LEXL Engine Option Discussions 1/2VW, Verner 3V, BSV23 and BSV35
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- Some comments regarding the various engines I have tested on Legal Eagle XL ORV. This includes the Hummel engines 45 hp 1/2VW, Verner 3V 3 cylinder radial, BSV23 (Briggs and Stratton Vanguard 23) and the BSV35, (Briggs and Stratton Vanguard 35). It should be noted the lighter a flying machine is, the more fun it is to fly. I have some time with a 60 hp full case VW on the Legal Eagle XL, very smooth operation but very heavy. I am only showing total weight of engines as I have been involved with. This includes engine, prop. prop bolts, engine mount bolts, engine mounts, exhaust pipes, oil tanks, hoses, carbs, batteries and anything else related to engine for a flying machine. The 1/2VW is a hand prop engine, it is very easy to do standing to side of machine and behind prop. When engine starts it pulls the machine away from you.
Engines with Starters are very nice for a variety of reasons. From an over all fun engine the BSV23 is difficult to beat. Easy starting, and no dripping oil out exhaust pipes or having to do anything special before starting. This engine has two magnetos, one for each cylinder and they do not required power to keep operating, just a ground to stop engine. The Verner 3V is my favorite with 42 hp at 2500 rpm, designed for aircraft usage, cruises with max gross weight at 2100 rpm at 2.1 GPH. Three cylinders with one CDI for each cylinder. If you do hot have power engine is not operating, generator power battery, battery powers CDI's. The 42 or 45 hp 1/2VW is a great engine with lots of them attached to aircraft. This engine generally comes with a magneto or 009 point type ignition (one used on automotive applications) as well as other types of ignition. The magneto provides spark as long as engine is operating so fuel is determining factor in flight duration. I cruised at 2800 to 2900 rpm at 2.4 GPH.
Regarding engine choices, it is very important to know what your flying objective is. Some people enjoy building but not so much the flying. Some people do not like the building but really enjoy flying. Some People only care about being in the air, not going anywhere in a hurry, just flying. Some people want to squeeze every ounce of power and performance out of engine and prop. Knowing where you fit and what you want to achieve as final product to enjoy is very important to understand. The LEXL is not a fast machine on best of days but it sure is fun just flying.
The average no wind cross country speed you see on GPS is 48 to 50 mph. My record with tail wind is 86 mph and with headwind is 18 mph.
Vanguard 23 is one of the sweetest V-2 air cooled engines out there. It's about 75lb out of the box and responds well to light hotrod mods. Best-bang mod is a Mikuni style carb, or twin carbs if you don't mind 2 carb hassles. I've flown them with cams, rev kits, and an advance ignition key. Lot's of sporty aftermarket parts available. These will make 30hp++ with pretty modest tweaks. I'd avoid the pricey billet rods, flywheel and other doodads, keep it economical and simple.
I appreciate your story on the engines for ultralights. I had to make this choice recently but I went with a Generac 990cc vtwin. I don’t regret it at all. A fellow EAA member went 1/2 VW and has broken the crank snout twice in his Hummel bird and is waiting again (6-11) months for repairs. I did have to by a early model case half and a prop speed reduction unit. But it’s still cheaper and these motors are made to run hours at 3600 rpm. No cast iron crank hub to be welded on the crank snout.
Out of curiosity where did you get access to the Generac 990?
Thanks Les.
Ordered a 45 hp full case with the 2220 slick today from Scott Casler.
Building my xl as we speak.
I really want that Verner, but its just out of reach financially.
Good comment on the options.The Difference of them.
Great comparison Les! You addressed the strengths and weaknesses clearly on all three engines. Leonard and I are working on his original LE before I bring it home and I am going to stick with the better-half VW. It doesn't have the same horsepower (30) but it's very reliable and easy to hand prop. I'll add a wind generator soon to solve the battery charging issue and it will still be under 254 pounds. Keep up the wonderful videos!
Thanks Les, a very informative, excellent video. Too bad you've moved so far away out of Ca. ...I never did get time to fly over and talk. All the Best and thanks again, Ron
well, the briggs 23 doesnt have dual ignition.. BUT IT CAN, now, 2024, carrier performance has a new head SPECIFICALLY designed for the EU aviation community, it is drilled for one plug but has provisions for a SECOND plug in each cylinder, that second plug can be drilled and tapped by Carrier on order, it also flows much better than a stock head, 800 bare or 1700 built.
Great review and information. Some friendly advice, do yourself a favor and purchase a 1 inch wide Velcro cinch strap belt (belt has the plastic loop thru buckle) and replace that zip tie on the battery. They're inexpensive, more robust and handle vibration better than the plastic zip tie. Blue Skies!
very good job Les!
Rotax V-800 4 stroke @ 65 HP snowmobile engine, a good candidate.😊🇨🇦
Excellent job on comparison thank you so much! Could you give a rough approximation of the sum total $ for the small BS, pair of Mikuni carbs, redrive and prop.
I have a generac with around 250 hr then broken crank. Rebuilt was relatively cheap..
I have the plans, I'll be building a LEU (I weigh 140Lbs), I'm at sea level, and I will be using the B&S 23. It is part of my overall plan to build light. Thanks for all the development work on this engine.
