skippydiesel

My system is for a Rotax 912ULS; If you would like, I can send photos of my interpretation of the Rotax boost pump, with non return by-pass circuit - all a mixture of automotive & aircraft fittings.😈

Sorry 440032, I am about to "throw a spanner" in your advice. When I was doing my Sonex fuel reticulation (30L wing tanks & central 40L header) all connected by aluminium pipe & AN fittings, I found that to get what I wanted to do the job I had to purchase from both Aircraft AND Automotive AN suppliers, There was never a problem with compatibility , because I made sure I got the correct bits. My suppliers were: https://www.asapspares.com.au/ https://www.aaestore.com.au/ https://aeroflowperformance.com/catalogue-2024 Between the three suppliers listed I almost always got the part(s) I wanted, when wanted. Aeroflow have an an amazing range, usually but not always, cheaper than the aircraft parts supply people. Take the time to familiarise yourself with how the catalogue woks, some "stuff" is in categories that you may not at first recognise. If you don't already have the pipe cutting, bending & flaring tools, be sure to shop around - the cheap ones will, with a bit of practise & care, do the job, leave the expensive stuff to the dedicated multi kit builder and professionals. Making consistent well formed flairs, bends without flattening/kinks, is a skill, take time to practise until you get it right - I found using a little spray lithium grease helped in most situations and be sure to deburr before flaring.😈

Did a little research(better than faulty memory) - Think I probably had a Barbour jacket & over trousers. Good in UK summer, okay in light, short duration rain - bloody awful in heavy rain, winter cold, sleet, etc😈

Oh well, cant get satisfaction every time, "said the actress to the bishop"😈

Very clever - the kit comes with a a 25 MM ID hose adapter - not so many joins after all. "........don't understand about having different radiators for aircraft with different performances....." Its not a question of me not understanding that coolant radiators must be specified for diffrent engine sizes/applications, etc, its wondering why your kit supplier sees fit to not use the Rotax OM Radiator, that has been developed for the engine and what seems to be satisfactory in a host of aircraft from low/slow to high speed, pushers and tractors. Nothing sinister or argumentative , just curious 😈

It will be very clever, if you have managed to go from Rotax to Setrab, without some form of reducer. My guess, a minimum of two extra joins, over that for a hose Rotax to Rotax.😈

All good BurnieM. A very long time ago, I spent 5 years in the UK. My transport, for much of this time, was a Triumph 650. I had leather boots & gloves, the latest (at the time ) in all weather motorcycle gear - Berber/Burberry/Barba(?) heavy waxed over jacket & trouser. Open face helmet, traditional googles and leather face mask. Despite all sorts of strategies - newspaper under jacket (s), 2 pairs of trousers, wool & cotton socks, oversized rubber kitchen gloves over leather bike gloves, plastic bags over feet - I FROZE!!. The UK was/is a cold wet place - There were times I had difficulty opening my hands, after an extended winter ride. No amount of Dubbin seemed to keep by feet & hands dry, even the rubber over gloves/bags only had limited benefit. There is no doubt that I am a "lizard", much prefer heat to cold, so forgive my rejection of your, well considered, cold weather strategy - no offence intended😈

I have never suggested you (Zenith et al) are wrong, only that the approach is somewhat unconventional. I like unconventional, especially when it works. Despite this I am not a fan of "reinventing the wheel" for no apparent gain. I still wonder at the choice, given the diffrent viscosities of oil & coolant (water) and I assume the Setrab heat exchanger has been optimised for oil (it looks like an oil cooler). In addition, the Rotax 9 coolant system will have 25 mm OD hose connections , so at some point reducers will have to be fitted to get down to the Setrab inlet/outlet dimensions - added weight, more joins ????😈

From another Forum: An Australian pilot : " I used battery powered Ororo branded socks for a while but found them uncomfortably narrow on the foot and tight around the calves. Over the last few years I’ve used stick on toe warmers available at most pharmacies. I find them to be effective" https://www.chemistwarehouse.com.au/buy/83839/hot-hands-toasti-toe-warmers-5-pairs At $7.00, I think I should give them a try😈

Speculation: For Rotax 9 powered aircraft, high / low / rotating, the Rotax radiator is the norm - Your dual purpose oil/coolant, the exception. Nothing wrong with that of course😈

Oh well there you go - I wonder why Rotax have stuck with the more conventional (PN 997083) ???😈

I didnt not suggest using an oil cooler, for a coolant radiator, would not work, only that it may not be the best design for the job. Oil coolers usually ; Are of heavier construction, than needed for coolant - in aircraft all unnecessary weight is usually avoided Have smaller ID inlet/outlet pipes - this may result in the need for pipe reducers, more weight & complexity When perfectly satisfactory dedicated Radiators & Oil Coolers are available, I wonder why you or is it the kit supplier, would choose to do this??😈

