skippydiesel

Hi Moneybox, What is your interest in Decalin? It's been around for quite a long time - seems to be aimed at minimising lead deposits in aircraft using leaded fuel. I do hear of Rotax owners, using predominantly/exclusively AvGas, spruiking its efficacy. As far as I know, its use in Rotax engines, does not extend the 600 hr gearbox inspection, when Avgas is used. Better to stick with ULP and avoid the added cost & bother of Decalin😈

Onetrack, I think I said "how can the same engine run equally happily on either Australian or US petrol" - "happily" in this context means without apparent problem/loss of efficiency. If the fuel was "vastly" diffrent I doubt the engine would be happy. 40 odd years ago my boss had a very high performance Fiat (can't remember the model). He pinched what he thought was petrol from the farm bowser - diesel. The car somehow traveled about 5k before he realised there was a problem. When I got the call for help, arrived some 20 minutes later, the car was still sort of running - wouldnt turn off. We used to call this "dieseling" proving your point, that a high compression spark ignition engine, can start on petrol and continue on diesel (or shandy theroff). We got the engine stopped. The internal damage to the engine rendered the any thought of repairs uneconomic - I would not say it ran happily. I would categorise your knowledge, in particular the historical developments, as being far greater than mine , if not expert than not far off. Despite your superior knowledge, I still dont think whatever regulatory additive differences there are between US & Au petrol, the practical differences are minor resulting in no discernable (to the user) performance differences. I do understand that the colder parts of the US & the World, have winter fuel formulations, to cope with the very low temperatures - this could be another topic in itself, does not have much application in AU.

Hi Marty, Propeller thoughts; Before fitting your blades - weigh each in total (vertical if will balance on scale) and at each end by using a "bridge at the non scale end. You will need a good solid flat surface out of any drafts to do this. Compare weights - If single bled heavy, adjust the heavy blade down. If single blade light add weight. If blade root hollow, this is where weight can be added. subtracted When adjusting pitch angles; If your blades are a friction/clamp fit ie can be rotated with loose clamp, try using a smear of Carnuba Wax on the root. This will allow you to apply some clamping pressure, while allowing smooth movement of the blade. This will reduce over/under adjusting movement and the tendency for the blade to change pitch as the hub is tightened. Balancing of the engine carbrettors (static followed by dynamic) is a must but will not help an out of balance propeller. Have your propeller dynamically balanced - you and your engine will be glad you have this done.😈

Hi Marty, I am a tad disturbed by photos of a fuel tank with what looks like short piece of fuel hose with some other (plastic?) hose pushed into it - is this your kit suppliers recommended practise. Further hose concerns - in one or more photos, there were semi transparent hoses depicted - these are rarely suitable to be in contact with fuel.

Far easier to calibrate the gauge. Choose your increments eg 5L Make a blank card in the shape of an arc, to suit the gauge - could go under glass or over Add 5L mark position of pointer on gauge card Repeat until tank full. You now have a calibrated gauge. As other have noted DO NOT RELY ON THE GAUGE TO REMAIN ACCURATE - always cross check with dipstick or sight gauge.

Onetrack, I have to call you out on this statement: "................fuel and refining standards are vastly different between the U.S. and Australia. You are clearly the expert on Australian fuel BUT "vastly diffrent" ??? if this is correct, how can the same engine run equally happily on either Australian or US petrol??😈

Fair comment. I think you will find that, for the most part, the responses you have listed are in answer to a prior statemnt, by another contributor but may not be a logical continuance of the thread topic they are in. It likly that your observation is the result of "Thread Drift" Thread Drift can be entertaining, informative, confusing and bloody frustrating, depending on your personal perception of the drift you are reading.😈

Mogas, Motor Gas, Auto Gas, Gas, Unleaded, Lead free Petrol, Petrol, ULP, E10 (10% ethanol blend with petroleum) are all country terminological variations on petroleum fuel, for ground based engines. AvGas, Aviation Gasoline is formulated specifically for aircraft use. Is usually very much more expensive than ULP. Yes, ground based engines will run on it. The only ground based engines that will see a significant benefit (increased performance), in using this fuel, are those with higher than standard compression ratios. With ULP, there may be some country formulation differences (particularly summer/winter blends in very cold climates) however the same engine will run just fine, no matter which counties fuel is being used ie the fuel meets the engine manufactures specifications. Most western counties (inc. Australia) will have petrol with diffrent Octane (anti knock) ratings to meet the needs of engines with higher compression than others. Australia expresses the diffrent in Octane ratings as RON (Research Octane Number) 91 - 95 - 98. Petrol blended with ethanol (E) to a certain maximum percentage (%) is available in Australia, USA, most of Europe. Rotax engines are approved to use up to 10% E (E10) with the caveat that the aircraft manufacture approves its use. Reason E attacks some "rubber" components that may be used in the fuel supply system. E10 is cheaper to purchase than non E blended fuel but contains less energy, so the engine will use more to deliver the same performance - this may negate the cost advantage. To my knowledge Rotax is the only aircraft engine manufacturer to approve the use of E10. I have no experince and only anecdotal knowledge of using ULP in LyCons, Jab engines. My local flying school is exclusively Jab aircraft, they all run on ULP 98 RON, have done for very many years, apparently without any negative effects. My Rotax powered aircraft has a preference for 98 RON - will run on 95 RON and if needs be AvGas . While I accept that AvGas is produced to tighter standards than ULP, in Australia ULP is of sufficiently high standard (when vendor selected with some care) to meet the needs of Rotax and apparently Jabiru aircraft engines, where the manufacturer has specified or accepted its use. The use of AvGas in engines designed to use ULP, does not confer any significant advantage ( I am told this may be diffrent for operating above 10,000ft) and may result in a higher maintenance cost (Lead fouling in Rotax engines), will cost more to purchase and is particularly detrimental to the environment and persons inhaling the exhaust fumes.

