Need CO analyzer for motorglider tuning

[Eric Greenwell]

The Schleicher factory uses a CO analyzer to tune the Wankel motor in
their self-launching gliders. I'd like to do it this way, as it gets a
good tuning more easily and quickly than the usual fiddling around with
the needle valves until everything is running right.

It requires a unit that can measure up to 8% CO. My problem is the
suitable units I can find are quite expensive, with the cheapest at
$2000US. These are automotive units which go to the 8% range, not the
much cheaper furnace and combustion meters that only go to 0.2% or so.

Does anyone know of a cheaper unit, or where good used ones might be
purchased? We've tried the $220 "Gastester" unit, and it is unsatisfactory.
--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

[Stefan]

Eric Greenwell wrote:

> My problem is the suitable units I can find are quite expensive,

When I need professional and expensive equipment, I usually try to rent
it from a pro.

Stefan

[Michel Talon]

Eric Greenwell > wrote:
> The Schleicher factory uses a CO analyzer to tune the Wankel motor in
> their self-launching gliders. I'd like to do it this way, as it gets a
> good tuning more easily and quickly than the usual fiddling around with
> the needle valves until everything is running right.

Isn't it possible to arrange with an automotive mechanics to do the
tuning for a small fee? Here nearly all these people have a CO analyzer.

--

Michel TALON

[Eric Greenwell]

Michel Talon wrote:

> Eric Greenwell > wrote:
>
>>The Schleicher factory uses a CO analyzer to tune the Wankel motor in
>>their self-launching gliders. I'd like to do it this way, as it gets a
>>good tuning more easily and quickly than the usual fiddling around with
>>the needle valves until everything is running right.
>
>
> Isn't it possible to arrange with an automotive mechanics to do the
> tuning for a small fee? Here nearly all these people have a CO analyzer.

I tried this initially, but nobody wanted a 60 foot glider assembled in
their parking lot, blowing a lot of air and dust around, nor did they
feel it was safe. I don't blame them - when you are standing 3 feet from
a 5 foot propeller turning 2000+ rpm at full throttle, it really gets
your attention! They also were uneasy about doing work on an aircraft,
since they are not certified for that.

I also tried to borrow or rent one of these instruments, but the only
ones I could locate were not portable: they were part of a heavy,
roll-around cabinet that weighed over 150 pounds, contained several
instruments, and could not be conveniently taken to the airport (or
anywhere). Nor did any of the owners want to let a $4000-$5000
instrument that they depended on for their employment leave their sight!

There are enough (25 or so) ASH 26 owners in the US that some of us
could buy a CO analyzer together, then ship it around the country as
needed. This might be only 3 or 4 times a year, as the engine doesn't
need tuning very often. Sharing ownership would cut the individual's
cost to less than $150. If we can locate a suitable instrument, that's
how we'll likely proceed.

--
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Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

[Atacdad]

Eric,
You might check through a local Mazda RX club for a local rotary guru with a
shop...they just might be intrigued enough to give it a shot. You might
sniff around www.rx8-club.com as well. Us rotary owners are a clannish
lot....

AT




"Eric Greenwell" > wrote in message
...
> Michel Talon wrote:
>
>> Eric Greenwell > wrote:
>>
>>>The Schleicher factory uses a CO analyzer to tune the Wankel motor in
>>>their self-launching gliders. I'd like to do it this way, as it gets a
>>>good tuning more easily and quickly than the usual fiddling around with
>>>the needle valves until everything is running right.
>>
>>
>> Isn't it possible to arrange with an automotive mechanics to do the
>> tuning for a small fee? Here nearly all these people have a CO analyzer.
>
> I tried this initially, but nobody wanted a 60 foot glider assembled in
> their parking lot, blowing a lot of air and dust around, nor did they feel
> it was safe. I don't blame them - when you are standing 3 feet from a 5
> foot propeller turning 2000+ rpm at full throttle, it really gets your
> attention! They also were uneasy about doing work on an aircraft, since
> they are not certified for that.
>
> I also tried to borrow or rent one of these instruments, but the only ones
> I could locate were not portable: they were part of a heavy, roll-around
> cabinet that weighed over 150 pounds, contained several instruments, and
> could not be conveniently taken to the airport (or anywhere). Nor did any
> of the owners want to let a $4000-$5000 instrument that they depended on
> for their employment leave their sight!
>
> There are enough (25 or so) ASH 26 owners in the US that some of us could
> buy a CO analyzer together, then ship it around the country as needed.
> This might be only 3 or 4 times a year, as the engine doesn't need tuning
> very often. Sharing ownership would cut the individual's cost to less than
> $150. If we can locate a suitable instrument, that's how we'll likely
> proceed.
>
> --
> Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly
>
> Eric Greenwell
> Washington State
> USA

[Eric Greenwell]

Michel Talon wrote:

> Eric Greenwell > wrote:
>
>>The Schleicher factory uses a CO analyzer to tune the Wankel motor in
>>their self-launching gliders. I'd like to do it this way, as it gets a
>>good tuning more easily and quickly than the usual fiddling around with
>>the needle valves until everything is running right.
>
>
> Isn't it possible to arrange with an automotive mechanics to do the
> tuning for a small fee? Here nearly all these people have a CO analyzer.

I tried this initially, but nobody wanted a 60 foot glider assembled in
their parking lot, blowing a lot of air and dust around, nor did they
feel it was safe. I don't blame them - when you are standing 3 feet from
a 5 foot propeller turning 2000+ rpm at full throttle, it really gets
your attention! They also were uneasy about doing work on an aircraft,
since they are not certified for that.

I also tried to borrow or rent one of these instruments, but the only
ones I could locate were not portable: they were part of a heavy,
roll-around cabinet that weighed over 150 pounds, contained several
instruments, and could not be conveniently taken to the airport (or
anywhere). Nor did any of the owners want to let a $4000-$5000
instrument that they depended on for their employment leave their sight!

There are enough (25 or so) ASH 26 owners in the US that some of us
could buy a CO analyzer together, then ship it around the country as
needed. This might be only 3 or 4 times a year, as the engine doesn't
need tuning very often. Sharing ownership would cut the individual's
cost to less than $150. If we can locate a suitable instrument, that's
how we'll likely proceed.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA