Beautiful work Craig! I would like to start looking into putting a setup like this in my Avid Speedwing. Where can I go to start doing research? Thanks in advanced and keep loving what your doing!
Man, that thing is BEAUTIFUL!! 150HP works, too! Smart engineering he did there with the oil tank, radiator, exhaust, and intake manifold. Can't wait to see that one fly!
Good interview. One of these engines isn't in my future but love seeing the technology. This builder obviously doesn't spare the horses. With all his improvements this airplane is going to turn heads for sure.
It’s a shame Craig aircraft is going to get dirty from flying. What a beautiful build. Craigs craftsmanship is a testimony to his attention to his detail! Wow just his engine color scheme is magnificent. Another great builder brought to The Experimental Channel. I’ll say it again I don’t know how you get all these great builders Bryan?
I remember this Highlander on Billy Payne’s site. Love the changes you’ve made. On these LSAs it’s all about useful load so going with a lighter engine is a no brainer.
This is great! I met Craig thru the exotic car community, but was happy to hear he was buying and rebuilding this airplane. I'm also a private pilot and hope to see this plane in person one day.
I am so interested in this engine. Am hoping to replace the Jabiru 2200 in my Skystar Pulsar III with one of these next year. I especially appreciate you sharing realistic wet, installation weight. Thank you.
@@701cyclone Yes. I read somewhere that these engines have to turn at least 10K. Maybe more like 12K. That kinda puts me off these. Seems like flying around with a grenade on the nose.
These engines are for snowmobiles that don't have transmissions so they often tend to be running constant fairly high RPMs. They're also based on sportbike engines so they're designed with high RPM and abuse in mind, albeit with a transmission and not flying through the air.
@@LORENZindustries Overhaul intervals are significantly shorter on such high RPM engines (all else held equal). This is not to say it won't operate reliably between them.
Excellent engine choice! 👍 I hope people pay attention and make the switch. Yamaha makes some of the best engines on the planet, that motor in particular has a rich history and is a race bike engine...it’s designed to handle the stresses of racing on a road course, since engine failure is most common during changes in power, this would probably be the safest engine anyone could run 👍
Craig, if you don't mind... 1. Just to be sure, does the 180 lbs wet weight include the radiator and coolant? 2. What method of attachment did you choose for the inlet runners to the PVC plenum (Hysol, West System epoxy, etc)? 3. We might clarify for some viewers, your radiator is from a Kawasaki ZX14R motorcycle (excellent idea!). 4. I hope we get to see your finished cowl some day, especially the radiator inlet. 5. I'm impressed with your oil tank solution! 6. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
@FoesFlyDennis... this is the Experimental Aircraft Channel. If you would like to reach out to Craig you can find him on the Yamaha Conversions GROUP on FB. (Which is where he will be posting his build updates as he goes). The 180lbs "Wet Weight" would be "All in." Yes sir. Thanks for watching!
This 150 hp rating is this stock or computer modified ? This is my second time with your video and I am very impressed with ALL the attention to detail.
Dynon Skyviews woulda been nice in there in place of the IPads... Then you get pretty much everything ie EFIS, Autopilot, ADSB, Integrated coms and nav, RNAV and ILS, etc... But it's going to be a nice plane. Congrats. Love the Yamaha :)
Hey Bryan great information as always love each small detail on the walk around of the Yamaha Apex engine. They should have HOT ROD PLANE Magazine to show off the detailing of this engine. Great video and interview well done.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍🏻🤠
Awesome! Cant wait to see it fly. Those Yamaha engines make amazing power. I wonder about the longevity and durability. How many hrs until overhaul? Are they reliable on a cross country trip?
Just wondering about the engine , A plane is always under load , a boat is always under load , Marine engines have extra hardened valves and the pistons are twice the thickness because a boat is always under load , going up hill . and a plane is too I believe. My question is this. are aircraft engines built to run under constant load like marine engines ? I would argue the are , But then again I don't have any experience with aircraft so I could be completely wrong. Can you explain please ? Thanks , and great build by the way . very nice.
