Post by bigmo on Feb 22, 2024 3:29:10 GMT
So...my P2008 w/ 914 had the turbo quit boosting while I was on a LONG cross country. No issues getting back, but I sure missed the extra power on takeoff. I have a stellar Rotax mechanic based at my home airport. We got after it today and quickly found the problem - the wastegate was locked up.
15 mins to pull the cowling off and 15 mins to realize what the problem was. The servo was pushing the cable off the wheel (like up in the air). We popped the cable off the wastegate and while the wastegate wasn't locked up, it was most definitely not smooth. The bearing lubrication port was pretty much blocked with gunk - so all previous attempts to get fluid in there were not reaching the bearing. We cleaned the hole out with a little homemade tool with safety wire. I have this VERY cool little applicator for my Mouse Milk. I found it on Amazon as a "gun oil applicator" - it's a squeeze tube with a 4" needle.
Squirted it in the hole, and just started working the wastegate. About 2-3 mins of work and it was 90% better. 3-4x more oil, and movement cycles and the sucker can be opened and closed with me blowing on it (no exaggeration). Put the bowden cable back on, put a tiny bit of pressure on the spring, and bolted her back up.
I knew the second I rolled on the power. Full 40 inches of MAP and 5600 RPM at Vy and 1400fpm! She's BACK!
So, lesson learned. There's almost no way to properly lube that bearing without pulling the cowling, the cable, and then forcing fluid in the hole and manually moving the wastegate arm.
It'll be my new 25 hour project. Like clockwork from now on.
15 mins to pull the cowling off and 15 mins to realize what the problem was. The servo was pushing the cable off the wheel (like up in the air). We popped the cable off the wastegate and while the wastegate wasn't locked up, it was most definitely not smooth. The bearing lubrication port was pretty much blocked with gunk - so all previous attempts to get fluid in there were not reaching the bearing. We cleaned the hole out with a little homemade tool with safety wire. I have this VERY cool little applicator for my Mouse Milk. I found it on Amazon as a "gun oil applicator" - it's a squeeze tube with a 4" needle.
Squirted it in the hole, and just started working the wastegate. About 2-3 mins of work and it was 90% better. 3-4x more oil, and movement cycles and the sucker can be opened and closed with me blowing on it (no exaggeration). Put the bowden cable back on, put a tiny bit of pressure on the spring, and bolted her back up.
I knew the second I rolled on the power. Full 40 inches of MAP and 5600 RPM at Vy and 1400fpm! She's BACK!
So, lesson learned. There's almost no way to properly lube that bearing without pulling the cowling, the cable, and then forcing fluid in the hole and manually moving the wastegate arm.
It'll be my new 25 hour project. Like clockwork from now on.
