As a Pipistrel Sinus Flex owner I appreciate the public dissemination of flight critical info. I also have really enjoyed your entire video catalog. A great combination of beautiful flying, aerial photography and technical expertise. Good luck with your new project. Thanks again.
I actually love the rotax engine. It has been way better than any other engine I’ve ever used. So many redundancies built in. I had a continental on a c150 and it was nothing but grief, low compression on cylinders, sticky valves, issues with the led in fuel gumming up spark plugs. The cost of parts was also ridiculous, way more than rotax. Rotax has fixed these issues in updated models of their 912is. Unlike the older companies that do nothing to improve their engines
Congratulations on getting it down safely. Hopefully they'll update their rebuilding process...or replace that thrust washer from the factory with something more substantial.
It used to be metal I’m told and when the metal washer failed would be a bad situation. But I’m not sure why they have a part in the gearbox that is prone to failure. I’ve heard from several people now that have had this washer fail.
@@DarrylZubot the longer you own a rotax the more design flaws you will find. After 7 years I don’t think they are comparable to a real AC engine. Very few A&Ps will work on them. SO many issues just like yours. Fairly pissed at Rotax for putting these engines out with so many design flaws… oh and they are just as expensive to overhaul as a continental so ur not saving money. Parts are insane for these snowmobile engines. Rotech Motor has abandoned me as a customer… thanks guys! Really making rotax look like a shit company.
Bit of a pain, although I had the same happen on one of my 912’s. Didn’t affect the engine or performance, just wasn’t sure what the bits of plastic I found at an oil change were? Gave the box to a local Rotax dealer, who replaced the plastic washer and carried on flying. Still don’t fully understand what the washer actually does that can get away with being only plastic? Was a couple of years back, and I can't remember which motor it was, but I think it was a runout motor being used on condition in a homebuilt.
What was your engine time when yours failed? I’m told it used to be a metal washer but when it failed it completely destroyed engines. Not sure why they have a part in the gear box that is prone to failure in the first place
@@DarrylZubot In all my years of being an aircraft mechanic, I have never heard of a washer "failing.". Is there a service bulletin or an AD on this thrust washer ?? Seems really dumb to have a powerplant failure over a washer !! Is this only on 912iS ?? What about 912 ULS ??
@@mustardseedsociety it sure is dumb. No AD regarding it. I’ve heard from several people now that have had it fail prematurely. I’m told rotax has quietly changed engine design to include a sprayer to lubricate these parts in the gear box and it should be a non issue now on newer engines. Sounds like it is mainly an early version 2 912iS problem. Not sure why this is. The strange thing is they have an overhaul time on the gear box which I complied with but found out that at the time of my overhaul it wasn’t required to replace this $2 plastic washer. Rotax has changed its overhaul to include replacing this washer now since Jan 2023.
@@DarrylZubotWhat I can't figure out is why does a washer needs to be lubed in the first place ?? Is it a moving part ?? I only found one video on the Rotax thrust washer - a guy from Australia was installing one on his Rotax gearbox and he had to put Locktite on the nut, then he puts a pin in the engine so the crankshaft won't turn, then he torqued the nut {against the thrust washer} and the torque wrench broke. Then the video ended by him saying he needs to take the nut back off and start all over. So needless to say, I did not get the answer I was looking for. I think the biggest mistake he made, is he was not ready to torque the nut after he applied the Locktite to the nut. He applied the Locktite but then he had to go find the socket for the nut. You have to torque it while it's wet. Plus I don't think he had the torque wrench set correctly. What aviation needs are the aviation equivalent of "Engineering Explained" - a popular You Tuber who makes amazing videos explaining how cars work. Very hard to find these aviation equivalents on You Tube. Too many "look at me - I can fly a plane" videos. Even those videos are frustrating because the pilot rarely gives true airspeed numbers which always frustrates me !! With the exception of Baron Pilot and Matt Guthmiller.