Backup can be anothet mini panel with PFD info and a separate backup battery for power supply . No need for steam gauges any more. Plus we all focus on failing gauges but completely ignore failing pitot tube, failing total energy probe, failing compass etc...
As an svid motorcyclist I've always been intrigued with a motorcycle application into an aircraft. I was waiting the entire episode to find out when he was going to talk about having an air shifter to be able to downshift for more climb torque or upshift for better Cruz performance at a lower RPM.... is the reduction Drive connected to the countershaft sprocket? Is the gearbox retained?
This engine is from the Apex snowmobile, no gearbox. It does have a slight reduction gear built into the PTO (clutch) side and the SkyTrax gearbox takes power from that.
@@RussellTelker that makes perfect sense. thanks for the explanation. I thought it might have come from a yamaha R1 or something. Imagine what it WOULD be like to keep prop RPM steady and shift the engine to low gear for climb out and high gear for cruise.
@@mattgeans3758 Yes aircraft do have that called constant speed prop the pilot can adjust the prop while in-flight. Generally those are on complex higher speed aircraft not a STOL type, and light sport not even allowed by the FAA. Most experimental have a fixed prop the cost of the constant speed props can be lot $18-20k vr 2-3k for a fixed pitch prop. They adjust the prop with less pitch when taking off then at cruise adjust it for more pitch reduces fuel usage. Generally any aircraft cruises above 150 MPH or more will have this kind of prop some slower aircraft them. No need to change the RPM of the prop. Generally don't want a prop turning more then 3000 RPM the tips of the blades exceed the sound barrier which would cause them to be less efficient. The prop speed you want to stay constant. Most aircraft engines are direct drive off the crank they turn 2000 RPM range.
Nice thing about 4 cylinder inline engines is their use of a 4-2-1 header. In years past Vice Roman at Burns Stainless had a header design service. You filled out the engine specs and paid $75 and got all the specs needed for an optimum header for the engine. Don't see the service on Burns' current website. I think Roman is still around and perhaps will still consult. I have used this service in the past and the seat of the pants dyno can feel an improvement.
Nevermind the money part, the hardest thing about aviation is having access to it. Like most people, Not many guys around my area that you can just hang out with and learn a ton of free knowledge....Closet airport is 20-40 miles away and I don't drive....And, it's most GA planes, no Ultralights or LSA's...😩😩😩
No O2 sensor on the Apex, it runs a speed density system. Designed for cold weather temps like snowmobiles, usually requires retuning depending on use case.
I’m curious about his oil tank. He mentioned that he has baffles in it to prevent the oil from sloshing around, but what measures has he taken to prevent oil foaming?
The air intake is PVC, I'd worry about the Heat Deflection Temperature which is only 92 °C (198 °F). Plus PVC is toxic when it burns. How hot might it get under the cowl running hot, sitting on asphalt on a 105°F summer day in FL?
even thin wall 4" is pretty resilient to heat and flame....plus, if the engine is hot, its running, hence cool air flowing through it.......just saying.
@@hausding like Jack wrote the there is not always airflow when the engine is hot, like right after shutdown. Why take a chance with your life, use Aluminum or Carbon Fiber
Had any years of apex yamaha experience with this engine one of my sleds has, 26,000 klm on it others have up to, 40,000 very real live engine ealways used a soil 0/40 synthetic in fact owned over apex sleds with the same engine ever had a problem on sled these enginkearerunni g had withaverage rpm 8000 to 111,000. I am also retired pilot last air raft piper Aerostar twin. 84 years old and still sled, Christopher ,Ottawa canada
Depending on underhood temps of course it shouldn't be an issue. It's opposite the exhaust which is also wrapped. Note that the intake runner tubes are also plastic, albeit likely a fair higher temp material. Peoole have ran pvc piping as intercooler piping on cars and not had an issue with melting it.
I love your project. In the same time as a diesel mechanic I disagree with you on the cooling system. Closed and pressurized cooling system has higher boiling temperature.
