Swap 912ULS for 915IS on Kitfox 7SS

[robertwidmer]

How difficult is it and what's involved in replacing a 912ULS to a 915IS in a 7SS. Any idea of the costs? The 912ULS has about 50 hours on it - any idea what price I could sell it for?
Thx

[Meyer]

Value of the ULS depends on how old it is, how long was it sitting. You could price out a new one and compare. If it is a few years old and has not been sitting may be worth 50-75% of new to someone. The lack of warranty would be a factor to some also, along with what the books look like for it.

Swapping to an iS would be a little bit of work. Different setup with the iS parts - ECU, fuel, fuse box. I think not terribly hard but not a direct bolt in. You could search some builds on here that have a 912iS, similar in terms of ECU, fuse box, etc. Then look at yours and compare.

[Okent]

If you don't mind me asking, what is the reason to consider switching? This can be replied to my message if you'd like.

[robertwidmer]

If you don't mind me asking, what is the reason to consider switching? This can be replied to my message if you'd like.

All/most of my flying is in the Rocky Mountains with hot summers and peaks up to 12,000 feet and a turbo is a must in my opinion.

[efwd]

I believe that is a good move.

[Okent]

Understood. My buddy and I are building an S7. We are flat landers but value extra power to get airborne quicker so we are planning on the 915.

[GuppyWN]

Part of the price of admission with a 915 swap is the prop. The MT prop is about $18,000.

[jrevens]

All/most of my flying is in the Rocky Mountains with hot summers and peaks up to 12,000 feet and a turbo is a must in my opinion.

Having more horsepower than you need (a subjective term for sure) is always nice, no question about that. However, just so that people don't get the wrong idea about a 912 UL or ULS (80 or 100 HP) in a Kitfox, quite a few of us in Colorado have those engines. My home field, where there are at least 4 of us, is at an elevation of about 5700' msl. The Rocky Mountains run right through our state, and according to the Colorado Geological Survey, we have 58 mountains over 14,000 feet. It also can get quite hot in the summer... I suspect a bit warmer than it does in Canada. Anyway, we regularly travel in and over the mountains. An 80 hp Mod. IV or a 100 hp S7 is very capable of safely flying here without a turbo. My friend Stan has landed at every public airport (and many others) in the state with his 80 hp Mod. IV Speedster. Just sayin'. :)

[Jcard]

Only have 160 kitfox hours, but when the DA is over 7000 and you are going over the pass out of Bozeman with 2 some positive manifold pressure would be a good thing.

[Okent]

We are planning on the Airmaster prop. Simple and easy to operate and takes advantage of the extra horsepower.

[Shadowrider]

“I wish I had less horsepower,” said no one, ever.🙂

[michaega]

Richard at AJO (Corona, CA) Kitfox 7 installing 915is from 912. Let me just say do not remove your flyable engine until you have every part you need to convert to the 915 as parts are promised but not delivered. You can catch his first YouTube install of 915. Also mind you the cowling will need to be extended do to the extra 4” added to mount and prop hub or better yet go with the carbon fiber cowl to offset the extra 40lbs the engine and accessories add. Eddie I think you met Richard in Corona, he had monster shocks and 29” tires.
George

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPOi7SpgNP4

[littlecricket]

Seems like this might be a better candidate for an Edge engine...

[patrick.hvac]

Part of the price of admission with a 915 swap is the prop. The MT prop is about $18,000.

I was watching the EAA webinar (link below) on the 915is recently and they mentioned the "Version 2" is now available for order with a fixed pitch setup.

https://www.eaa.org/videos/6158281979001?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTmprM09UWTBPVEk1WmpJ MSIsInQiOiJLXC9pTnlcLzlCdGV6VlJseTEzUlJrakRrTWNcLz JqWVJScVpBT1p2YllYbFwvSVFkRENZZFF0TWo3eXB4eWZDZ1JX Y2I0R3VPc29mTzREbmFyNDFMZlg4OHhyVGphK2VrMytFNFZPUW xhakZNaVlJZnVzNUZXYlwvMlNsbFhpRlJGeVwvdyJ9

[robertwidmer]

Value of the ULS depends on how old it is, how long was it sitting. You could price out a new one and compare. If it is a few years old and has not been sitting may be worth 50-75% of new to someone. The lack of warranty would be a factor to some also, along with what the books look like for it.

Swapping to an iS would be a little bit of work. Different setup with the iS parts - ECU, fuel, fuse box. I think not terribly hard but not a direct bolt in. You could search some builds on here that have a 912iS, similar in terms of ECU, fuse box, etc. Then look at yours and compare.

Just spoke to the owner and the 912ULS was built in 2007 - apparently it was "pickled" and the first start was in 2019 - he tells me there is no warranty.

[Okent]

I looked at the Edge conversions and the horsepower is tempting, but the lack of a warranty and the lack of redundancy in the electronics made it a no go for me.

[Meyer]

Pickled can mean alot of things. If it started in 2019 and has 150 hours on it that is one thing (good), if it has 19 hours that tells you something else. Sitting like that is not good for an engine, even though in the case of a rotax the cylinders will not rust. If it is demonstrated that it has run consistently and all is ok, someone may pay you half of a new one, hard to say.

Another way to see what you are in for is download both rotax install manuals - 915iS and 912ULS. If you can find the individual who is in the middle of the swap that would be good too. You could search threads from others who have similar engines. Many of the concepts that differ from a ULS are the same - fuse box, ECU, etc. You could also call Kitfox and get a quote on the package to convert.

Good luck