Thanks Les for the update. I wanted to build my own half vw but you have to modify and fab so much that was out of my wheelhouse. And are these plans going to be drawn up nicely or are they just sketches I've run into before? Thanks and keep up the good work!
I'm considering the 23hp brigs for my affordaplane and adding aluminum flywheel, billet connecting rods, dual carbs heavy valve springs, Molly pushrods and governor removed.
may not need a flywheel at all ... speeduino and a john deer 2 bn alternator
ruclips.net/video/XOZlv4bOHUI/видео.htmlsi=6Pd9tR_bvAZnpeHD
ruclips.net/video/MzHMjB-FK64/видео.htmlsi=O0FZmAWOuRXggyxP
Great Info, The work Les did at gross weight with the briggs 23 is what made me focus solely on making the 23 a true aircraft engine with EFI.
Half VW not for me
The Verner, great if you have 9k to blow, but they already stopped production once, no one knows what the future holds on this foreign engine and support and parts. So hard pass for me, not to mention when it was unvield it was in the 4k range, supposedly.
The Briggs 23 is producing 75hp on the highly modified tractor circuit, it is the lightest of all the options and somewhere between 23hp and 75hp there is a reliable aircraft engine in the MITSUBISHI JAPAN produced engine (the larger blocks are not made by Mitsubishi). Unlike other options, the Briggs is the most highly available engine for someone to invest their time in going into the future.
Look forward to more info from you, thanks.
PS the coils on the briggs are terrible and a failure point.
Also, do not even consider an EFI version from Briggs, if you place it on a plane, you will possibly live to regret it.
Curious, you say "making the 23 a true aircraft engine with EFI" but then say not to get the EFI version from Briggs. What are the problems with it and how are you planning to add EFI? Thanks
@@cliffordbradford8910 the EFI from Briggs is outsourced equipment, it is locked down, and cant be modified, it will not detect changes in altitude (except on start up) and cant be revved beyond 4,000 rpm. Speeduino is used to add EFI.
@@cliffordbradford8910 ruclips.net/video/P0Yo_ohNH_Y/видео.htmlsi=j64m_WRNfMKMMzP3
the briggs 23 has over a decade of use in aviation, just not in the usa, and, it will make a lot more power than as built and used in the legal eagle, 70 hp in racing has been documented.
Vibration comparison? Phones have a vibration app that might put numbers to what you feel..
Les, you started with the 45hp half VW and ran that 450 hours, correct? Why did you change it out for another engine? Was it just to try something different or maybe some issues/problems with the VW? 450 hours on one sounds like quite a bit of flying.
Thanks for creating and posting such informative and interesting videos.
Les, how do you feel about the 2 Cycle Hirth 23?
Hello, do you have a way to change the capacitor to 2?
Is there a guide somewhere for converting those bsv engines? I think that would be fun to do. Especially if someone sold an add-on type kit for the mod.
but what about if you're living up to 600 feet ? Full vw ?
Thanks for this Les. Are you going to have plans or genera advice for the BS35?
Hi, Les.. I'm getting less and less enamored of the S&S clone carb on the Verner 3VL. What carb have you settled on with your 3V?
I am using the Mikuni VM26-606 on both of my Verners. Takes some adjusting to get float level correct without it either blubbering fuel over the overflow or not having enough fuel to keep engine at WOT
Thanks, Les..@@LesHomanLegalEagleXL
I am from bangladesh. How much i have to cost for the engine?? And where can i get it??
What about a 350 lb pilot do you think you can design a ultralight for someone who weighs that much
The Legal Eagle XL with a 45 hp motor and climb prop will handle a heavier pilot, it is designed for a 275 pound pilot. a 350 pound pilot in a 253 pound flying machine is not something there is much demand for.
Do you have a weight and app hp for the 1/2 VW?
just curious, for the 103 option, why are 2 strokes not being used. all these 4 stroke are heavy as heck.....
2 strokes were used before the Briggs and Stratton or the vw
Rotax and Kawasaki
4 cylinder VW 50 hp , should be 500lbs gross weight. Instead of empty weight.
cant use composite on the half vw, NOTE, check with E PROP, they are supposed to come out with a direct drive prop 2024, none of their current props can be used with direct drive.
Hello. I live in Ukraine and am building Legal Eagle. I had a hard time finding a VW engine, I want to make a 1\2VW out of it. Can you please tell me where I can find the propeller drawings for this engine? We have very little information on this engine...
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that 35 is so heavy, you are better off with WITH two 23's, do that next :) Take the flywheels off, hook them together, toss all the flywheels, use a speeduino for spark, and you have a 110 lb 46 hp engine out of the box or 74 hp @ 4400 with 4 mikunis :)
the briggs engines are engineered BEYOND all other engines you mention with regard to tolerances, they use state of the art automotive CNC and automated production on all vanguard commercial engines, thats why they are 1,000 dollars more than the competitors engines like the predator. The 23 has produced 70 and 98 hp in competition builds
Hello, do you have a way to change the capacitor to 2?
Hello, do you have a way to change the capacitor to 2?
Les, do you think you could mount a zenith carb with the BSV 23?