Finally someone who knows that aircraft engines don't have to be from the dinosaur era with carburettors, carb heat, manual chokes, running lean of peak with manual mixture controls and other idiotically old tech like this. Don't tell me "it's more expensive to repair this way", because it's not... I have experience working with all manner of engines old and new...The modern designs are better in many, many ways.
I would struggle to trust a snowmobile engine running at 9000+ RPM. Cool? Yes. Trustworthy for aviation? Not for me. The whole package is indeed pretty cool.
Please, please, please...invest in a (superior) ClipOn microphone for the Interviewees. Otherwise, your channel will earn the Dave the Support Guy (Dan Johnson’s sidekick) wonky Audio award. Of course, you will need the eardrum damaging entry and exit music and start talking more than the Interviewee in order to emulate Dan.
Ya know what gives Craig Timm cred? The busted knuckles. He's in the thick of it. High marks on this video. Your questions and cadence is spot on.
This is nice work. First person to see that actually puts effort in. I am amazed at how many people skimp on an aircraft.
Loved it Bryan, thanks for coming out to see my plane and doing this video.
Nice work Craig! 👍👍👍 Are you going to be making any video updates on your channel about your plane?
Amazing Build...
100% Mind Blowing, and Your Attention Too Detail!
"Keep up the Hard Work"
Hi Craig, any trouble with locating sensors for the existing EIS to work?
Beautiful work Craig!
I would like to start looking into putting a setup like this in my Avid Speedwing. Where can I go to start doing research? Thanks in advanced and keep loving what your doing!
@@justjivin9699 Go to the Yamaha Aircraft Engines on Facebook, lots of info there.
Man, that thing is BEAUTIFUL!! 150HP works, too! Smart engineering he did there with the oil tank, radiator, exhaust, and intake manifold. Can't wait to see that one fly!
What a gorgeous build and superb attention to detail. That sort of engineering talks to me in soooo many ways....:)
Good interview. One of these engines isn't in my future but love seeing the technology. This builder obviously doesn't spare the horses. With all his improvements this airplane is going to turn heads for sure.
That motor looks awesome and I like the exhaust
That engine sounds amazing.
It’s a shame Craig aircraft is going to get dirty from flying. What a beautiful build. Craigs craftsmanship is a testimony to his attention to his detail! Wow just his engine color scheme is magnificent. Another great builder brought to The Experimental Channel. I’ll say it again I don’t know how you get all these great builders Bryan?
Thanks for interviewing Craig, have been watching is progress on Instagram and Yamaha forum.
Real good stuff. Info only available from your efforts. Well done.
I remember this Highlander on Billy Payne’s site. Love the changes you’ve made. On these LSAs it’s all about useful load so going with a lighter engine is a no brainer.
Wow! That is a sweet sounding airplane...no boring drone there!!! Sounds like a big liter Yamaha superbike or snowmobile! Great Video
This is great! I met Craig thru the exotic car community, but was happy to hear he was buying and rebuilding this airplane. I'm also a private pilot and hope to see this plane in person one day.
Nice work Brian, Craig is doing very clean work!!!
Outstanding! Can't wait to see it fly!
Very well don and informative video. When ever I can ever get back into Canada I will hunt down one of these motors.
Really interesting stuff, excellent effort Craig
Beautiful, Absolutely Beautiful - Thanks for sharing !!
Video quality is excellent!
A beauty ! Eventualy a flying beauty !!! 😱
I am so interested in this engine. Am hoping to replace the Jabiru 2200 in my Skystar Pulsar III with one of these next year. I especially appreciate you sharing realistic wet, installation weight. Thank you.
I would love to see this plane flying. I hope you can do a follow up. Nice interview.
Great channel. Excellent guest, and good interviews. I love the ideas of using motorcycle engines.
Sweet setup!
Sounds good. Like it better then the unmuffled Yamahas! The gentleman is a true craftsman!
Sweet! Definitely need one of those in a Sonex!
I own a Sonex with Jab 3300. Would love to have 150HP. But with only 1 liter displacement, does it have to spin at 10,000 to make that power??
