Could I have damaged it?

[Bushpig]

Howzit everyone.

I have a question that comes out of my own stupidity!!

Last weekend I installed a fuel flow meter to my Rotax 503 Aquilla. I incorrectly installed the incorrect jet in the flow meter. I installed the 1mm jet and not the 2mm as I was supposed to!!
Anyhow, I took it for a test flight for not even 10 mins. I found that the engine was running very rough and on full power ocilitating from high to low revs even with my foot flat!! After noticing this I immeaditly landed.
The next morning I ran the engine twice for about 5 mins.

What I know is that the 1mm jet, which is too small, reduced the flow too much thereby causing the engine to run very lean! I know that the leaner you run the engine the higher the EGT! I dont have EGT only CHT so I have no idea if I have run the engine to long on a too lean mixture and potentially overheated it????.

Do you guys think that by doing this I could have damaged my engine??? HELP!!!!

[Sukkelaar]

Hi Bushpig

Lean means that your air fuel mixture in the carburettor was less fuel and more air making it lean, where as more fuel less air would make the mixture rich.

This is not what happened with you, your engine had fuel starvation, which means it did not get fuel at times, or to little, which should have no lasting effect, other than what you had already been through while it was fuel starved.



Regards

Sukkelaar

[RV4ker (RIP)]

AGreed

[Morph]

What you did is the same as only opening the throttle partially. No damage whatsoever, but is dangerous in the sense you could have had starvation on take off leading to an emergency landing.

[Bushpig]

Thanks for the advice!! I must say I am pretty relieved. Did get a bit of a fright up there while the engine was spluttering!!
Thanks guys and have a good weekend!!!

Go SHARKS!!!!