Callahan

Thanks Facthunter,

This miss begins right after it cranks, warms up, and I bring the power up to 4500. It's at mid-range surrounded by abnormal vibration but you can feel the jolts as it misses through the airframe.

5k to full power.....smooth as silk.

Going to airport today & try new ideas. Thanks for your input!

Bill Catalina

Litespeed,

Thanks! I do have two extra coils & will try them tomorrow. I was going through a bunch of other stuff first. People have told me that a coil can check good but break down under certain circumstances!

Currently, I have gotten the motor to purr like a kitten from 5k to full power by adding all new wiring from where the wires exit the stator hole to the switch, cleaned the ground, added new connections etc.

The mid-range is where I'm getting a miss. It's just rough running with a bad miss from about 3500 to 5k. You can feel the jolt when it misses which is quite often but not to any pattern, just erractic.

Thank you!

Geoff,

FYI: H.F. vibration

1) Ran all new 14 gauge wire from motor to starter switch. Cleaned ground at switch, new ground wire, all new connections at switch.

2) Ran it. Great improvement in smoothness from 5k to full static power. Purred!

3) Thought I had it made. Wrong! Dropped it below 5k...same old miss.Especially noticeable at 4500.

4) Disconnected coil wires at switch...eliminating switch as cause....ran it below 5k, same results.

5) Rechecked all leads, caps, coils, cleaned carbs...same results.

Question: Is it possible for a coil that checks okay on a meter to break down at a lower rpm but run smooth at higher rpms?

Thank You!

Thanks Geoff!But again you are speaking beyond my pay grade. I don't know the frequency of a transformer. It's just a very H.F. vibration.

 

I'm studying, taking notes from a Rotax repair manual & talking to Rick Davis who overhauled the motor. We, or at least I, am about 95% sure it has to be electrical. I just don't see how it can be anything else since he & now I have gone through everything else.

 

When he overhauled it, all he had was the motor itself. It could even be in my switch wiring or the switch itself. I did send it back to him, he put it on his test stand & said it purred like a kitten. I have no reason to disbelieve him since he has overhauled three prior motors with no problems.

 

Mike Straman formerly the owner of California Power Systems stated in his catalog that an electrical problem can be the most confounded thing to track down.......and this guy knew more about a Rotax than anyone save for Rotax themselves.

 

I have been housebound for past five days, long story, but going to airport tomorrow for another go at it. Will let you know.

 

Thanks a million for your input but you're beyond me!

 

Bill Catalina

Geoff,

Long story short, all efforts failed yesterday on the vibration.

Have you heard of a harmonic balancer? I tried one that attached to the prop hub a long time ago....decades. It didn't do diddly squat.

Just wondered if anyone out there has this attachment. Maybe they've improved on it?

Wanted to thank all of you who viewed & shared my video. It jumped over 100 views in the past few days.

BILL CATALINA

Thanks Geoff!But again you are speaking beyond my pay grade. I don't know the frequency of a transformer. It's just a very H.F. vibration.

 

I'm studying, taking notes from a Rotax repair manual & talking to Rick Davis who overhauled the motor. We, or at least I, am about 95% sure it has to be electrical. I just don't see how it can be anything else since he & now I have gone through everything else.

 

When he overhauled it, all he had was the motor itself. It could even be in my switch wiring or the switch itself. I did send it back to him, he put it on his test stand & said it purred like a kitten. I have no reason to disbelieve him since he has overhauled three prior motors with no problems.

 

Mike Straman formerly the owner of California Power Systems stated in his catalog that an electrical problem can be the most confounded thing to track down.......and this guy knew more about a Rotax than anyone save for Rotax themselves.

 

I have been housebound for past five days, long story, but going to airport tomorrow for another go at it. Will let you know.

 

Thanks a million for your input but you're beyond me!

 

Bill Catalina

Thanks Geoff!

But again you are speaking beyond my pay grade. I don't know the frequency of a transformer. It's just a very H.F. vibration.

I'm studying, taking notes from a Rotax repair manual & talking to Rick Davis who overhauled the motor. We, or at least I, am about 95% sure it has to be electrical. I just don't see how it can be anything else since he & now I have gone through everything else.

When he overhauled it, all he had was the motor itself. It could even be in my switch wiring or the switch itself. I did send it back to him, he put it on his test stand & said it purred like a kitten. I have no reason to disbelieve him since he has overhauled three prior motors with no problems.