@@701cyclone Yes. I read somewhere that these engines have to turn at least 10K. Maybe more like 12K. That kinda puts me off these. Seems like flying around with a grenade on the nose.
These engines are for snowmobiles that don't have transmissions so they often tend to be running constant fairly high RPMs. They're also based on sportbike engines so they're designed with high RPM and abuse in mind, albeit with a transmission and not flying through the air.
RADThird1 your worry is woefully unfounded.
@@LORENZindustries Overhaul intervals are significantly shorter on such high RPM engines (all else held equal). This is not to say it won't operate reliably between them.
Love the custom contura switches. I'm going with the same I think. Doing a weber MPE 750 with Fueltech ECU on a ICP Savannah.
Excellent engine choice! 👍 I hope people pay attention and make the switch. Yamaha makes some of the best engines on the planet, that motor in particular has a rich history and is a race bike engine...it’s designed to handle the stresses of racing on a road course, since engine failure is most common during changes in power, this would probably be the safest engine anyone could run 👍
well done with the Noctua fans... nice and quiet
Do they have a really big one for up front?
Thanks Guys! Beautiful craftsmanship ! Curious about his choice of propeller?
Impressive
Learn to tie lace cord! Great project and nice job!
Craig, if you don't mind...
1. Just to be sure, does the 180 lbs wet weight include the radiator and coolant?
2. What method of attachment did you choose for the inlet runners to the PVC plenum (Hysol, West System epoxy, etc)?
3. We might clarify for some viewers, your radiator is from a Kawasaki ZX14R motorcycle (excellent idea!).
4. I hope we get to see your finished cowl some day, especially the radiator inlet.
5. I'm impressed with your oil tank solution!
6. Thank you so much for sharing!!!
@FoesFlyDennis... this is the Experimental Aircraft Channel. If you would like to reach out to Craig you can find him on the Yamaha Conversions GROUP on FB. (Which is where he will be posting his build updates as he goes). The 180lbs "Wet Weight" would be "All in." Yes sir. Thanks for watching!
@@ExperimentalAircraftChannel thank you Bryan. Your channel really is the absolute best for EAB!
Really great stuff. Thanks.
A really informative video and interesting content.
This 150 hp rating is this stock or computer modified ? This is my second time with your video and I am very impressed with ALL the attention to detail.
Stock
Dynon Skyviews woulda been nice in there in place of the IPads... Then you get pretty much everything ie EFIS, Autopilot, ADSB, Integrated coms and nav, RNAV and ILS, etc... But it's going to be a nice plane. Congrats. Love the Yamaha :)
Fantastic build and great video!
This is wonderful engine for ultralight!
Excellent! Well done.
so that's a snowmobile engine! I wouldn't have thought of doing that....I want to see this one fly..
Amazing a game changer, I want it!
Hey Bryan great information as always love each small detail on the walk around of the Yamaha Apex engine. They should have HOT ROD PLANE Magazine to show off the detailing of this engine. Great video and interview well done.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️👍🏻🤠
SICK!!!
Awesome , yamaha rules 🤗🙏🤗
What are you using to drive the Ipads?
Curious about the weight of the wrap. What r u using
That sounds Awesome! Ok, What $ and model number is the gearbox? and prop spacer ? Again! It sounds like a High end car!
It's a skytrax gear box, $3,500. Teal Jenkins is the man for that. I believe just aircraft is also a vendor.
Very good
Awesome! Cant wait to see it fly. Those Yamaha engines make amazing power. I wonder about the longevity and durability. How many hrs until overhaul? Are they reliable on a cross country trip?
I'd be surprised if it could get to 200 hours before needing overhaul in this application
where do you purchase the Yamaha Apex engines?
Just wondering about the engine , A plane is always under load , a boat is always under load , Marine engines have extra hardened valves and the pistons are twice the thickness because a boat is always under load , going up hill . and a plane is too I believe. My question is this. are aircraft engines built to run under constant load like marine engines ? I would argue the are , But then again I don't have any experience with aircraft so I could be completely wrong. Can you explain please ? Thanks , and great build by the way . very nice.
