REFLECTOR: ] It is ALIVE!!! First Start in Houston]

Scott Derrick scott at tnstaafl.net
Thu May 31 08:03:24 CDT 2007


Chris,

congrads!  Three is nothing likr hearing the sound of your engine making
noise!!!

keep it up!

Scott

> (Originally posted in the Rotary Engine's Listserv, reposted here
> because its a 1) Canard and 2) Velocity. We had an unsuccessful attempt
> yesterday where we weren't getting fuel into the engine - injectors were
> unpowered)
>
>  From Christopher Barber:
> It actually started.  We turned it off and it started again.  WAHOOOOO.
> But a mear wahoooo doesn't quite express the amazing feeling and sense
> of accomplisment of first engine start of the 2nd gen, turbo housing 13b.
>
> David and I rebuilt it about 1.5 years ago.  Dave did most the teardown,
> cleaning, measureing tolerance etc and we both rebuilt it following
> along Bruce T's video and the Haynes shop manual.  Dave final install on
> the CC engine mount and Tracy's PSRU.  I ran the wires, hoses...and the
> rest.  A true joint effort.
>
> We tried last night to no avail.  Turns out when I wired the injector
> switches based on a great diagram from the Flyrotary list, the
> illustration stated "top" and I installed that end up with the swithes
> being up when on.  However, when I was checking my wires this pm I
> noticed that power was coming through the switch when the switch was
> down.....doh!  So, I turned them over and rechecked the rest of my wires
> and grounds.
>
> In a damn optomistic gesture while in a pessimistic mood, my hangar
> mate, Richard Sessions (who is restoring a VariEZ) and my S/O, Jana and
> I pushed the tale of the Velocity out the hangar door (of course it
> started sprinkling <g>) (Dave was still at work).  We took basic
> security procedures, ie showing Jana how to use the fire estingusher.  I
> turned on the switches (including the now correclty mounted injector
> switches), turned on the primary fuel pump, hit the starter button and
> DAMN, it fired.........SCARED THE HELL out of us.......you should have
> seen my two Cairn Terriers (Winston and Madison) head for the hills
> (well, Houston has no hills, but y'all get the idea).  We kinda looked
> at each other in a mixed shock and amazement and checke that we didn't
> blow anything off.  We actually mixed fuel, air, compression and spark
> and got combustion.....who'ed of thunk it?
>
> We waited for the portable battery charger/starter to bring the battery
> back up and tried again. Switches up, Pumps on, press the starter
> button......damn, it  sputtered and started (after some cranking).  It
> started to rev really fast, or seeminly so, so I brought the throttle to
> closed, which didn't stop it, so I cut the fuel pump and it stopped. Go
> figure.
>
> Well, we did this a few more times, never running it too long since we
> do not yet have sensors on it yet. Also, Dave got off work and came by
> to join the fun.  Just the fact it actually ran was great.  Now that
> Tracy should be getting back into town, we should be able to order the
> correct sensors to replace the ones that were missplaced along the way.
>
> Not quite sure what to work on now.  Obviously we will want to smooth it
> out and get it to start easily.  It is currently running better on B
> than A.  I may have inavertanly changed someting on A while messing with
> it during start sessions (may need to reset A...donno yet).  I think I
> will now try to start to clean up the wiring so as to make it easier to
> manipulate the stuff in the cabin.  Righ now the panel is laying where
> the front seats should be.  So this may be a good starting point while
> waiting for sensors that will let me know I am not ruining my new engine.
>
> Y'all's support and words of wisdom, along with Tracy Crooks great
> products it what helped make this a reality.  Thanks for being there.
> NOW THE REAL WORK (read that as fun) BEGINS.
>
> Dave will be posting a much more technical account soon....heck, I bet
> we both rushed home so we could annouce it to the world.
>
> Thanks.
>
> All the best,
>
> Chris
> Velocity N17010
> w/ a Rotary 13b...that actually runs.
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