Mike Straman formerly the owner of California Power Systems stated in his catalog that an electrical problem can be the most confounded thing to track down.......and this guy knew more about a Rotax than anyone save for Rotax themselves.

I have been housebound for past five days, long story, but going to airport tomorrow for another go at it. Will let you know.

Thanks a million for your input but you're beyond me!

Bill Catalina

If I remember vibration studies in reciprocating Engines (over 40 years ago) 2nd order harmonics (twice Engine speed) are high when Engine disturbances are present. Things like bad spark etc, can cause these. At 3600rpm these will have the same frequency as a utility transformer. Does your vibration sound around that frequency?

Yeah really! You should've been in the front seat of my Trike when then rear seat belt came loose & a Warp with nickel leading edge tore into it. The noise was worse than the bite though. I landed on a beach....Very Little Damage!.....to the Warp thanks to the leading edge nickel but the seat belt metal was mangled.

Or having seen your video.......................Might be the rear seat belt

Thanks. I have a list of checks a mile long & your suggestion is one of them. I've also exchanged carbs with two spares to no avail.

I've got a 2010 CPS catalogue by Mike Stratman, one of the last he put out. This guy went to a lot of trouble in his sales catalog to explain things to dummies like me. He said the most confounding thing to track down is an electrical miss! How right he is!

Check your carb balance ...

Geoff,

Thank you for the two replies. I did think about the motor mounts but they were replaced about 3 years ago with Barry mounts. These rubber mounts feel very, very firm, impossible to squeeze with fingers. They may be contributing factor. As far as props, I have tried a brand new IVO, an old IVO of 80s variety & a Warp Drive 3- blade. All picked up the H.F. vibration at exactly 5,000 rpm & continued down to about 3,500 rpm. Above 5,000 it is smooth as silk.

Will checkk out the mounts anyway.

I thank you for you 2nd suggestion but that is far beyond my feeble mind.

Thanks again!

Bill Catalina

Tallahassee (2JO)

Have you checked out the Engine mounts? After over 30 years they may have gotten hard or even disintegrating, anything that changes their spring rate will change the natural frequency and consequential transmissibility of vibration to the aircraft frame. The natural frequency is usually about a tenth of the running frequency or less, as they harden the natural frequency increases and do the transmissibility of vibration, it starts to be noticed at lower frequencies. If they are disintegrating it may be just impact of Engine with something hard.

I will say this Jimmy. No matter what you do in life you are never going to please everyone. Some people would complain if the work was done for free & returned in perfect order. They'd think of something.

This is what I wanted to hear! I've seen some other reviews which were great but I also saw the Ripoff Report which after more research seemed like it was a disgruntled competitor or something.Thanks for the feedback

YOU TOOK THE WORDS ROGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH BIRDSEYE!

Well said my man! So pilots are going to take the word of a contoller now (previous poster) who are offset to Air Canada's allignment? Maybe I read his statement wrong but the guy in the left seat is supposed to make the decision, not the tower.

I'm an old Beech 18, DC-3 and Twotter pilot, been around a while, I always thought taxiway lights were blue.

If yoy want to see the ultimate in stupidity, YouTube Air France 447 or the Swissair crash off Nova Scotia, Berginair off Santo Doningo & on & on & on. Needless loss of innocent passengers who became victims..

Thanks for the confirmation. I could have understood it to some degree if it was daytime.With the exception of a few special purpose taxiways, such as the taxiway that serves as Gatwick's 26L when the main runway is out of use, taxiways don't usually have have approach, edge and PAPI/VASI lighting. Were the crew looking (that is actively looking) out the windscreen?

Well.....being as how I was always responsible enough to follow all rules to the T per my video, I have to agree that Austrailian aviation authorities as well as the all knowing U.S. Federal authorities know more than we do as they go through their lives adjusting rules & justifying their jobs.

It's why I fly a Drifter....to express myself and why I flew Mexico.....to get away from all the damn rules! Hey, if you guys haven't read my book, as shown in my video, you might want to at least read the 30 or so pages of what Amazon allows you to read for free. I had a very bad run in with a real prick of an FAA individual in Memphis 1990.

Thank you both! And an extra thanks for the video link!

I should have mentioned that I have two IVO props both identical but one is the older style with the changeable discs & the new style with the "Turn Screw Adjuster."

I also have a 3-blade Warp Drive. Going through all three props, I get the exact same high speed vibration.