Terrible thread drift but cant let the, possibly faith based utterances from above, go unanswered/challenged; (My comment below are not to suggest for a moment, that I would not defend the right of any person to use whatever fuel they wish) I have owned/operated and serviced a wide range of petrol (including 2/) powered small engines fo some 50 plus years. I use exclusively 91 RON in the last 30 years and on previous occasion 91 or 95 RON. I have never, repeat never, had a plug fouling, starting, carbon build up or any other fuel related problem, while using this grade of fuel. Those that promote the use of higher RON fuels (including AvGas, WTF!!!!!) in such engines are, without so much as a sceric of credibility. I assume promoters of using higher RON fuels, than the small engine needs to run efficiently, or the manufacturers specifies, have some sort of obscure vested interest in spreading such drivel. I have no doubt that the engines will run on 98 RON/ AvGas, however the ONLY benefit will be in your perception that they somehow run better(?) and your wallet will be unnecessarily drained for this gratification.😈

Thanks Alan, To paraphrase; As I don't use AvGas in my Rotax it's of significant interest to me. I would suggest that the number of ULP users is significant (& rising) and it's only the conservatism of the aviation community as a whole, that results in this sort of discrimination.

One useful detail that is missing, from the OzRunways pilot touring guide, is the nearest available 98 RON ULP - other sites like Fuel Guide can be excessed for this , it would be nice if included in OzRunways.😈 .

saying there is no quick fix means nothing gets done. You may be correct. Assuming you are an Au Citizen, you can vote for a candidate/party with policies that have been developed using rational, rather than the usual emotive claptrap/vote getters. we need to change bail laws. Why? - On our justice system you are innocent until proven guilty. Only the potentially dangerous should not have bail privileges jails have to be places people don't want to go to. not somewhere to catch up with mates .- Agreed ! but also should have strong rehabilitation programmes, overwise they are just criminal universities. tobacco taxs should be returned to previous levels. if cigarettes cost no more than chop chop the tobacco war would stop overnight. all those taxes do is incite crime and take food off the table in low income households. Prohibition, of any level, has never worked, except for organised crime. Fare better to put the tax payers dollars go into encouraging excessive drug taking (of all sorts) to be seen as socially unacceptable & dangerous to health. i have seen it myself around here. the do gooder judges need to be sacked and get some decent people in there. The problem with this philosophy is that inosents end up in jail - would you like yourself/family member/friend to face a "hanging judge"?

saying there is no quick fix means nothing gets done. You may be correct. Assuming you are an Au Citizen, you can vote for a candidate/party with policies that have been developed using rational, rather than the usual emotive claptrap/vote getters. we need to change bail laws. Why? - On our justice system you are innocent until proven guilty. Only the potentially dangerous should not have bail privileges jails have to be places people don't want to go to. not somewhere to catch up with mates .- Agreed ! but also should have strong rehabilitation programmes, overwise they are just criminal universities. tobacco taxs should be returned to previous levels. if cigarettes cost no more than chop chop the tobacco war would stop overnight. all those taxes do is incite crime and take food off the table in low income households. Prohibition, of any level, has never worked, except for organised crime. Fare better to put the tax payers dollars go into encouraging excessive drug taking (of all sorts) to be seen as socially unacceptable & dangerous to health. i have seen it myself around here. the do gooder judges need to be sacked and get some decent people in there. The problem with this philosophy is that inosents end up in jail - would you like yourself/family member/friend to face a "hanging judge"?

Be very careful what you wish for - flogings may have worked for a few, for others it just entrenched injustice. Giving the power to administer corporal punishment, to a group of people without adequate checks balances on their mental state/training, is in itself, a crime. To my mind very similar to having general duties/highway patrol cops armed - way too easy to justify summary executions without good cause = State sanctioned crimes. As long as it happens to those with little / no voice we just shrug and let it happen.😈

There is no second guessing/logic in some bureaucratic decisions but I can't see making your own wood prop being okay and the fitting of a good quality/well tested composite ground adjust, being not okay😈

Al true Spacesailer and I am all for artistry, cost savings & personal achievement/satisfaction HOWEVER this should be weighed against the benefits of a ground adjust composite propellers weather resistance, consistency, weight and ability to be optimise for the airframe/mission. 😈

Just wondering - why the fixation on a wooden propeller?? There are so many very nice ground adjust props on the market. I wonder would not one of these fit your purpose & achieve a more optimised/durable & weather resistant, fan at the same time? 😈

"Do as I say - Not as I do" Aside from that - Publishing your law breaking seems to go hand in hand with the behaviour. Had a similar aircraft crash & fatality at The Oaks, a few years back - his naughty videos were all over the net. I believe CFI had words with him on several occasions.

Especially in Tiger (Crock) Country😈

Are you sure you're comparing apples with apples? - RAA rego includes insurance.😈

The Australian Guru of Europas lives SW Qld somewhere - sorry, I forget his name, someone on the Forum will likly know who I am referring to. Nice bloke, very helpful, knowledgeable about Europas. I think he may have two, one of which may have a Rotax 914😈

The USA, supposedly the greatest democracy & economy today, is characterised by appalling poverty AND obscene wealth. Features that few administrations have acknowledged or tried to seriously tackle - a situation unlikly to change under the coming onslaught😈

I guess my observation, alludes to generosity with little substance (as in a political offer that fails to be implemented). IF this offer took any RAA time at all, to negotiate, I would also suggest that our Administration might use our time/money to much better effect. 😈

Aaaah! Greater specificity - will try & take your advice😈

Wow! "Thread drift" usually takes some sort of associated path , however random, from the original topic but this is more like a "Hijack"!😈