my engine died......

[kb]

Today - wheeled BWX out of the hangar, pre-flighted, topped up the barb bowls, as they were nearly empty, and did everything as per normal.
Started, warmed her abit, and taxi'd away from the hangar to a open area to continue warming up, and doing pre take off checks.
pened the throttle , and she slowly started dying. As I added power, the engine reved lower, and eventually died. Sounded like it was flooded. I checked, anc checked and checked. Found that when I tried to start her, she started, but fuel pissed out the carb overflow pipe, on one of the carbs. I opened it up, and sure as God made little green apples, the bowl was full to the brim. I emptied bit out, and then started again. All fine. I kicked my pax off, and did a full power circuit, followed by a touch and go. I varied the throttle, from full taps, to idle, and everything went fine. Flew for a 1.5 without problems. Anyone got any idea's. I think that the floats were stuck after I put them back on, and so the fuel valve was full open, as the floats were not touching the lever.

THen, I flew. Shortly after take off, I heard a sound - was a sound as if it needed sime oil on some of the moving parts. The sound remained throughout the entire power range, and was a squeeking noise. It did not get worse, so I continued. We had a stretch-legs break, (no, not on the beach - me, never, ) and after take of again, noise vanished?? ANyway, all well now.
If anyone has had somolar, please lemme know.

P.S. This is on a Rotax 503 with 511 hours.


thanks to all you tech-heads

[Gideon]

type starter u are using?

[The Agent]

First prob must be the floats, the second somewhere in the gearbox shimming perhaps.

[kb]

sterter, eh, I turn the key, and it starts.
Not 100% sure as to exactly what type, but will check and let you know.
as said earlier, all ended well, was just curious as to why, and also shows the importance of a power check before even thinking about flying.

[Morph]

Very strange, but always start at the part you last touched i.e. the carb bowls.

It is quite possible that when you took the floats out and returned them the one float lever was stuck and thus not closing the float off and thus the flooding and overflowing. It is always disconcerting when these things happen and you somehow inadvertantly introduced a problem and then just as inadvertantly fixed it without knowing for sure.

It could have also been grit keeping the float needle open. I would defniately take the carbs off and give them a full clean. This is actually quite easy to do or get someone else to do it. If you have done it before you will be able to complete this little excercise in less than an hour. These carbs are very simple devices.

[kb]

Morph, thanks for that. I honestly do think that it was the floats holding the valve open, rather than dirt. The engine was cleaned by solo wings about 15 hours ago - and no, I am not saying that dirt can't get in in 15 hours, but I have a VERY strong feeling it was the floats.

[John Young]

KB - I meant to phone today - just "squashed with workload" - sorry - will try tmrw - rgds

[Coyote]

Had exactly the same problem on my 503 - took the floats out and fliped them over and presto never had a problem (until my airfliter rubbers cracked - buts that a whole different story)
The carbs do some times stick if not put back correctly. Same prob - applied throttle and the engine lost power

[Smiley]

As I added power, the engine reved lower, and eventually died.

Condolenses to you and your family......

[KFA]

Check fanbelt tension and oil level in gearbox (noise you heard). The carb thing happens every now and then.

[kb]

KFA, you're a genius, (well for now at least) that makes sense. Will check. The fanbelt was replaced about 12 hours ago, so maybe it's just wearing in. WILCO