Jabiru Phil

I flew in company with some GA planes and a Technam around the top end of OZ. Burketown,Broome, Alice etc. (42 hours) It performed well and could nearly keep up with the 230. Solo pilot and no weight (small guy) I was suitably impressed, bar for the need for extra fuel stops for him. Saw Grame Boatman do some incredible short take offs and landings at Cummins air show. Aussie dollar makes them out of reach of most. Spares will need to improve delivery time I am told. Perhaps a comment here from owners!

Found it! ___________________________________________________________________________ Fitting Float Switch (Optional) 14. If fitting a float switch you will need to drill a 2” hole into header tank as per drawing & remove the fibreglass. 15. Drill the ¼” pilot hole from the hole saw to 5/8” to fit the float switch threaded body. 16. Attach the Float switch body to the 2” piece of fibreglass as per drawing. Make sure the switch pivot goes in the up direction. Refer to drawing. 17. Sand the 2” piece of fibreglass & the header tank & prepare for bonding. 18. Tack into position using 5 min epoxy & Flock. 19. Cut 3 layers of fibreglass & lay over join to give a 1” overlap onto the header tank. 20. Let Cure. 21. Check fuel tank for leaks. 22. Hook up low fuel light to panel. ___________________________________________________________________________

Has any one installed a Jabiru supplied header tank fuel gauge? I need some help in the method of installing as no instructions were with the kit. I think a LAME would be my preference but if simple enough I may try myself. Phil.

We have two 230's here, one with the larger battery and still cold start problems as with the other with standard battery. We have tried everything, including wiping down moisture on fly wheel to adjusting choke and no fuel pump prior to start. I was at Rawnsley park the other day on the way back from the Lake and both planes would not start until we poured HOT water from a thermos (that I alway carry now) on top of the carbie- instant start!! The temp was around +7-8 deg and probably colder earlier but not below 4 deg. I am seriously considering installing another trap dood similar to the oil inspection door to allow HOT water to be applied without removing the cowl. I will go down this track unless there is a another solution. All sb's carried out. I hope that someone will find a solution. All indications point to Fuel starvation at start up. Same problem yesterday. Phil.

There are no problems with oil pressure except for the rather strange (to me) observation that the oil pressure increases as the oil warms up. This is the opposite of what I would expect but since it's comfortably in the green at all times I don't stay awake about it. Try tapping the oil pressure gauge. I reckon you will find that it indicates a "sticky gauge" My experience, Phil:thumb_up:

Ofcourse "D" is the correct answer. Imagine if you had a couple of stiff drinks and was then blood tested, you would be under .2 however some time later.........

JR, Send me your email address and I will forward pdf file on header tank. Phil.

How long does the engine run for with the header tank I am told as soon as the tank starts to empty. 5 litres capacity I ran one tank dry in my old 230, gave a few coughs and came to life as soon as I switched tanks and fuel pump on, 10 seconds at the most. Full load and no indication of wing drop.(one tank full) The habit I got into was to turn one tank off after take off and change around after half an hour or so to keep tanks equal. Human factors i.e dodging rain squalls and navigating was my excuse. As I was near to land at home it could have happened in the curcuit a different result may have resulted. One scenario with the two (actually three ) fuel tap system on home built 230's is that if you leave the two main tank valves off you then only have the header tank alive which only gives you a few minutes in the air depending on warm up time. As opposed to Factory built which only runs the carbie bowl empy in less than a minute. Hope this helps. Phil.

Hi Steven, The factory built 230 has only one on/off valve. Both wing tanks and the header tank are together, hence my decion to install warning low fuel light on the header tank, it is only 5 L in size but could save a situation if there was a leak from the drain valves for instance. I use a dip stick calibrated but the plane must be level to get any accuracy. Hope that you will enjoy the Jab. I will go for a tif in a Sportstar sometime, they sure look OK. Cheers. Phil.

