When is a motor long in the tooth?

[Byron]

When looking at a used trike, what number of hours in considered to be high for a Rotax 582?

[skybound®]

Too many variables to give you a straight up answer. It really depends on the history of the motor.

How was it maintained
Who maintained it
What components have been replaced and at what hours.
Where was it based (coastal or inland, dusty conditions)
Did it ever stand for long periods without being started
Was it driven by a granny who only went to the corner cafe

Best is to have an AP inspect it with you and have access to the log books and any other maintenance records.

[Smiley]

Agree with Skybound


I will not mention names, but a pilot who flies his aerie every week, who did all the routine checks only opened his motor the first time at +-1400 hrs, and there was nothing wrong

But then again, Rotax prescribe a different maintenance philosophy.....

[DieselFan]

who did all the routine checks only opened his motor the first time at +-1400 hrs, and there was nothing wrong

Pretty good for a two stroke!

See to make our engines last longer we must fly more!

[Byron]

Is there any performance difference between a blue top and a silver top?

[skybound®]

Is there any performance difference between a blue top and a silver top?

No performance difference - they are both the same capacity.

There are some differences in the two motors - which I think were mainly limited to the cooling jackets. The blue top has a water cooled cylinder head whereas the silver one didn't - I think.

If a silver top motor - check also if it has had the new type crank fitted to it - many of the silver tops had an issue with their cranks, or at least the bearings on the crank.

[Smiley]

Is there any performance difference between a blue top and a silver top?

The more blue paint there is on, the faster it goes...