Yes - as I acknowledged BUT how effective is the Setrab in BOTH roles??? Seems to me that if an oil cooler can be used as a coolant radiator, then this would be common practise - last time I looked its not. I would like to know the technical reasons why not.????? I am sure there are Forum members who would be fare more qualified to debate this than me😈

There seems to be a small confusion in this thread between Radiators & Oil Coolers. Radiator - Name commonly use for coolant heat exchanger Oil Cooler - Name commonly used for - you guessed it, oil heat exchanger. In both cases they are air/liquid heat exchangers (there are liquid/liquid heat exchangers). Many similarities however, their design differences tend to reflect liquid viscosity and expected temperature & pressure ranges. Not saying that the one heat exchanger design, could not be used for oil or coolant, however I have never seen this and I would suggest that the targeted liquid is more likly to be efficiently cooled eg Danny-G's Setrab example looks to me to be an Oil Cooler., while Rodgerc's is a Coolant Radiator😈

Thanks Thruster however its the calves & feet that are cold not my upper body, head and hands. IF THEY WORK the socks (which brand?) will be the perfect , well targeted, cost effective, solution😈

FOLKS ITS MY FEET & CALVES that are cold Not hands, arms, torso, etc Has no one used, have an opinion on the efficacy, cost effectiveness of heated socks????? 😈

Sounds cosy but of the feet?😈

Thanks BurnieM - the only respondent who has directly addressed my question. Not saying the others don't have merit, they do but for the most part are overkill, in my application, for our short winters - lower extremity cold discomfort. Back to BurnieM - Are you referring to heated motorcycle gear or just motorcycle gear in general? If the former, please expand on your experince /knowledge.😈

Recent trip to The Oaks - Condobolin, NSW, saw 1C, for 90 minutes, at 4500ft. Felt like my feet & calves were about to drop off as I dismounted on arrival. As a result of the above experince, have been thinking on workable solutions for our short but sometimes uncomfortably cold winter flying months; Plumb in the traditional hot air from silencer/exhaust system. Well tested, effective aircraft cockpit heating solution BUT will require considerable fabrication, increased risk of CO poisoning & I suspect cockpit noise levels. Will add little/nothing for 10 months of the year. Make up an automotive style coolant heater with small fan to circulate. Doable but as with above a fair bit of work involved taking the bird out of operation during some of our best flying conditions. Additional weight (got to add at least 3-5 kg). There may also be engine overcooling issues and due to long coolant hoses, additional joins = heightened failure risk. High Top Ugg Boots Yeah but will require changing to regular shoes for any serious ground activities (long walk to point Percy, etc). Bulky when not in use (aircraft space challenged) No longer as cheap as in my youth (last time I had a pair) $70 - $320 Heated socks that have been developed for winter activates such as skiing. This has real potential. No aircraft mods required. Battery powered. Some rechargeable. Claims of adjustable temperature from about 38C upwards (seems a tad hot to me). Relativly low cost (from low $ teens to about $450, with most under $100). Light weight and low volume. This might just be the way to go for our short winter. I am keen to hear from anyone who has experince using heated socks.😈

Round trip 4.3hrs (Hobbs). Times worked out very well - got to Cowra before 12:00 Was almost frozen stiff by the time I got to Condo. Great air, lots of ground fog. Condo deserted - if it wasn't for a passing cattle truck, I would have thought mankind had evaporated. Cowra, Not quite as quiet. Lots of training aircraft lined up waiting for the week to start. Met a wonderful couple, who gave me a lift into town & back for some fuel. Cowra to The Oaks via Wingello - Cloud at 6/8th 5000ft.. Went over the top at 7500Ft - smooth as! This was my longest flight in the Sonex - Perth soon😈

29/06/25 Todays Fun Departing The Oaks -Landing Condobolin Arrive about 10:30-11:00 Condobolin - Landing Cowra Arrive about 12:00 -12:30 Cowra - The Oaks Landing Mid afternoon?

Just back from a very nice 2 hr jaunt - The Oak to a friends place between Yass & Canberra (did not land). Could see forever. Not quite silky smooth but almost. 3C at 5500ft. Averaged 14.5L/hr @ 130 knots true. Lake George was an amazing metallic purple. Great to be alive!😈

Thats fine BrendAn - FYL; A return line does not have to run from/to the engine. Usually T'd in somewhere between the pump & the carburettor(s). 😈

The vapour lock was only an added bonus (not for you) - Save your $$ and put in a return line with a Mikuni No 35 or smaller restrictor jet.😈