Most aircraft engines, from what i gather are designed to run at 75% power for cruise. Cross country or cross county.
Needs backup steam gauges for compass & altimeter for when (not if) the electronics fail.
I would want a backup for sure..
Nah. VFR only plane. I really don’t see him shooting approaches down to mins in this thing. It’s a toy.
Backup can be anothet mini panel with PFD info and a separate backup battery for power supply . No need for steam gauges any more.
Plus we all focus on failing gauges but completely ignore failing pitot tube, failing total energy probe, failing compass etc...
55555555
As an svid motorcyclist I've always been intrigued with a motorcycle application into an aircraft. I was waiting the entire episode to find out when he was going to talk about having an air shifter to be able to downshift for more climb torque or upshift for better Cruz performance at a lower RPM.... is the reduction Drive connected to the countershaft sprocket? Is the gearbox retained?
This engine is from the Apex snowmobile, no gearbox. It does have a slight reduction gear built into the PTO (clutch) side and the SkyTrax gearbox takes power from that.
@@RussellTelker that makes perfect sense. thanks for the explanation. I thought it might have come from a yamaha R1 or something. Imagine what it WOULD be like to keep prop RPM steady and shift the engine to low gear for climb out and high gear for cruise.
@@mattgeans3758 Yes aircraft do have that called constant speed prop the pilot can adjust the prop while in-flight. Generally those are on complex higher speed aircraft not a STOL type, and light sport not even allowed by the FAA. Most experimental have a fixed prop the cost of the constant speed props can be lot $18-20k vr 2-3k for a fixed pitch prop. They adjust the prop with less pitch when taking off then at cruise adjust it for more pitch reduces fuel usage. Generally any aircraft cruises above 150 MPH or more will have this kind of prop some slower aircraft them. No need to change the RPM of the prop. Generally don't want a prop turning more then 3000 RPM the tips of the blades exceed the sound barrier which would cause them to be less efficient. The prop speed you want to stay constant. Most aircraft engines are direct drive off the crank they turn 2000 RPM range.
What's the price difference between the Yamaha and the Viking? Nice work!
Second this
Any news on the Yamaha water sport engines being used on aircraft? no snowmobiles in the Caribbean!
Nice thing about 4 cylinder inline engines is their use of a 4-2-1 header. In years past Vice Roman at Burns Stainless had a header design service. You filled out the engine specs and paid $75 and got all the specs needed for an optimum header for the engine. Don't see the service on Burns' current website. I think Roman is still around and perhaps will still consult. I have used this service in the past and the seat of the pants dyno can feel an improvement.
Sweet!
I personally would look to the 1.8 ski engine. It would be a great fit. (Bonus is its available factory supercharged)
Nevermind the money part, the hardest thing about aviation is having access to it. Like most people, Not many guys around my area that you can just hang out with and learn a ton of free knowledge....Closet airport is 20-40 miles away and I don't drive....And, it's most GA planes, no Ultralights or LSA's...😩😩😩
I've got airport close by but the hanger space is all rented out with waiting lists. The solution is to relocate to the Country.
This is easy Power to obtain from this engine.
The 200H.P. version give you that extra pop and hardley consumes much more
Nice build. It could have been a brand new kit build with the amount of work that went into it.
Nice
Will there be a follow up to this build?
Yes. When it flies. For sure! :-)
Anyone scared about not having enough time on your hands after retirement ???🤣
Great job !👌
20:40 Why is the coil-pack on the front sparkplug oriented oddly? Does the engine management system use an Oxygen sensor? Didn't notice one.
No O2 sensor on the Apex, it runs a speed density system. Designed for cold weather temps like snowmobiles, usually requires retuning depending on use case.
What coolant did he use? Water doesn't expand, steam does... So what ever he used doesn't evaporate.
I’m curious about his oil tank. He mentioned that he has baffles in it to prevent the oil from sloshing around, but what measures has he taken to prevent oil foaming?