I saw that video you are talking about. So I'm told Rotax added hole in the shaft that sprays the sprag clutch to lubricate this part, maybe it overheats and degrades the plastic washer? I have no idea why or how these are failing. But it sure seems like Rotax knows about it and did a change to the engine without notifying previous owners of this potential failure. This could cause accidents, I had to go to idle right away as my oil temp was at 135º, pressure dropped, and my hydraulic prop was surging due to lack of oil flow so I had no choice but to land right away, luckily it happened when it did and not when I'm 300km from an airport over Northern Alberta forest.@@mustardseedsociety
Insane! So, not so much engine issue, but gear box? Starting to look for l.s. craft. So many craft use the 912. I keep going back to a fully restored j3 being the most dependable route! Never ending stories of engine outs. Seems like priority in shopping needs to be best possible engine w best history.
Newbie here from USA ... I'm curious what's involved in flying your own plane and getting paid for it? I'm guessing there are some differences between USA and Canada, but I'm curious what it involves there. I'm thinking of getting my license and I'm drawn to Pipistrels, particularly the Sinus Max, and I'd like to find a way to earn enough to offset the costs of a new plane and overhead. But there are some counter-intuitive issues that seem to prohibit that here in the states.
The thrust washer (plastic washer) failed inside the gear box and went through the motor. I had the gear box overhauled at 1000 hours but at that time rotax was not requiring that the thrust washer be replaced, since January 2023 they now require this washer to be replaced with a gearbox overhaul at 1000hours. These parts were also not previously cooled/oiled, on all the new rotax engines they changed design to now cool/oil these parts off the shaft. I do not know exactly when this change was made, I believe it was on version 2 or 3.
As a Pipistrel Sinus Flex owner I appreciate the public dissemination of flight critical info. I also have really enjoyed your entire video catalog. A great combination of beautiful flying, aerial photography and technical expertise. Good luck with your new project. Thanks again.
I actually love the rotax engine. It has been way better than any other engine I’ve ever used. So many redundancies built in. I had a continental on a c150 and it was nothing but grief, low compression on cylinders, sticky valves, issues with the led in fuel gumming up spark plugs. The cost of parts was also ridiculous, way more than rotax. Rotax has fixed these issues in updated models of their 912is. Unlike the older companies that do nothing to improve their engines
Congratulations on getting it down safely. Hopefully they'll update their rebuilding process...or replace that thrust washer from the factory with something more substantial.
It used to be metal I’m told and when the metal washer failed would be a bad situation. But I’m not sure why they have a part in the gearbox that is prone to failure. I’ve heard from several people now that have had this washer fail.
@@DarrylZubot the longer you own a rotax the more design flaws you will find. After 7 years I don’t think they are comparable to a real AC engine. Very few A&Ps will work on them. SO many issues just like yours. Fairly pissed at Rotax for putting these engines out with so many design flaws… oh and they are just as expensive to overhaul as a continental so ur not saving money. Parts are insane for these snowmobile engines.
Rotech Motor has abandoned me as a customer… thanks guys! Really making rotax look like a shit company.
Get 'er fixed. I'm looking forward to more flying videos!
Vernon Rotax guys are excellent service guys!
They really are!
I hope you and your aircraft are doing well. Please share an update. Hope you're still flying!
Good to see you back. Looks like A Pipistrel equipped like yours might be legal in the US soon without being experimental.
Some carnivorous mosquitos in your neighborhood😜
Good plan changing that engine …absolutely
Haha yup they are pretty bad. Thanks I think so too
Bit of a pain, although I had the same happen on one of my 912’s.
Didn’t affect the engine or performance, just wasn’t sure what the bits of plastic I found at an oil change were?
Gave the box to a local Rotax dealer, who replaced the plastic washer and carried on flying.
Still don’t fully understand what the washer actually does that can get away with being only plastic?
Was a couple of years back, and I can't remember which motor it was, but I think it was a runout motor being used on condition in a homebuilt.