I have ordered a header tank gauge today cost $50 Jab listed part I will get LAME to install. I should have a better handle of "nerve management" unless the globe blows! In future longish flights I have decided it may be better to carry the extra weight of fuel rather than relying on the flight plan usage and allow for 90 minutes of reserve instead of the normal 45. I would be loathe to install any fuel valves as suggested unless directed by Jabiru. Phil.

I have dip sticks, but not much good in a 4-5 hour flight. I suspected a fuel leak somewhere. I was in gliding distance of cleared ground for the last 15 minutes, just knew that I had enough fuel by the flight plan. Still a worry. Phil

I have owned two j230's The first was home built 4 years ago, my current Jab factory built is nearly 18 months old and 153 hours Dislikes are leaking doors which I overcoame by buying a cover from Punkin Head. Stuck ring and leaking head through bolts which Jab fixed at 136 hours. They supplied new pistons, latest cam and lifters, bearings and paid for the lame to do job even though out of warranty:thumb_up: Fuel gauges are terrible. I landed at William Creek last week with both gauges on RED and sight glasses empty. It took 101 litres to fill. (35 lites still in tanks) Scared the life out of me. Radio,s sent back for service. OK now. Seats are uncomfortable. I got a motor trimmer to make inserts of foam for under the cover, great now. The older Jab had individual wing tanks which I prefered as I could keep the balance of fuel better. Current Jabs tend to transfer to one tank. I asked the factory and they told me that the certification would not let them use these due to possible pilot mismanagement. Tyres are now no problem since having 45 in the mains. The old recomendation was for 28 I think which wore the tubes out due to scuffing against the tyre wall. heat problems have been mostly cured since the cowl and oil cooler mods. So in summary, I like my 230D as it suits my travel criteria re space and endurance. The above is probably what most Jab owners have encounted i'd say. Would I buy another..You bet.:thumb_up: Phil.

Sorry Turbocharger. I printed what Grahame put in the Renmark news letter. I do not think that he is a member of this forum. I will post more with his OK when I catch up in a week or so, hopefully. Phil.

Lucky Graham GRAHAM’S EMERGENCY LANDING On the 23rd May, I destroyed my KR2 just south of Waikerie in an emergency landing. The engine failed at 1500’ and could not be restarted. There were not many options. Prior to the impact I activated my PLB and was located by the rescue helicopter that was sent up from Adelaide, which then airlifted me back to the RAH with minor injuries. I would like to thank those that helped on the day, those that retrieved what was left of the KR2, and those that have offered constructive support since. It is a lesson for all of us, that we should be current with our emergency procedures. Rgds Graham Strout

K i Rec flying licence OK. I too do not remember the max distance over water. I do not have my books to hand. I think about 18 miles with enough height to glide to land and life jackets. PPL is different rules. KI trip was well inside of the above from the mainland. We tracked to Penneshaw and then Kingscote. Airport has great North South bitumen plus cross strip. No charges and plenty of tie down area. ASIC required. Phil

K i Visited in Janurary with two other. Loxton, waypoints Goolwa, Cape Jervois, Penneshaw, Kingscote. We kept inside the 4500 step on the way there but kept East on the way home. Made the water xing easier. I found the Airport manager very helpful. People great. Hire car over 500 km in the two days we were there, stayed at the Pub on the bay. I heard that any extended stays that rented houses are very cheap. even for a few days. Marron farm, Sheep cheese factory, seal bay remarkable rock etc. Great trip. Hire cars at airport. Phil

Some time ago when I only had a few hours up I was doing an overnighter from Renmark to Pooncarie with a couple of other planes. I wanted to try out a new seat cover, you know the ones that are used in cars on hot days, seat and back all in one sort of wicker material for breathing on hot days. Well, I was side tracked after refueling as one of the fuel test valves was leaking slightly. As the other planes had gone and I didnt want to hold them up for our airfield pickup. I managed to stem the flow and took off. Over Lake Victoria I encouted some thermal and sink activity, it was then that I just knew something was wrong. I looked around for the problem and after a while realised that I had put the seat cover over the seat belt!! I was in two minds to turn back as not a good area to land. I managed to pull out the belts inch by inch from under the cover, took a while and was very relieved when I buckled up. Guess that the hurry and the fuel distraction was the cause. Lesson learnt. I now double check seat belt drill. Phil.

hey lowflyer, asking a Jabiru question on a Technam thread is like shaking a bucket at a wild bull. I would suggest you refer to the Jabiru threads for responsible dialogue Good luck. Phil.

