Mandatory “CIRCLIP” SB

[stroudj]

I am clear by 400 engines.

Thanks,

Jim

[jetcat3]

Clear by 50 engines.

[whitey]

Had mine done yesterday as the Rotax man just happened to be in the area. Very fortunate. It is a quick job but if you plan on doing it yourself beware the circlips mounts on a different height groove on left side versus right since carby. Weird !!

[slingpilot]

For those effected, I’m also hearing we need to check the carb serial numbers. If not on the carb serial number list, you may not need to replace the clips. So, if the engine is listed and the carbs are not, you are good.

I’m working to verify the above.

[slingpilot]

Look for my post on the Rotax owner website, re: Circlips. Post your engine serial number to the Rotax Admin on the owner forum and request info for your engine. The return will include the carb serial numbers of your engines carbs at time of manufacture. If your engine was not new or logs show work, you will need to actually check the carbs. That may require disassembly, as the serial numbers face inwards.

Hope this helps.

[buzz]

Aug 15, 2019 22:17:35 GMT slingpilot said:

For those effected, I’m also hearing we need to check the carb serial numbers. If not on the carb serial number list, you may not need to replace the clips. So, if the engine is listed and the carbs are not, you are good.

I’m working to verify the above.

The bulletin gives three criteria 1. Engine serial Number, 2. Carb serial number, 3. Spare parts. It says All versions of Rotax 912UL, 912 ULS, and 914UL are affected if at least one of these criteria applies. Your comments here are clearly not consistent with the Service Bulletin. Who is your source? I don't know that it is productive to post unverified information that is a matter of safety. On one hand you say if the carbs are not on the list you MAY NOT need to replace the clip. Then in the next sentence you say if the carbs aren't on the list YOU ARE GOOD. The wording in these two sentences aren't consistent. Then you say "I'm working to verify the above". Didn't intend to sound cranky maybe its just the migraine I have had all day.

[slingpilot]

Aug 15, 2019 22:17:35 GMT slingpilot said:

For those effected, I’m also hearing we need to check the carb serial numbers. If not on the carb serial number list, you may not need to replace the clips. So, if the engine is listed and the carbs are not, you are good.

I’m working to verify the above.

Lucky, your guy had the parts. Most major players, CPS and Lockwood have them on back order. 

[slingpilot]

Like I said, “Working to Verify the Above” and you are correct. I had a Rotax mechanic mention checking serial numbers in addition to the engine serial. When I got back to him, he stated “if one of these criteria applies”, as you wrote above. I guess he re-read the SB and came to the proper conclusion. In the meantime, I researched my engine information, which in any case is good to have.

[montanapilot]

I was able to get parts relatively quickly from Leading Edge Airfoils.

[slingpilot]

Flew up to Mid West Sky Sports to have the CirClip SB complied with and had the oil changed as well. After 100 hours of flight, we found both clips loose on the needle, one more so than the other. My 912 is new, built the end of 2017 and installed after the new year. So, just a word to those who have yet to comply with the SB..Get it done! There definitely is an issue with the old clips.

An additional benefit to the replacement, at least noted by me in my aircraft, was a decrease in fuel consumption. Where I would normally see 6+GPH, I saw 4.8 x 5.2 GPH. I’ll continue to monitor my fuel flows, post return flight, to confirm what I saw.

[Glenn]

Sept 19, 2019 1:58:14 GMT slingpilot said:

Flew up to Mid West Sky Sports to have the CirClip SB complied with and had the oil changed as well. After 100 hours of flight, we found both clips loose on the needle, one more so than the other. My 912 is new, built the end of 2017 and installed after the new year. So, just a word to those who have yet to comply with the SB..Get it done! There definitely is an issue with the old clips.

An additional benefit to the replacement, at least noted by me in my aircraft, was a decrease in fuel consumption. Where I would normally see 6+GPH, I saw 4.8 x 5.2 GPH. I’ll continue to monitor my fuel flows, post return flight, to confirm what I saw.

Is your engine is a 912ULS?  I think more than likely, 4.8 to 5.2 is the more normal fuel consumption rate.  My engine has never burned 6+ per hour even on long trips where I've set the power at 5500 RPM.

Glenn

[slingpilot]

Sept 19, 2019 13:43:30 GMT Glenn said:

Sept 19, 2019 1:58:14 GMT slingpilot said:

Flew up to Mid West Sky Sports to have the CirClip SB complied with and had the oil changed as well. After 100 hours of flight, we found both clips loose on the needle, one more so than the other. My 912 is new, built the end of 2017 and installed after the new year. So, just a word to those who have yet to comply with the SB..Get it done! There definitely is an issue with the old clips.

An additional benefit to the replacement, at least noted by me in my aircraft, was a decrease in fuel consumption. Where I would normally see 6+GPH, I saw 4.8 x 5.2 GPH. I’ll continue to monitor my fuel flows, post return flight, to confirm what I saw.

Is your engine is a 912ULS?  I think more than likely, 4.8 to 5.2 is the more normal fuel consumption rate.  My engine has never burned 6+ per hour even on long trips where I've set the power at 5500 RPM.

Glenn

Yes Glenn, I thought my fuel calibration was off, especially when tabulating on the next fill up, which always showed more usage. Yesterday’s flight back, the computer showed the lower burn rate and when I topped off I was only two tenths off. I’ve never had that happen before alway 2-3 gallon difference. I’m waiting to see the numbers when I top off since I returned. If I’m correct, the circlip replacement can be attributed to the more consistent fuel flow. Again, I’m no mechanic, but replace the clips and see and improvement, what else could it be?

[montanapilot]

I had a similar experience and definitely second the need to do the SB. I took my Astore to Wells Aviation in Wells, MN. I live in NW Montana so it was a long trip, but the reason for the trip that my Astore windshield cracked and they have a lot of experience in replacing windshields, which is very tricky work. In the meantime, I had them do the SB. Both the altitude adjusting needle and the clips were in the wrong position in one of the carbs. This was creating a too-rich mixture. I've noted before on the forum that my fuel burn at 5450 rpm was around 8 gph, which is above what others are experiencing and above what the manual says. I'm now doing about 6.8 gph. It's a major difference when you think about it - in a 3 hour flight, I now have almost a half hour more range than I had before, having used about 3 1/2 gallons less during the flight.

I also have to say that I was absolutely completely impressed with Wells Aviation. They're the shop that Mark Gregor uses, so I expected excellence from them, and I got more than I expected. Not only did they do a beautiful job on the windshield, but they caught a few other items that nobody else had caught. My only regret is that they're not about 1,300 miles to the west. These people know Tecnams in depth, and they've done a ton of work on Tecnams and Rotax's. I think it's so important that if the shop that does your maintenance and condition inspection isn't a Rotax specialist (and better yet, a Tecnam specialist as well), that at least every other year you have the condition inspection done by Wells or one of the few other shops around the country who really know these engines and these airplanes. They will definitely find things that your shop likely won't. I've decided to fly to AirCore in Arlington, WA for all of my condition inspections from now on. They're 350 miles away from me, and it's worth it.

I also have to thank Mark Gregor for his over-the-top hospitality while I was in SW Minnesota. As many of us have stated, we're so fortunate to have him in the Tecnam world.

[Glenn]

Does anyone know who has the new circlips P/N 945786 in stock?

[grantopperman]

Oct 1, 2019 23:28:16 GMT Glenn said:

Does anyone know who has the new circlips P/N 945786 in stock?

I just talked to Lockwood Aero, who said they were getting more in this Thursday and were shipping mine out.