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Thread: How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

  1. #1

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    Default How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

    Seems that there are more and more guys putting an APEX in their KF's. I like the fact that they are far more economical than the Rotax 915is engines and probably more so than even the 912is engines too.

    How many different variants are their though? Or is there only one APEX that is being used in the KF's?

  2. #2

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    Default Re: How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

    Just one Apex - Years 2006-2010 is what is being utilized right now. I'm going to install one here shortly. I see this is an older thread. Did you end up doing it?

  3. #3

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    Default Re: How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

    Seems that the Yamaha engines have taken off.

    Ironic that no one was complaining about the cost of a Rotax or Continental engine until the Yamaha could be sourced for less than $3-4K plus a gear box for $2K and a harness and just like that everyone has a sube $10K aircraft engine and 150 hp minimum..


    Oh, and an order for some ear plugs!

  4. #4
    rawheels's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

    Quote Originally Posted by Rik View Post
    Ironic that no one was complaining about the cost of a Rotax
    Sarcasm? There has been non-stop complaining about $$$ for the last 30 years.

  5. #5

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    Default Re: How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

    Quote Originally Posted by rawheels View Post
    Sarcasm? There has been non-stop complaining about $$$ for the last 30 years.
    Everyone has been defending the cost of a 1940’s design VW motor forever. Rotax uses the inflated prices to sell their engines as the other markets that rotax are in, they sell for a fraction of the prices they charge for the aircraft market.

    Yamaha, with the mass production, high HP, low weight and cheap cost is a godsend for the experimental market

  6. #6
    Senior Member bbs428's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

    Agreed new Rotax prices are hard to swallow and the Yamaha engine is a great alternative.
    I have owned Yamaha motorcycles for years. Good product.
    Some of us have sourced older, used low time 912UL engines and installed Zipper big bore kits. In my case, I have about 11K into an overhauled engine, new cam, HD case mod, gearbox overhaul This includes a new SR-106 luga prop, 2" extension and spinner. Mine was run test bench and the carb's were adjusted before it was shipped back to me. Granted I'll make 110hp vs 150hp and to be fair, if I had to install fuel injection, I would have to pony up another 5k. For me, I was more comfortable with a Rotax up front.
    Time will tell if the Apex engine will be more desirable or not. Not a lot of high time Apex builds out there to compare. Based on price and performance, the Yamaha is a hard combination to beat.
    Somebody said that carrier pilots were the best in the world, and they must be or there wouldn't be any of them left alive. — Ernie Pyle

    Brett Butler
    Flying: 1998 Model 5 Outback, 912ul Zipper 110hp, G3x avionics, ss7 upgrades

  7. #7
    Senior Member efwd's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

    Are we comparing compatible configurations? Even when considering the lower cost Rotax's that you might find on machines like SXS sand rails and snowmobiles I don't think these are even close to the aircraft versions. The additional redundancies of the aircraft versions are not inexpensive and have considerable value IMHO. Having said that, I have been watching YouTubes of the Highlander with the Yamaha in it. Awesome.
    Eddie Forward
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    SS7, 912iS, Garmin G3X

  8. #8

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    Default Re: How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

    The thing that has been engrained into our minds with aircraft engines is that "it's a small margin, expensive engine" which is totally BS. I called LyCon in Fresno last week and inquired about what they charge to refreshen an experimental engine 0200. $18,500.00 and then I stated, "that's new cylinders, pistons, valves and cam?" NO. If you want new that's another xxxxxxxx... All the parts to rebuild an 0200 are less than 5k, that's cylinders, pistons, cam and valves, so they want 18,500.00 to re ring an 0200 and do a valve job.

    Now who is going to make a post to defend this pricing??? If you do, you are brain washed.

    With the Yamaha, in all honesty, they are throw away engines. Once you "aircraftinize" one, you merely transfer the parts onto the next one and go again.

    Downside is the noise of a 10,000 rpm engine but they make mufflers for a reason and if the muffler eats some HP, so be it as 140 hp is still more than enough to get these planes going and enjoying. Steve Henry said in cruize they do not eat a lot more fuel but at FFT (Full ****ing Throttle) they do as there's more HP to feed.

    Reliability, well we can see that Edge is trying to capitalize on the cheap engine and doing a paint job and an intake change and then adding a $30K price tag so that the consumer actually believes that they have made a difference as we all know that something that cost more is worth more because it cost more. Consumerism 101.

    Steve Henry ran his to Oskosh and back as well as other events. I believe he trailered the plane to TX this year but that's due to logistics I believe the video said as he had two planes.

    Point is that a supped up 300 hp version can fly across the states then it's probably ok for your day adventures too.

  9. #9
    Senior Member jrevens's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

    There’s the small matter of an engine being designed, manufactured and marketed specifically as an “aircraft” engine, and then the huge additional expense to protect against liability lawsuits in today’s world. Insurance companies may look at your use of a non-aircraft engine in your homebuilt and not be real comfortable with that also. Anger at the lawyers and the legal system might be more reasonable than targeting a company that saw a need and spent many, many years and a fortune, I’m sure, developing and improving an engine specifically to meet a need, and now sells more “airplane” engines than all of the other manufacturers combined. More power to true “experimenters”, but without Rotax, our experimental aircraft world would not be what it is today.
    John Evens
    Arvada, CO
    Kitfox SS7 N27JE
    EAA Lifetime
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  10. #10
    Senior Member bbs428's Avatar
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    Default Re: How many are installing/switching to the Yamaha Apex Engine?

    "The thing that has been engrained into our minds with aircraft engines is that "it's a small margin, expensive engine" which is totally BS. I called LyCon in Fresno last week and inquired about what they charge to refreshen an experimental engine 0200. $18,500.00 and then I stated, "that's new cylinders, pistons, valves and cam?" NO. If you want new that's another xxxxxxxx... All the parts to rebuild an 0200 are less than 5k, that's cylinders, pistons, cam and valves, so they want 18,500.00 to re ring an 0200 and do a valve job."

    I totally agree. Certified aircraft, engines and anything else pertaining to it is big $$ and we all know why. "Liability."

    "There’s the small matter of an engine being designed, manufactured and marketed specifically as an “aircraft” engine, and then the huge additional expense to protect against liability lawsuits in today’s world. Insurance companies may look at your use of a non-aircraft engine in your homebuilt and not be real comfortable with that also."

    Exactly John. Well said.

    Everyone has their own comfort zone. I don't think their is any wrong way or right way to go. For me, I couldn't afford a low time certified engine ( to heavy for me imho) or a new 912is/915is AND G3X avionics. Something had to give...
    Somebody said that carrier pilots were the best in the world, and they must be or there wouldn't be any of them left alive. — Ernie Pyle

    Brett Butler
    Flying: 1998 Model 5 Outback, 912ul Zipper 110hp, G3x avionics, ss7 upgrades

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