Callahan

I liked the thought at bottom in red Phil.....but many times its the pilots fault of allowing the machine to kill them.

Next thing is new coils then a stator if coils don't work. Then....Bankruptcy. That should work!

One more thing. Tried two Balance Masters at about $300+.....No Help Whatsover. Vibrates like they weren't even there.

I'm replying to my reply. Went to the airport to try some lasr ditch remedies to my 503s mid-range roughness. My ass is worn out. My brain is numb. I've tried thinking outside the box 10 ways to Sunday. No luck. Today, for lack of nothing else, I changed pulse pumps even though I know it was getting fuel through the Facet pump I have in the line. Re-synced the carbs for the umpteeth time, jets, vents, all cleaned, viton needles new, float arms set at 10.5mm, high quality fuel lines. I mean what the hell else is there? Just so you know, I eliminated everything in the fuel line, just had fuel running straight from the tank to the pulse pump. Tank is well vented. I even removed the cable actuated chokes & replaced them with manual chokes. No luck. Changed out everything that's possible to change....carbs, coils, leads, new plugs, new plug caps & on & on. Could it be a breakdown in the stator windings that's not showing up on the meter but happening while running? That's one thing I haven't changed. Wonder what a stator costs? I've got two NEW coils on order. Since a coil helped the hard start in the Drifter, it might do the trick for the Trike. The coil I used in the Drifter was a used one but fairly new. The Rotax manual says that coils can continue to run a powerplant but breakdown under heat etc. Nev pointed that out too. Thanks again Nev! When & if I figure this sucker out, I will certainly post it on here. It may someday be useful to somebody instead of their beating their brains out & learning new cuss words. Bill

Crush the plug HT....never thought of that Nev. I use pliers to tighten it. Found one loose recently. Yuri....aren't you the Russkie who amazed the world in Sputnik sub-orbital flight? What? '62. Just kidding. Yes, my Drifter has standard prop clearance. Currently, it has a 60 inch (total length) IVO on it. Tracking & angles are spot on. I use a "cube" digital protractor. No dings, gouges etc. Oil is 50 to one mix. Thank you for your input!

Thanks Don! Every comment is worth something at this point! Believe me. My KIA Sorento with wire platinum plugs has gone 174,000+ miles on the same plugs. I still get same mileage as new. However, I've done the plug gaping & installed new plugs NGK-B8ES, new leads, changed plug caps, gone through six sets of coils etc. No help. As soon as it goes beyond 3500 rpm up to 5k, it's vibrating heavily. Will post a YouTube video soon. Thank you!

Nev, I use 93 octane E-free, Marine and that expensive 2-stroke oil that WallyMart sells at $36.00 per gallon. As far as detonation, I had a 503 bore a hole in a piston a while back. If you watched my video, that watery recovery effort was because of it. I'm editing a video now of the vibration. I'll put the YouTube link on here when finished. Thanks a lot! Bill Catalina

One Track, My sentiments exactly. I have done everything humanly possible & redone them so many times, I've forgotten what I've done. However, my mechanical skills are lacking so I'm still beating my brains out trying to figure something simple I haven't thought of. I appreciate your advice. Today will be my last day at the grindstone...or a bullet in the brain. Bill Catalina

Nev.....you da' man! I'm not leaving you other responders out either because you all know more than me! Over the Weekend News: Drifter: 503 B-box 1) Cured hard starting Drifter with newer coil. Hooray. 2) Showed my friend Nev's response on coil breakdown.His reply? ...Oh! Sounds like he knows what he's talking about! 2) High speed vibration under 5k rpm still hanging in like a cold you can't get rid of. I use Marine 93 octane. Trike: 503 - B-box 1) Mid-range vibration at 5k & below still hanging like a cold.....this is heavy vibration not hi-speed like the Drifter. Tried 3 different props, six separate carbs, syncing carbs multiple times, cleaned up electrical, switch checked, all contacts cleaned, new 14 gauge wiring, pulled Facet pump & squeeze bulb out of line, tried a small jar with gas held high to eliminate all "in-line" fuel delivery problems, new leads, new plugs at .18 gap, added one coil from another motor, bought two Balance Masters....no help what-so-ever, prop tracking okay, new carb needles, tried different carb needle positions, thoroughly cleaned all carb inlets, outlets, jets, & a myriad of other remedies I've lost track of. Mid-range is killing me.

Down under, I did think about using iridium plugs but the cost factor. Now that it starts easily, I'll keep the status quo. Thanks!

....and I bet that bit of advice came with experience! Funny too! Thanks!

