Silver Top vs. Blue Top

[Smiley]

Hello everyone

I'm close to exceeding the 600hrs mark on my Rotax 582 SilverTop.

I'm considering all options and would appreciate some feedback on my thinking....

I feel uncomfortable opening my Silver Top, measure sizes to spec and if Ok, just close her up again. I'm scared this bites me in the longer run...

A crank can measure well within the spec, but we do know that crank failure becomes more apparent after 600 hrs. I do not want a situation of being penny wise and pound foolish and at let’s say 700 hours have crank failure due to age and in the process wreck my plane...

To overall the motor completely will cost in the region of R25k.

I can buy a new Blue Top short block from Aviation Engines for R32k. I'll then just fit my old exhaust, carburators, cooling and magnetos to the new engine.

Now I've got a brand new Rotax 582 Blue Top...

Is it worth it to pay the extra R7k..?

The other thing to consider is a Silver Top is old technology and refurbishing it will not make it newer technology... thus in a couple of years when I want to sell the plane I still need to justify the Silver Top...

There seems to be more advantages paying the extra R7k...?

[Morph]

Absolutely, I would go for the new motor and no more worries and another 600 hours of worry free flying

[Conrad]

No offence:
Can somebody else please elaborate on this, as I just bought a Silvertop thats in an exelent condition,,,,
Question is: Is the Bluetop really that much better in technology?

[Smiley]

No offence:
Can somebody else please elaborate on this, as I just bought a Silvertop thats in an exelent condition,,,,
Question is: Is the Bluetop really that much better in technology?

Howzit Conrad

To my knowledge the Blue Top is the improvement on a cooling problem they had on the Silver Top.

I don not think there is a performance difference, just an improvement on technology

[Kalahari]

I will go for the new Bue Top, and then sell the old Silvertop to someone else for 7k and save yourself the risk of an overhaul that might go wrong!

[Morph]

Here is a discussion on the differences

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=3141

[Boet]

buy the new Blue top. It is a go-for. Very nice little engine. I love it. Not very fond of the silver top.

[Smiley]

I will go for the new Bue Top, and then sell the old Silvertop to someone else for 7k and save yourself the risk of an overhaul that might go wrong!

Yip, I agree!!

[coastwise]

Don't forget to order a new coil mounting plate with your Blue Top sub, Silver Top one does not fit Blue Top. If I remember correctly price was also about a R1000.00 for the plate.

[Duck Rogers]

Go for it Riaan!
I'll give you 5K for your Silvertop shortblock. No questions asked

[Smiley]

Go for it Riaan!
I'll give you 5K for your Silvertop shortblock. No questions asked

Hello Duck

Rudi has first option, but if it falls through you will have second option at the right price...

[RudiGreyling]

Hi Riaan,

Sell it to duckie, I was only trying to help a friend in need out, since I do not have a real need for a motor at this stage, my silvertop is going strong!

Hi Duckie,
I know how you think, these guys that are so scared to open a motor, shame, it means we tinkerers get a bargain.

Lastly people have modded the Silver top by drilling a small hole and tapping head, to improve cooling circulation. It is a simple mod, so keep on replacing those silver tops we tinkerers will pick them up and fix them up at bargain.

Groete
Rudi

[Splinter]

I think both options can work. Maybe an overhauled motor is as good as a new one but in my personal opinion I would just spend the extra cash and buy a new blue top.

[skybound®]

There was also a difference in the crank between the silver and blue top - in particular the crankpin on motors with serial number before 4,172.665 - which are mainly silver top 582s.

There was a service bulletin which covered the replacement of cranks in many of the silver tops with a new version as contained in Service Bulletin 7UL94 issued by Rotax.

OLD crankshafts, with the stated ROTAX part numbers 996 923, 996 928, 996 927 Will be replaced by the new crankshaft with the Rotax part number 887 851 crankshaft assy,...

The reason they put on the bulletin was owing to '..simplify storekeeping..' - but must be honest, how many engine manufacturers will re-tool and change a design of a component if it was not to improve over the old version or go to the expense of replacing old crankshafts. That all costs money - so must have been more to it than storekeeping.

Quite honestly when my silver top reached 300 hours - I replaced the crank. Makes little sense to save the R12k or so, only to have a failure and potentially scribble a few hundred thousand.

I look with suspicion on any silver topped engine. Much prefer the blue one. (Not to say you are not guaranteed of an issue with them - but at least one less thing to be suspect of - if you know what I mean.)