operating a 912ul on ethanol

[Paul Z]

Hopefully Saturday, I have been busy at the Rock Pit, and haven't had time to work on it all week. It is running a heck of a lot better. I need to work on the balance one more time! It should take about 30 minutes, then it is time to button it up and cross the fingers and go flying!

[Dorsal]

Cool, it was so nice in the north east (~60 deg) today that I just had to cut out early and go fly for an hour or so. I will have to get caught up during the 30+ winds projected for Saturday, hope yours will be better.

[akarmy]

I purchased the SLSA plane from Kitfox, I didn't build it. How can you tell if the tanks are the ethanol resistant tanks. It is the type of resin, and I don't know which resin they were built from. the plane was built in 2008. I could go check the date on the tanks, to see when they were built!

Just FYI, for this topic, you need to check the SN of the tanks (it's on your order forms when you got the tanks) or possibly on the tanks somewhere. By that or the date of manufacture John can tell you if they are good or not. However this has nothing to do with the surface residue that Dorsal and Paul have been removing. That's not the resin breaking down, but the release agent that was still in the tanks that needed to be cleaned out. That's why we all got the SB recently to check and clean them if necessary. If you really have the wrong resin it will continue to eat at it until your tanks start leaking through the wings!

[cap01]

the s/n on my new tanks were etced on the inbd end of the tanks where the outlets are for the sight guage and finger filter . i think the date of mfg is in with the s/n or so it seemed on mine .

[Slyfox]

Just FYI, for this topic, you need to check the SN of the tanks (it's on your order forms when you got the tanks) or possibly on the tanks somewhere. By that or the date of manufacture John can tell you if they are good or not. However this has nothing to do with the surface residue that Dorsal and Paul have been removing. That's not the resin breaking down, but the release agent that was still in the tanks that needed to be cleaned out. That's why we all got the SB recently to check and clean them if necessary. If you really have the wrong resin it will continue to eat at it until your tanks start leaking through the wings!

you are absolutely right there. I have a tank that was from the original skystar from 2005 and a recent tank from John that was purchased last year. I sloshed out both tanks with auto fuel. I run over 100hrs a year with 250hrs a year before my RV was finished. I have never used anything other than auto fuel. Last I tested the fuel there was 5% alki in the fuel. I never drain my tanks, I only fill them 1/2 full when flying locally and I have never had an issue with the fuel or the runability of the engine. Every oil change I remove the bowls on the carbs and there is never anything in them, clean as a whistle. I to got the notice to check the tanks which I do quit often, you stick your finger in the tank and swip the inside, if it's sticky you have a problem, mine have never had a problem, either tank.

So if you have a problem, make sure and slosh your tank with auto fuel, with alki, until the coating is gone, that's my advice, whether you continue with auto fuel or not. If you use 100LL you are also taking a risk for the lead will destroy your engine. Using the additive I think will still give you problems, I'm talking valve troubles here.

[Dorsal]

The good news here is we have examples of folks running the engines for over 1000 hours on pure mogas and others on pure avgas without incident. As I stated before on the rinsing I was glad I used acetone as it gave me confidence that I got all unwanted stuff out of the tank (tricky to use, don't spill on the finish).

[Paul Z]

Well good news today! I got the Carbs set, now I need to have Steve K. come by and check the repair. I'm outing the seats back in, and should be ready to fly after that. Steve's going to be the long pole in the tent, but I want him to check my work work out, and sign her off! I will keep y'all posted.

[Paul Z]

Well, I went out started the engine, taxied down for fuel, filled it up, and taxied back to the hanger. Stopped and ran up the engine. Checked the Left and right ignitions. Idle was great at 2300 RPM, a little high but definitely idled well. At the recommendation of John McBean I did a whole lot of Taxing. I Taxied back to the hanger, and set the RPM a little lower. I set it at 2500 RPM and turned off the fuel and allowed it to die. Then I took a .002, .0025, .003, .004, and finally a .005 feeler gauge between the set screw and the stop. Now I have it idling at 2000 RPM. Personally, had the winds not been so bad, I would have gone flying the pattern, so I guess it is good that the winds kept me on the ground. Now to wait for some nice sunny day, with winds under 35 MPH, and we are going flying!

[Paul Z]

The good news here is we have examples of folks running the engines for over 1000 hours on pure mogas and others on pure avgas without incident. As I stated before on the rinsing I was glad I used acetone as it gave me confidence that I got all unwanted stuff out of the tank (tricky to use, don't spill on the finish).

Make sure you mask it off well, I used painters tape and .003 mill plastic, it did a great job!

[Slyfox]

Well, I went out started the engine, taxied down for fuel, filled it up, and taxied back to the hanger. Stopped and ran up the engine. Checked the Left and right ignitions. Idle was great at 2300 RPM, a little high but definitely idled well. At the recommendation of John McBean I did a whole lot of Taxing. I Taxied back to the hanger, and set the RPM a little lower. I set it at 2500 RPM and turned off the fuel and allowed it to die. Then I took a .002, .0025, .003, .004, and finally a .005 feeler gauge between the set screw and the stop. Now I have it idling at 2000 RPM. Personally, had the winds not been so bad, I would have gone flying the pattern, so I guess it is good that the winds kept me on the ground. Now to wait for some nice sunny day, with winds under 35 MPH, and we are going flying!

now get the idle to at least 1800 and you will be able to land it.