or become plugged? Has airflow over the radiato=
r changed? Is this the same radiator you saw the long low temp idles with? =
(I bought that dual pass cross over radiator for a specific reason - to put=
 a cooling fan on one small part of the rad, allowing forced airflow to coo=
l ALL of the coolant as it passed through one of the pass channels - if you=
 replaced the radiator was it a dual-pass as well?) Using the dual pass rad=
 with a fan only over 1/4 of the rad surface would provide a large surface =
for ram air cooling at speed while still permitting very effective fan-forc=
ed cooling on the ground and at idle.
>=20
> Dave Staten
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20
> --
> Homepage:  http://www.flyrotary.com/
> Archive and UnSub:   http://mail.lancaironline.net:81/lists/flyrotary/Lis=
t.html