justinjsinclair

It runs mid 3-320 in the green most of the time, on a long run at 5-7000 it’s probably a bit cool at 2850, circuits in 34’c still way below yellow. it interesting what you say about filters. Years ago when I ran a GC8 rally car we had issues with non Subaru oil filters. So we only ever used OEM, yes it was a pita to find them. That’s why I buy Jab ones. If it splits and it’s black with a jab sign on it then I have a valid argument. If it’s Ryco from my motor parts supplier I am I trouble. As an aside the oil runs too cool. I think this winter I will be blocking up 50% of the cooler. And yes I know we don’t get winter here in QLD 🤣

Hi Glen, I guess we need to compare like with like, I know you are well versed in Jabs 😅 and are Lucid, intelligent and a great thinker. I feel the Avgas point is a bit mute, Rotax’s hate Avgas due the gearbox bearings and other stuff so as a general rule where you find a Rotax you will find a ULP pump, commercial operators get a road tax rebate so that and the price of Avgas vs PULP pretty quickly pays for a fuel truck/ tank. I have seen Jabirus run on Avgas with no issues although I did hear of an odd batch of Avgas in SA that caused a few issues with lots of operators including big 520 and 550 engines. One J160 I look after has now 800 hours, always run on Avgas, always run hard and no issues so far. But I think you will find everyone agrees PULP is the go. Speaking to the Jabiru Engine shop, the oil pressure issues seem to be solved, every time I have a technical question the Jab team are awesome. They are patient, listen and always have a solution. As far as mechanical costs go I feel the Jabiru is way in front per hour. At the moment a Rotax goes for 2000hrs (assuming 80-100ho) and price is roughly 40k, a jabiru is 20k and needs a top at 1000. Current jabiru pricing is 2200 Engine Gen 4 ** Top End Overhaul from $5,200 ** Full Overhaul from $6,300 ** Bulk Strip from $6,300 **Does not include replacement of substantial items ie. crank, cam , conrods, cylinders and heads. Engines must still be running.. so in actual fact the Gen4 is cheaper to overhaul every 1000 hours by about $15,000. The new Jab warranty is a really good deal too. We all know the Rotax is awesome but man the parts prices are eye watering, to be honest I think they are not far off a 0235 cost now. Don’t forget hoses, radiators, dual carbs, oil, yadda yadda yadda. The jab only takes 2.2/lt of oil and the filters are 7-$16.00, the 2 yearly hose replacement is $10-100 depending if you want to us new fire sleeve. The plugs are cheap as well. Well all know the Jab airframe is awesome, sure it’s not as light to fly as some of the European stuff but its maintenance is essentially nil. Tyres, bolts, and that’s about it. What don’t understand I why we have people running old engines, older than your Mitsubishi Magna and we whinge about support. These people don’t ring the factory and rely on what written here on the internet. All jab engines maintained to spec and run to spec are a good thing, New heads are available now. I don’t know if anyone has tried to rebuild a new engine lately but just finding a 0235 cylinder is a miracle. I used to own a Cessna 402 which is for sale again. The aircraft with running engines is $90,000.00, it had $300,000 spent in it 600 hours ago and it needs another $400,000.00 spent in it now to make it legal to carry pax. Thats stuff is pricing 402’s above C441 conquests now 😫 I think there was even a reference to TBO’s being some made up factor to gain profit. 😬. I challenge any pilot here to fly NVFR SYD-CBR, MEL-LST, CNS- TSV or Adelaide - Ceduna on an engine with more than 20% over TBO. it’s amazing how your appetite for risk changes when it’s your arse in the seat at night when that engine gives a little cough 😰 It sounds like I am a Jabiru agent but I am not, I just worry that a new glider is now $600,000.00 a new RAAus rocket ship is $500,000 and a reasonable trainer is $2-400,000.00. How any flying school makes money is beyond me but if we don't support local then we will all end up the poorer. i would really like to sell my J160 Gen 4 to get a 230 with Gen 4 but the prices now reflect the appeal of the airframe. Justin