Hi Captain, I looked at this scene last night and decided to can my trip Loxton-Narromine-Caloundra due to the likelyhood of the weather not clearing up enough for me to continue on to Caloundra after the Narromine. If any one would like B and B from Tomorrow till Sunday my cancellation is available. phone me 0418806466 Have a great time. Phil.

Brisbane Centre C0730/09 REVIEW C0016/09 ON-REQUEST FLIGHT INFORMATION (FIS), SARTIME AND EMERGENCY ALERTING SERVICES NORMALLY PROVIDED BY FLIGHTWATCH ON DISCRETE VHF FREQUENCIES NOT AVBL DUE TO STAFF AVAILABILITY. SERVICES AFFECTED: ON-REQUEST FLIGHT INFORMATION (FIS), SARTIME AND EMERGENCY ALERTING SERVICES PROVIDED AS A GHOSTING FUNCTION BY FLIGHTWATCH ON DISCRETE VHF FREQUENCIES. 118.95 MANINGRIDA 119.4 BUNDABERG AND TOWNSVILLE 120.1 GOVE 120.7 PERTH 121.1 SYDNEY 121.3 WESTERN VICTORIA 121.6 PORT MACQUARIE, WILLIAMTOWN AND SCONE AREAS 122.1 ARMIDALE, GLEN INNES AND COFFS HARBOUR AREAS 124.0 WALGETT, MOREE, COOLAH AND CAIRNS AREA 124.1 MOUNT ISA AREA 124.95 CENTRAL VICTORIA 128.15 NORTHERN NSW AREA 128.2 WHITSUNDAY ISLAND AREA 128.55 MILDURA 128.75 MAROOCHYDORE/BRISBANE AREAS 133.45 ROCKHAMPTON/GLADSTONE AREAS 134.85 MUDGEE AREA 135.05 SOUTHERN NSW 135.6 EASTERN VICTORIA Does this clarify the problem?

Loxton- Narromine via Hay or Ivanhoe on the Thursday-Sunday 5135. Jab. Then onto Caloundra for some R&R. Hope to catch up with some of you guys for a chin wag. Admin tent seems a good choice. Cheers, Phil.

Thanks I will have a look at the week-end. I may just purchase two and leave the front alone. Cheers, Phil.

10 ply tyres Hi Andy, Did you have to do any mods to the spats? My 230 D has no gap on one side, infact the tyre has worn a slight groove in the spat. Probably caused when landing. I run 40 psi so not much bulge. I think I would have to do some serious work with fibre glass to allow for the larger tyre. Cheers. Phil.

I have been using Command Flight Planner for a couple of years now. I find it excellent and I use it like a simulator to brush up on my Nav. regularly. Back up service is good. :thumb_up: Phil

I purchased a cover for my 230 before my trip to Caloundra as no hanger space here and the weather can be a bit wet this time of year. I phoned Punkin Head in Yarrawonga to say that I was having a spot of bother with a couple of the straps that had the wrong buckles etc and I would send back when I got home for them to fix. They rang me back a day or so later and suggested I tie the short straps around the legs and not under the fuselage as I was trying to do, see how this went and still send back if they were wrong. Yesterday I ventured to the airport 17 kms from where I am staying and lo and behold, some kind and more knowledgeable person than I had retied the cover (yes, around the legs) Thank you whoever you are. Phil. :clown: