geoffreywh Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Servicing a Rotax engine, noticing low oil pressure...Seems I need to fit another oil pressure sensor. That's got to be the third one in a year or so. Does anybody know of a better version? The damn VDO ones are just so prone to failure...Even on their website they say "Not suitable for aircraft engines. Due to pulsing oil pressure which leads to contacts wearing out " ....Surely someone makes a better mousetrap....(and don't call me shirley) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgmwa Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Is yours mounted on the engine? A number of RV-12's have had the same issue but moving the sender back to the firewall seems to fix the problem. The thinking was that vibration was causing them to fail. The remote mounting kit is available from Lockwood: https://www.lockwood.aero/p-2213-flight-design-ct-pressure-relocation-kit.aspx rgmwa 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakej Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Is yours mounted on the engine? A number of RV-12's have had the same issue but moving the sender back to the firewall seems to fix the problem. The thinking was that vibration was causing them to fail. The remote mounting kit is available from Lockwood: https://www.lockwood.aero/p-2213-flight-design-ct-pressure-relocation-kit.aspxrgmwa ....and that applies to all pressure sensors & Fuel Flow units ie don't mount then directly to the engine due the damage that high frequency vibrations can do. BTW if you have a Dynon EMS system with the VDO sensors then I'd change them over to the much better more accurate Kavlico ones. Jake J 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffreywh Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 Sorry it's a 24 reg certified aeroplane. I can't move anything without manufacturers permission and they're not talking.................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRamsay Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 24 as in LSA or type certified? What make of aircraft? I've found Tecnam's Bruce Stark very helpful and quick swapping out a prop for a different type. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffreywh Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 Er ??? Anyway, I visited Bert Flood's and they have an alternate type for the 912 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonRamsay Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Er ??? Both SLSA and Type Certified can be 24 Reg. As you may be aware, the process for changing something and keeping 24 Reg is different. Anyway, I visited Bert Flood's and they have an alternate type for the 912 We had issues with the oil pressure sender but once replaced has not been an issue (cross fingers) since. Not a good feeling to look at the oil pressure gauge and have it reading into the red. Tempting to fly to the nearest airport listening very hard to the engine and keeping an eye out for forced landing sites. Worse would be to have it reading normal and not actually having good oil pressure. Is the alternate type mounted on the engine or remotely? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakej Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Servicing a Rotax engine, noticing low oil pressure...Seems I need to fit another oil pressure sensor. That's got to be the third one in a year or so. Does anybody know of a better version? The damn VDO ones are just so prone to failure...Even on their website they say "Not suitable for aircraft engines. Due to pulsing oil pressure which leads to contacts wearing out " ....Surely someone makes a better mousetrap....(and don't call me shirley) Geoffreywh, this is a generalisation & doesn't necessarily apply to your situation. As an aside - how many check that what the gauge reads is accurate ? Oh yeah I forgot, someone said to me once that it's a new one (temperature) so must be ok That guy went to a lot of trouble modifying the cowls, filling gaps, installing a bigger oil cooler & then had dual coolers fitted:doh: Turns out the EMS was overreading by 20 degrees C due to a 'bug' in the software, software fixed & problem went away & using only 1 cooler in the end. Moral of the story - don't fix a problem by replacing parts (unless they are obviously broken), confirm that what you are seeing is true by using some other method eg calibrated instruments:cheezy grin: Jake J 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffreywh Posted August 19, 2014 Author Share Posted August 19, 2014 How about fitting a known mechanical gauge and testing? That should do it.......................................... The new sender( sensor, engine mounted) appears to be a Honeywell product and is very expensive. It has a 10 x 1 thread , so will require surgery to fit earlier models...If it stops the problem then OK..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunder Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 Probably only "very expensive" because you bought it fron Rotax...... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffreywh Posted August 20, 2014 Author Share Posted August 20, 2014 Bugger. The solid state sensor does not work with earlier gauges. and 10 x 1 thread , so remove oil pump housing tap hole to 10 x 1 and refit. Now I have to find a correct gauge... A modern stepper motor type I'll be bound.......Also expensive... Why O why can't I fit a mechanical gauge. Job finished in 20 minutes. $fifty bucks..... At this rate the job will cost more than a $1000 (really, no kidding!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Downunder Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Want to sell the Honeywell? Put up a pic if you can Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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