Having owned both LCH and Gen 4 so I feel there are a few things to point out. Treat everything written on line with absolute suspicion, believe no one and trust no one, including me 🤔, unless it’s written down in a RAA, CASA, ATSB report or on a Jabiru or Rotec letterhead don’t believe it. I find it absolutely criminal that both Jabiru and Rotec are small Aussie companies making awesome products and yet we as Aussies praise the stuff made in Europe (which by the way have just as many issues as everything else) and poo poo the local product. Then we all whinge about no Aussie made cars or products whilst not supporting Aussie products in the supermarket and complain about the price of Rotax stuff 💁. i have never had a bad experience with Jabiru or Rotec, if you write them an email with all the information that they require including part numbers, dimensions, Serial numbers just as you would any engineering parts supply company they will get back to you asap. If you ring on Friday arvo with no information in a bad mood you can hardly expect great service. The Gen 4 is really hard to beat, it’s an awesome engine. It’s currently in production and all the parts are available. I just ordered an annual inspection kit including four oil filters, plugs, oil hose plus clamps and fire sleeve. All up delivered the next day to Brisbane was under $400.00. Yes I could have hunted around supercheep and saved a few dollars but all of my parts come from the manufacturer with paperwork and are traceable if there is a problem. The parts team at Jabiru are fricken awesome. To get angry at them because you have a 15 year old engine that has not been maintained, installed and run as per the book seems a bit silly, btw I note that heads will soon be available again. Having said that nearly all parts for all the Gen engines are still available or an upgrade is still available. Yes a Gen 4 is now 20k but a Rotax is now nearly double that, a O235 can hit 100k installed and a Chieftain engine can now be 250k. I think it’s exciting that Jabiru are now working on fuel injection, I wouldn’t be surprised that the Gen4 2200 will now be a 2000 hour (no top) 100hp engine stock just with EFI. if you can afford it buy a Gen4, install it properly and maintain it properly and it should give you 2000hours of love. The Rotec kit is fricken cool, Paul and Tony are awesome to deal with but you need to remember you are moving into the experimental area. So just like Lotus 7 kit cars, racing skiffs and home built verandas you need to understand how to do stuff. Paul is still developing the kit and there is no doubt that it solves the head heat issues. You can fit the kit for less than the cost of top overhaul but whilst you are there you might as well put new pistons, rings and valves in. It will probably cit you 3-7k all up including paint but you will have a weapon of an aircraft. Having said that you will now need to be even more fastidious at annual time, hoses, clamps, mounting brackets, fibreglass, pumps, wiring and the rest make it more like a Rotax. I am not sure if Rotec have established a hose replacement time yet but that’s the sort of stuff you need to think about. 5 years might be a good start. A 3300 , EFI, a gearbox with Rotec should be a 200hp engine 😁 yeah baby ❤️ i guess it’s just like all these rotax’s running around at 3-4000 hours with no issues, sure there is luck involved but the truth is that some engineer in some dark corner of the office designed a brilliant engine and put a TBO on it, we as owners can ignore that in our private flying worlds but at what cost. The rumour grapevine says that there have been many Rotax issues lately both with new builds and old engines, are they true or is it online rubbish because my aunt Mildred’s book reading mate heard from the barmaid that a Cessna powered by a Rotax had an engine failure. anyway just my thoughts, Justin SP500, J160 gen4, heaps of other flying machines

Ian Linke in SA, has most moulds for gliders, lots of aircraft too Aviation Acrylic Mouldings 08 8251 3780 Contact company 16 Red Wattle Place, 5127 Wynn Vale, South Australia I have his mobile details if you pm me, he is the guru

Hi have 5 spare heads(well 11 if the LCH conversion goes well) here in Brisbane, 5 of them have about 500 hours with some recession and the other 6 have 125hrs also with a little recession pm me if you want - Justin.

Hi KG, I am doing a new panel, I haven’t decided if I am keeping the 80mm ASI and Alt, the Tacho takes up a lot of room and I have a pretty healthy case of OCD when it come to instruments. At this stage I just want it all neat and tidy.

Hi all, I am in the process of rebuilding a Jab SP500 with 6 cylinder. I have ordered a Rotec Kit for it which will have alternator and elec ignition. The current Tacho size is 80mm and huuuuuge I am hoping a std vdo or saas 52 mm tacho can be programmed to run off the coil or alternator but I thought I would see if anyone has used the original pickup on the smaller tacho. pics here on yousnaptwitfacebook https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.434038505494427&type=3

It’s a SZD55 which is the modern version of the Polish built Jantar, Hornets are hard to find now. A bunch of new guys started a comp down at Leeton called F1.0 it’s a handicapped HP race format aimed at older gliders. It’s very popular so all the older gliders are snapped up. Modern gliding is very different now, most have double GPS, moving map with airspace, ADSB, ect ect. Say mate of mine has done Kingaroy to Benalla in a day. Most days the minimum speed is 100kph with the guns doing 140kph. Down south they go faster and further due longer hotter days, but we still can do 3-500 in winter in Qld. This is my panel

Hi Don, athat’s always the issue, trying to find someone who will finish or love it. ? all of the people who have the passion haven’t the money or the time. Every second forum writer will tell you they want it for $250 but when it comes time to cough up and pick it up they wont show, I have a mate who is just like that, he is as poor as a church mouse and couldn’t afford the gas to pick it up let alone re-engine it. I didn’t pay Gary much for the wreck but it won’t cost much get it flying in $$$ but I think there will over 1000 hours or work in getting it back in the air. That’s why we will stick with the VW at the moment as $8000 for a Rotax is a lot of money. That pays for lots of gliding for me. This is my other baby

Hi Don, I could watch it on the PC so it must be a anti apple thing. I noted that it was direct drive, this one has the reduction drive so maybe a few more HP for takeoff. It looks like it had longer legs as well. I like the shaking video, I shake like crap around running props too ??? where is your Karatoo now ?

Hi Don I can’t see the vid, maybe because I am on iPad

Hello, Justin from Brisbane here. I have purchased a broken Karatoo and will spend the next few (5-10) years getting her back in the air. It had a bit of a oops in Tara and will require a fair bit of love and attention to get her airworthy. My good mate Ed and I will spend many an evening in the shed tinkering away. It came with a 12 hour old 2300cc VW and Bolly reduction drive. It’s got overhauled bendix mag, carb, twin plug heads and new alloy case, I am not sure if we will use it yet, certainly it will do to keep costs down but I care about reliability more than anything else. The aim will be a minimum cost build with minimal instruments, only a compass, ASI, Alt and engine instruments. A WAC chart will do for navigation ? I can’t find a Karatoo build topic on here so I guess this will have to do. I am putting stuff up on YouTube for people to see what we are up to, it’s on the link below. https://www.youtube.com/user/justinjsinclair have a great day Justin