What was your engine time when yours failed? I’m told it used to be a metal washer but when it failed it completely destroyed engines. Not sure why they have a part in the gear box that is prone to failure in the first place
@@DarrylZubot In all my years of being an aircraft mechanic, I have never heard of a washer "failing.". Is there a service bulletin or an AD on this thrust washer ?? Seems really dumb to have a powerplant failure over a washer !! Is this only on 912iS ?? What about 912 ULS ??
@@mustardseedsociety it sure is dumb. No AD regarding it. I’ve heard from several people now that have had it fail prematurely. I’m told rotax has quietly changed engine design to include a sprayer to lubricate these parts in the gear box and it should be a non issue now on newer engines. Sounds like it is mainly an early version 2 912iS problem. Not sure why this is. The strange thing is they have an overhaul time on the gear box which I complied with but found out that at the time of my overhaul it wasn’t required to replace this $2 plastic washer. Rotax has changed its overhaul to include replacing this washer now since Jan 2023.
@@DarrylZubotWhat I can't figure out is why does a washer needs to be lubed in the first place ?? Is it a moving part ?? I only found one video on the Rotax thrust washer - a guy from Australia was installing one on his Rotax gearbox and he had to put Locktite on the nut, then he puts a pin in the engine so the crankshaft won't turn, then he torqued the nut {against the thrust washer} and the torque wrench broke. Then the video ended by him saying he needs to take the nut back off and start all over. So needless to say, I did not get the answer I was looking for. I think the biggest mistake he made, is he was not ready to torque the nut after he applied the Locktite to the nut. He applied the Locktite but then he had to go find the socket for the nut. You have to torque it while it's wet. Plus I don't think he had the torque wrench set correctly. What aviation needs are the aviation equivalent of "Engineering Explained" - a popular You Tuber who makes amazing videos explaining how cars work. Very hard to find these aviation equivalents on You Tube. Too many "look at me - I can fly a plane" videos. Even those videos are frustrating because the pilot rarely gives true airspeed numbers which always frustrates me !! With the exception of Baron Pilot and Matt Guthmiller.
I saw that video you are talking about. So I'm told Rotax added hole in the shaft that sprays the sprag clutch to lubricate this part, maybe it overheats and degrades the plastic washer? I have no idea why or how these are failing. But it sure seems like Rotax knows about it and did a change to the engine without notifying previous owners of this potential failure. This could cause accidents, I had to go to idle right away as my oil temp was at 135º, pressure dropped, and my hydraulic prop was surging due to lack of oil flow so I had no choice but to land right away, luckily it happened when it did and not when I'm 300km from an airport over Northern Alberta forest.@@mustardseedsociety
Insane! So, not so much engine issue, but gear box? Starting to look for l.s. craft. So many craft use the 912. I keep going back to a fully restored j3 being the most dependable route! Never ending stories of engine outs. Seems like priority in shopping needs to be best possible engine w best history.
Newbie here from USA ... I'm curious what's involved in flying your own plane and getting paid for it? I'm guessing there are some differences between USA and Canada, but I'm curious what it involves there. I'm thinking of getting my license and I'm drawn to Pipistrels, particularly the Sinus Max, and I'd like to find a way to earn enough to offset the costs of a new plane and overhead. But there are some counter-intuitive issues that seem to prohibit that here in the states.
Good decision making!
Darryl what what wings are on that sinus they look different from the ones I’ve seen ?
Great videos!
Hey there, this is a virus sw, not a sinus aircraft.
Is this thrust washer made out of plastic ??
It is
Do you know what the cause was?
The thrust washer (plastic washer) failed inside the gear box and went through the motor. I had the gear box overhauled at 1000 hours but at that time rotax was not requiring that the thrust washer be replaced, since January 2023 they now require this washer to be replaced with a gearbox overhaul at 1000hours. These parts were also not previously cooled/oiled, on all the new rotax engines they changed design to now cool/oil these parts off the shaft. I do not know exactly when this change was made, I believe it was on version 2 or 3.
Are we having fun yet….?
how much?
how's it goin?
good you?