Rotax 447 engine info
KelleySM
447 engine. I am interested in some input to the reliablity and service
ability of the engine.
1) Recomended TBO?
2) Availability of parts
3) Relative ease of servicing
4) Cost new vs overhauling?
5) Any additional info that I may be forgetting.
Thanks in advance,
Sean Kelley
Kell...@aol.com
highflyer
The Star-Lite is a delightful single place airplane.
The engine is one of the early Rotax engines. They seem to work
pretty well in ultralites where they were real popular at one time.
Now most people want the newer bigger engines. They are pretty
easy to service, and parts are readily available and inexpensive.
Cost new, a couple of thousand. Overhaul, a few hundred.
I don't think there is a "recommended TBO." 500 hours would be good.
They are a two stroke engine and turn up pretty well in the air.
They fly nicely. A good toy. Expect the engine to quit and then
you won't be surprised.
HF
leo_p...@my-dejanews.com
> .... I am interested in some input to the reliablity and service
> ability of the engine.
> 1) Recomended TBO?
> 2) Availability of parts
> 3) Relative ease of servicing
> 4) Cost new vs overhauling?
> 5) Any additional info that I may be forgetting.
Sean,
I'll answer your questions in a different way.
I've tried three 2-stroke engine types in a/c during the past 10 years
- Fuji Robin (Japan), KFM (Italy), Rotax (Austria).
The Rotax (otherwise known as the Austrian "hand grenade" or "Hitler's
revenge") has been the best all-round performer.
In my experience, the 447 is the most reliable of the various Rotax
2-stroke models available and you can just about get parts for it from
a 7-11.
For maximum reliability and TBO do
(1) Use a good quality 2-stroke oil designed for air-cooled engines - not
outboard motor oil.
(2) fit a Exhaust Gas Temperature gauge - Cylinder Head Temperature won't tell
you about an over temp condition until it's too late and you're about
to have an engine seizure and an outlanding
(3) ensure that the ignition timing is correct, use NKG plugs and change
them after 10 hours.
Observe the above operating conditions and at the typical 40 engine
hours per year it'll be many years before you'll be concerned about
engine overhaul.
Best wishes,
Leo
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Geoff Thistlethwaite
Order a copy of the CPS (California Power Systems) catalog, $5 or $6 bucks
comes with a coupon for that amount in purchases, from 1-800-airwolf
The back of this catalog has a trove of info on all Rotax models as well as
guide lines on the care and feeding of these engines
Geoff Thistlethwaite
KelleySM wrote in message <19981027075421...@ng12.aol.com>...
>I am considering the purchase of a Star-Lite experimental A/C. It has a
Rotax
>447 engine. I am interested in some input to the reliablity and service
>ability of the engine.
>
>1) Recomended TBO?
>2) Availability of parts
>3) Relative ease of servicing
>4) Cost new vs overhauling?
>5) Any additional info that I may be forgetting.
>
highflyer
>
> kell...@aol.com (KelleySM)
> I've tried three 2-stroke engine types in a/c during the past 10 years
> - Fuji Robin (Japan), KFM (Italy), Rotax (Austria).
> The Rotax (otherwise known as the Austrian "hand grenade" or "Hitler's
> revenge") has been the best all-round performer.
> In my experience, the 447 is the most reliable of the various Rotax
> 2-stroke models available and you can just about get parts for it from
> a 7-11.
> For maximum reliability and TBO do
> (1) Use a good quality 2-stroke oil designed for air-cooled engines - not
> outboard motor oil.
> (2) fit a Exhaust Gas Temperature gauge - Cylinder Head Temperature won't tell
> you about an over temp condition until it's too late and you're about
> to have an engine seizure and an outlanding
> (3) ensure that the ignition timing is correct, use NKG plugs and change
> them after 10 hours.
> Observe the above operating conditions and at the typical 40 engine
> hours per year it'll be many years before you'll be concerned about
> engine overhaul.
> Best wishes,
That is sound advice. I would add, never use gasoline with alcohol
added to it. The alcohol tends to cause the oil to drop out and
settle to the bottom of the tank when you are not flying.
Drain the tank when you park it, and always put in fresh gas/oil
mixture before flying.
I usually use Stihl or Lawn Boy two stroke oil. It comes in handy
size containers that are just right for a tankfull of gas.
Have fun. The Star-Lite is a fun little airplane. Be warned though,
that even though it is a docile and controllable taildragger with a
low stalling speed and nice handling qualities, it is NOT a Cessna.
HF
Rob Reynolds
>> 1) Recomended TBO?
300 hours
>> 2) Availability of parts
Easily available parts via mail order
>> 3) Relative ease of servicing
You can service it yourself (great manual) or send it to an authorized
repair center.
>> 4) Cost new vs overhauling?
New, without gear box will run about $2500, overhauled ones are usually >
$1000
>> 5) Any additional info that I may be forgetting.
Being a 2-stroke, you WILL experience an engine failure, sooner or later
For more info see:
www.leadingedge-airfoils.com
www.800-airwolf.com
and others
Duncan Charlton
if you want a used 447. He rebuilds them and adds NipponDenso electronic
ignition. Since this was going in a miniMAX I wanted to avoid the points
ignition with its 25 hour service -- I would have had to remove the engine
every time I wanted to adjust or replace the points. I found this engine
ran very well and very smoothly. The accelleration curve was smooth. I
never fiddled with the CDI in 140 hours. The factory CDI wasn't available
yet and on the 503 it had no ignition advance, which the ND setup did have.
Others have ragged on Steve and he's kinda semi-rude on the phone but I had
no problems with him.
Duncan
char...@flash.net
