Rotax Engine Essentials

What's special about preflighting the Rotax engines found on most LSAs? Tim Brooks, Director of Maintenance for Heart of Virginia Aviation, takes you on a just-the-facts tour explaining what you're looking for and why it's important.

[@belltangy4242]

I don't always fly rotax but when I do, I always burp it. Stay safe my friends.

[@mquigly1547]

I've never heard anything but great reviews of the Rotax 912.

[@airmett8939]

I fly a sport cruiser at my flight school. This video really helped. Thanks

[@Searey07]

If you have the springs on your exhaust system, run a bead of high temp silicone along and between the spring rings to absorb vibration. This vibration causes hardening and embrittles the springs. To do, put spring under tension to open up gaps between the rings, run a bead of silicone and let it ooze between the rings a little, let off tension, let it dry, install on exhaust.

[@AussieDazza]

These are one of the most reliable aircraft engines every built.

[@N21X]

Great video. I would like to see more of these types of videos about more common aircraft.

[@nasirabba1]

This is very interesting, with like these we wont be having problems in our Field. thanks a lot and keep the good work

[@jwills8606]

@biplaneacro Nice try. I had one of these engines on a Kitfox model 1200. It worked to perfection. It started easily, ran smoothly, never overheated, burped, farted, ran rough. It had altitude-compensating carbs, which have been the standard on motorcycles for ages. It had electronic ignition. In short, it was a perfect engine. Continental and Lycoming need to come into the 21st century. Or maybe that's the 20th.

[@lemonator8813]

I am getting my license on a sling and this was very interesting! I feel like you can't know too much about your aircraft, especially the engine!

[@TheTechTimeCapsule]

Good video here, good job

[@savagecub]

Very good video ! I think this guy might be related to Ward Cleaver. I kept waiting for him to reach in his sweater and pull out a pipe.

[@madmarkstoys]

very nicely said

[@Walterwaltraud]

If you hold The Propeller top Center, at the highest point of resistance, you will create enough suction to see if yourself most of the revolutions needed to get the burp. Not many folks know that

[@cherfieldm]

Thanks for sharing the video, its very informative.

[@Noctew]

I think that's not a problem with the rotax because you turn the engine off with the magneto switch not by pulling the mixture so you can be sure you don't have a hot magneto.

[@fastereddieb]

Nice overview, thanks! I own a ROTAX on a Sky Arrow 600. I'd just like to correct the statement that each bank of cylinders has its own ignition - that's not right. Each ignition system fires either the TOP or the BOTTOM plugs. Also, Continentals and Lycomings do NOT suffer from shock cooling - that's been pretty much debunked as a myth.

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

This suffers even less from the proven nonissue.

[@BHARATCHAUHAN-cr9zm]

Thank you so much for this Information ,well spoken and easy to understand ,from here in Zimbabwe ...

[@produitsforestiergrison4704]

beste video about Rotax engine since ever

[@bigstickpilot]

You were taught correctly for the planes you learned on. The Rotax engine IS different and in fact you should not expect to be able to hand-prop this engine if Prince of Darkness visits your airframe.

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

It might work though.

[@mmichaeldonavon]

I know I'm being picky, but that's a lot of hoops to jump through to do a preflight. I know a lot of folks who fly with these engines, and they like them. If I had a choice, I'd take a Lycom or Conti - seem much more simple to check and operate. I'm sure this is a great engine, but I don't want to have to reinvent the wheel just to go flying for an hour. Like I said, there are MANY satisfied folks with these.

[@flexairz]

Yes. I have been flying with this engine for over a decade with this engine and preflight is not going through a lot of hoops. Or do you skip the rest of the aircraft too on a preflight? It just about common sense and as a pilot in command you are responsible to make sure everything is fit for flight.

[@mmichaeldonavon]

You are absolutely correct, sir!

[@shiddy.]

why would you want preflight to be shorter ... that's one of the best parts about having a plane

[@shiddy.]

3:38 what is the advantage of that? - why not have a shared intake?

[@parkerpritchard8654]

Tecnam P92E? 👀

[@GregHuston]

"Improper Maintenance" so often the cause of mechanical failure. Taking a Rotax to an old A&P who's been doing nothing but Lycoming/Cont/Frank for 40 years is like taking a BMW to an International Harvester Tractor Shop and expecting them to fix/maintain it properly.