Oh Crap! From what you've told me about a plug wire coming loose.....and killing the coil......I landed my Drifter two days ago, notice a plug wire hanging off....I'll have to check now & see if I have a bad coil. I haven't flown it since then. Thanks again.....I had forgotten to safety wire the inverted plug caps!

Nev! Thanks for that informative disclosure! I'll show it to my friends who say a coil either works or it doesn't. From what you've told me, a coil can still work but deteriorate under running pressure & heat. Thank you!

Thanks Doug but I didn't touch or improve anything else. I just removed the original coil, put the newer one on, that was it. I may have sprayed those twisty screw head coil connections with electronic spray but that was it. It'd be hard for me to believe that a simple spraying would cure a hard start. Possible I guess?

I was going to post something & forgot what I wanted to post. A 68 year old brain will do that! Let me think.....duhhh..... Oh yeah! Has anyone had this experience? My Drifter with a 503 inverted was very hard to start. Figured the inverted plugs were flooded all the time. For the heck of it, I pulled a fairly new coil off a spare motor I had. Stuck it (only one) on the Drifter....sucker cranked on one or two spins & does so now every time! It wasn't a fluke! Now, people have told me that a coil is a coil.....they either work or they don't. I say B.S.! Both coils tested to spec but one was newer! The motor continues to crank easily, often on the first revolution. Anybody want to respond? Would love to have some input.

I can't speak for Rick Davis, the overhaul company owner which I believe is called Red Gold Rotax....forget it, I forgot but that's close. But I think it's up to the engine owner. If you want a knew crank, I'm sure Rick will install one. He's done four of mine over the years & my policy with him is to check the crank to specs. If it checks okay, keep it. I will add this fact. In 45 years of experience with Rotax motors, I have never had a crank fail. I also never depend on an oil pump. I mix. A pump is just something else to break or mismanage.

Jimmy, Was that photo before the overhaul or after? Just kidding! You should've put the after picture in there. Bill Catalina

Like Ashley said: "That Bill is a pushover!" You shoulda' seen the ones I didn't show you!

That was a great story Soleair! Would've loved to have had that pulled off. I can imagine Jack doing it too! I've heard of the Dangerous Sports Club. I think its called the Travis Pastrana Dangerous Sports Club now. If you don't know who he is just type the name on YouTube! Didn't know two seater 'Dactyls were in England. There's still some about. Saw one for sale on Barnstormer's a while back....about $1,500. We did have a few deaths in the U.S. Let a friend of mine fly mine, told him to keep stiff legged so that nose gear wouldn't collapse on him on landing. It did. He was on an asphalt runway & it gouged a hole in his kneecap so deep you could see the bone! Take Care!

You're most welcome David! That was a very creative way to describe it too. That video took two months of effort & I got a No Tresspass notice for the airport delivered to my door by a Sheriff's Deputy after it was all over. Our local yokel airport manager didn't approve of my "dangerous flying." I violated the Trespass about 10 times, was never arrested. I had a video of all the encounters with this guy on YouTube but after things settled down I removed it. You wouldn't believe this guy. He went way out of bounds. I may put it back up & if I do, I'll post it here. He called FAA too. Thanks again!

Bruce! I remember Crazy Jack! He did a two-up with a female on a cross country for Glider Rider magazine. Both were quite brave. Somehow he widen the "cockpit" to fit two. Guy wasn't stupid for sure & neither are you! You designed your own gearbox! Amazing! Well, glad to hear your survived a Terror-Dactyl ownership! P. S, Any idea how many less fortunates than us were killed in that "scary sumbitch?" P.S.S. Watch my video as I take a Drifter for a test drive. On YouTube...Drifter Flying by William Catalina Take Care! Bill Callahan

Hey Bruce! You brought back a memory of my first ultralight, a Terror-Dactyl (Pterodactyl).....before the canards came along. 22 hp Sachs. Scary sumbitch it was! Came in 4 boxes, no pictures or diagrams. 19 and 79. Kept it 2 years, sold it to a guy who crashed it. No surprise there.

Got it! Thanks!

I just wrote them for info. I've got a 503 with a 60 inch IVO on my Drifter. Which one did you order if you don't mind my bugging the heck out of you. I found their site to be a little un-explanatory as to ordering. As for screwing something up, I'm a master at it. But the one I bought was at least 30 years ago & it was smaller than their 7 inch version. Thanks!

M61, I was hoping somebody would answer that. Thanks. I had tried one years ago with no noticeable improvement. However, knowing me, it could've been something I neglected at installation. I'll give it a try. If it works as you say, I'll buy another for my Trike. Thanks again!....and for the link. Bill Catalina