I have not yet tried any of you guys other advice yet. Will do so Monday. Thanks again!

Bill Callahan

Catalina is real name....used Callahan for the book as a pen name.

I have used Rick Davis for 4 rebuils of four 503s. I can't say enough positives about this guy. He will work to give you the lowest possible price, keep you informed throughout the process and back his work 100%. Nothing less than High Praise for Rick!

If you're still having the problem with waffling, I've been flying a Drifter since late 80s but never with a 912.....you lucky guy! No waffling with my former 582 or current 503.

Hi RLDNC, Try Samuel117, you`ll find him here What`s Happening??? post # 145! He`s in the USA and owns a Lockwood modified, Austflight Drifter.Frank.

Enjoyed the hell out of it Blue...but you're flying too low & not smoking a cigar! :) I'm easy to please though, anything that has a Drifter in it. Good Job!

Bill Catalina

Tallahassee

I understand Frank. I was told to go with a three blade also but I have the same two blade on my Trike & wanted the ability to switch them out with no hassle if I ever needed to. In hindsight, I regret not going with a 3- blade!

Question if you have the time! On my new IVO, I have that big nut. To increase pitch, you loosen the nut then screw the threads inward....correct?....then tighten the nut?

Now, here's where I get confused, if you want to decrease pitch you turn the screw counterclockwise....correct?

I'm asking because I can't believe IVO does not have an assembly video out there. Yesterday, when I needed to Decrease pitch, I turned the bolt counterclockwise two full turns, but felt nothing at all....no resistance whatsoever. I tightened the big nut. flew it, same rpm. No change.

What the hell am I doing wrong. IVO no help.

Thanks!

G`Day Callahan! Can`t help with your question, interested in why a B-Box with 60 inch 2 blade Ivo prop though....I currently run a 503 DCDI with an E box, 2.62.1 reduction, 60 inch 3 blade, ground adjustable Ivo.Frank.

M6 1ST....thank you very much for your reply! I should've gotten on this site years ago. I'll definitely make a hard copy of your advice below. Anything less than 5k down to 3500k and the high frequency vibe is there. I bought this Drifter in early December, at the time the vibe was barely noticeable but has gotten so bad I keep it away from 35 to 5k.

I also bought a new IVO, an exact match....no change in H.F. vibe.

Thanks Again!

Bill Catalina

Long time Drifter pilot & lover!

You need to establish what frequency the vibe is. The prop turns at around 2200 rpm flat out, the engine is at tach indicated speed and the fan on the 503 turns at a different speed again. If you can match your vibe frequency to a known frequency you will find out where to look. Has it just happened, or did you buy it that way?If you think that its your prop, is it correctly tracked? (blade tips follow same path within about 1/8"), any nicks or chunks missing from blades? is it correctly torqued to the hub? have your performed a static balance? Dynamic balance?

You could also check to see if all your engine cooling

Bill

I enjoyed the video, but there are a lot of things demonstrated that you really shouldn't be doing. It's a big list, Lo flying, exceeding Vne, flying an unserviceable aircraft, poor preflight. But worst of all you threw a lit cigar onto the airfield as taxied out. What a waste of what looks like a nice stogie. If you want to see another irresponsible Drifter pilot, YouTube search Tree Top Flyer in a Drifter.Will do on the Tree Top video Blue Drifter. I understand what you're saying about my flying but hell, we're all gonna' die one day anyway. I inserted a caveat too against flying like that. That bent keel on my Trike was scary.

 

P.S. Cool Reply! I'll check out your video now & leave a thumbs up!....whether I like it or not! :)

 

P.S. Cool video.

I have a Drifter video out on YouTube. It's gotten some decent hits with many camera angles, girls, aerobatics & a bunch of other stuff. Go to YouTube & type in "Drifter Video" by William Catalina.

I have an '87 Drifter with a 503 & B-box with a 2-blade, 60 inch IVO prop. At any rpm under 5,000 I get a high frequency vibration. Anyone have an idea why & a possible solution. Pretty sure it's caused by the prop. Thanks for any advice!

If it is the same as the streak 2B the suspect bracket was a thin stainless one and updated with a thicker aluminium one? You will find the full AD on airbornes sight.

Does anyone know where I can buy a rib pattern for my Wizard II. I've had it for 15 years & it flies squirrely.

Also, didn't Wizardb issue an AD for the nose attachment bracket to be replaced years ago?

Need that too. Thanks for any help!

Bill Callahan