[@mopar92]

Well, they may be great engines... But the lycoming and conti's have been so refined. There's a lot of exhaust, hoses, tanks, carbs, wiring harness's for an engine that's going to be maintained buy a guy that is keeping his plane in a barn. As for shock cooling, my A/P metalurgist friend asked me " ok, what happens when you are climbing out, oil temps rising. Then you fly into cold rain"... Enough said! Cold Rain doesn't shock cool... Lol

[@CristiNeagu]

Takes me right back to my flight school days. I loved burping that engine.

[@AV8R_1]

I am awaiting delivery on an aircraft with a 912ULS. I really don’t want to run avgas in it, but I may be forced to, because there is nowhere near me that I can purchase ethanol free automotive fuel.

[@jpag8764]

AV8R Tom Check out "Lockwood Aviation Rotax" on KZbin. They have some excellent videos on operating and maintaining the 912. Engine will run on 100LL but you have to shorten the oil change intervals (depending on how often you use it). You can also use up to 10 percent ethanol in the engine as long as your airframe (tanks,fuel-lines, seals, etc) allow it.

[@crapper1]

i thought turning the prop was dangerous that was what i was taught when i was learning to fly Cessna 172's is the rotax built with a safety feature to resist hand cranking by mistake?

[@gilbertsheperd9463]

air in the lifters may cause broken valves.. Really... I would like to know how.

[@jpag8764]

Collapsed hydraulic lifter

[@wazza33racer]

is the prop going backwards?

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

no

[@eaglethedigger]

It's ccw looking from front. DO NOT turn it cw.

[@crudeoilsystems]

thanks a lot

[@neil2905]

Hi, I'm Mitch Hansomberg. ..

[@semiprofessional8470]

I'll stick with an engine that I don't have to "burp" to check the oil.

[@mopar92]

Lead buildup in the gearbox? Hmmm.

[@ellenorbjornsdottir1166]

Use UL/mogas.

[@xwind1970]

If you don't realize that your engine vibrates so violently that the springs holding the muffler say good bye you shouldn't operate even a lawn mower.

[@patrickmckowen2999]

👍

[@TheRooster602]

@JimmysHobby - tell us specifically why not.

[@AMMW77]

rotax can am atvs FTW!

[@aeromagnumtv1581]

High rev, loud and tedious oil check process! I would never own an LSA with a Rotax under the cowling!

[@KB4QAA]

ATV: Nothing tedious about it. Pop open the oil cap. Pull through a few blades. Check the dipstick and put cap on. Done.

[@krisn8820]

I'm not knocking rotax, but come on, to say they are better than a Lycoming is bullshit.

[@ametkarakus7859]

Before 100 years ago engines were not so worst like today..

[@michelterainfo]

o cara? kkkkkk ummmmm, num me mata de vergonha!

[@FINSuojeluskunta]

Tired of dealing with sourpuss mechanics. They will complain all day long that Lycoming and Continental are so old and outdated, how we need modern engines and ignition systems. Then they work on a Rotax and just complain because they do not understand how it works. Believe me, they have their problems, but they have already proven themselves more worthy and reliable than a Lyco/Conti HOWEVER they are more advanced, which means more advanced troubleshooting which means pissy mechanics who refuse to use manuals or understand new engines.

[@biplaneacro]

Dry Sumps, Gear Reduction, Slipper Clutches, Liquid Cooling, Separate Carbs. Over complicated, over priced. It belongs on a snowmobile...

[@davebethel7159]

Yup. It defies the KISS principle. Well said, John.

[@LlessurHterag]

What would you recommend then?

[@jpag8764]

Yeah, who wants modern technology (as I sit here in my one room log hut with only dial up internet). Who wants a 100hp engine that weighs less for the same power, runs on 87-91oct mogas (less per hour than Cont. or Lyc.), regularly runs to TBO with specified maint.? Oh and the 912uls cost less new than a rebuilt 0-200 or 0-235.😏

[@fishplug10]

I agree with you, who wants to go to the gym spend long hours lifting weights and not eating whatever you want.

[@Jim_Austin]

The things I saw in this video are enough to convince me to never buy or perhaps to even fly a Rotax engine.