Kevin,
I guess heart stopping! I (an many others) have been singing the praises of
the Andair Gascolater on this net for quite a while. You can see pictures
of mine at at www.galaxyhobby.com/europa.htm
Later
Bob Jacobsen
ps. Now have 36.4 hours total time. The plane is fantastic. Smooth, very,
very, very fun to fly and super fast. Climbed to 10,000 feet last week at
gross weight from brakes locked in under 15 minutes - and that was at a
cruise climb of 100mph. Two way ground speed off the gps was 157mph at
10,000 (912S)
From: Kevin Pownall <kevpow@iinet.net.au>
>Subject: Re: Europa filters
>Date: Sun, 29 Oct 2000 20:47:39 +0800
>
>Recently I completed my XS with the 914 engine. It flew well but on the
>third flight the engine failed and I force landed. Luckily there was not
>too much damage to myself or the aircraft . Needless to say I am very
>interested to understand why the motor stopped.[ I have left out the heart
>stopping part in case there are Europa pilots out there with weak
>constitutions]
>
>There are two puralator filters on the 914 set-up and the first conclusion
>is that both filters became blocked.
> After recovering the aircraft I dissconnected the carby line and attached
>a
>clear tube . Fuel flowed but one filter/pump combination was delivering a
>line of bubbles.
>
>A second possible conclusion is that the bubbles accumulate somewhere un
>the
>line and form a vapour lock.
>
>The filters were at least partially blocked with fine material . I had
>been
>obsessive with cleanliness in construction /fuel purity etc and had cleaned
>the filters after the first flight with little dirt visible.
>
>I have spoken to three other builders [ two here in Australia ] who have
>had
>bad experiences with engine starvation .Not every one has had a forced
>landing but they are 'Spooked ' by this problem.
>
>The common thread is the puralator filter .They seem to be too fine and to
>have too small a surface area so that when even a little material comes
>along they choke. Additionally the are prone to leak air [ possibly with
>the
>greater fuel pressure or the 914 pumps this is a new factor].
>
>The factory tell me I'm a wimp.'Clean the filters regularly and all will be
>well' 'We have had hundreds of hours on the puralator filter'
>
>The other common thread is that ,in general ,the problem occurs in the
>early
>testing time leading people to assume that it's builders fibre glass thats
>causing the problem.. Is it possible that some of the tanks have a residue
>from the original building???
>
>When I inquire I find a good proportion of builders have already abandoned
>the factory puralator filters.
>Does everyone know something I should know??
>
>This problem has the capacity to harm the Europa . I would be pleased to
>be
>guided by the experience of others.
>Could any one else who has had a starvation problem put that experience on
>this forum so that the problem and its extent can be grappled with.
>I would be very grateful for any help in this matter. Kevin Pownall
>
>
|