The air intake is PVC, I'd worry about the Heat Deflection Temperature which is only 92 °C (198 °F). Plus PVC is toxic when it burns. How hot might it get under the cowl running hot, sitting on asphalt on a 105°F summer day in FL?
even thin wall 4" is pretty resilient to heat and flame....plus, if the engine is hot, its running, hence cool air flowing through it.......just saying.
@@hausding like Jack wrote the there is not always airflow when the engine is hot, like right after shutdown. Why take a chance with your life, use Aluminum or Carbon Fiber
Had any years of apex yamaha experience with this engine one of my sleds has, 26,000 klm on it others have up to, 40,000 very real live engine ealways used a soil 0/40 synthetic in fact owned over apex sleds with the same engine ever had a problem on sled these enginkearerunni g had withaverage rpm 8000 to 111,000. I am also retired pilot last air raft piper Aerostar twin. 84 years old and still sled, Christopher ,Ottawa canada
19:30 After landing & parking a hot engine, I hope heat doesn't melt the pvc.
Depending on underhood temps of course it shouldn't be an issue. It's opposite the exhaust which is also wrapped. Note that the intake runner tubes are also plastic, albeit likely a fair higher temp material. Peoole have ran pvc piping as intercooler piping on cars and not had an issue with melting it.
That valve cover looks great. Well everything look great, but that valve cover is an eye catcher
Been seeing a few builders going with the Yamaha engines lately.
I love your project. In the same time as a diesel mechanic I disagree with you on the cooling system. Closed and pressurized cooling system has higher boiling temperature.
Where does the turbo go? Lol jk that’s a super nice airplane sir!
is that Honda motor for sale
That exhaust gonna be loud coming out right under the pilots seat?
no, it has a muffler
Yes!!!!!👍😎😁
dose Craig have a youtube channel?
What ratio gear box?
👍
Guys, you are definitely on the lucky side of the world. I don´t think our german institutions would certify such a conversion :-)
150...300... oh the possibilities
Jay Leno runs Evan's Waterless Coolant too. He has it in most of his vehicles, but in his case it's for corrosion resistance.
And he has a Merlin in his garage.
That's the first Highlander I've seen with tricycle gear it's weird and feels kinda dirty 😱🤣 #taildraggersorthewin
عالی بود
I have a Yamaha Apex for sale ! Low miles on it .
Nice! Search on FB for Yamaha Aircraft Conversions and put up a post there. Thanks!
I didn't know the highlander was available as a nose dragger
like it
Vinyl on the fiberglass and carbon fibre ok. Vinyl on the top of the fabric???? Especially 3m1080 or 2080.
Is Craig Timm Jeff Timm's brother?
Still a bit noisy, and if use in aircrft in northern climate, will need a cabin heater.
When we hear Yamaha we tend to think ...Motorcycle ...! but this engine is from a Yamaha snowmobile ....I think ...?
Finally someone who knows that aircraft engines don't have to be from the dinosaur era with carburettors, carb heat, manual chokes, running lean of peak with manual mixture controls and other idiotically old tech like this. Don't tell me "it's more expensive to repair this way", because it's not... I have experience working with all manner of engines old and new...The modern designs are better in many, many ways.
AWESOME. I'd rather have a Honda or Yamaha. Any day over Lycoming or Continental.
Even if it's only 1000 tbo it's 3k to rebuild max. Doing it yourself.
I would struggle to trust a snowmobile engine running at 9000+ RPM. Cool? Yes. Trustworthy for aviation? Not for me.
The whole package is indeed pretty cool.
Please, please, please...invest in a (superior) ClipOn microphone for the Interviewees. Otherwise, your channel will earn the Dave the Support Guy (Dan Johnson’s sidekick) wonky Audio award. Of course, you will need the eardrum damaging entry and exit music and start talking more than the Interviewee in order to emulate Dan.
Hah! Noted! Invested. Inacted. :-)
Thank You for your support.
What will last longer, a engine running 6k+ rpm or a engine running 3k rpm, common mechanical sense...
Some people will never be satisfied even when there done. Buy a airplane to fly the wings off of it!