Hi Stef, That's heavy indeed. In South Africa a friend of mine flies his KR2 with a VW Combi water cooled engine - that yellow & red one ZU-CGR. He has no problems whatsoever, but it is also heavier than normal. However, he says it flies well.
I'd go for a heavy KR2 if it was really fast like i.e. Troy's. Other than that I've read somewhere that most of the heavy, that is over 700lbs empty weight KR2s have either been written off or involved in accidents. Maybe it's because everything happens faster close to the ground as the weight goes up. I was really tempted there for a while and actually I am happy about the feedback so I can stick to my lightweight goal without having any regrets later on. Most of my flying time have been in all kinds of ultralights, so I actually prefer things to be on the light side - they just fly so much easier in good weather. Another thing is that these specialized engines are a project on its own when you come to the engine installation. Some even say that when you start with the engine, your project is only 50% finished. In my case I literally have a bolt on engine. The radiators are used in a standard way in the Pulsars, so no rocket science to the cooling setup. Anyway, it was an interesting topic and once again I learned a lot. Thank you for all the feedback and also all the private mails and pictures I received on this topic. I sent the owner of the Subaru this email: "I think this might refer to your exact engine: http://www.krnet.org/krs/smakish/: Then I went to a 1800cc/100hp subaru ea81 with a nsi redrive. After a long r&d with cooling problems I had custom griffin radiators made up and it worked fine for a while. It broke the sprague clutch 3 times and each time it cost me 4-500 bucks to "upgrade" it. After about 500 hours the bottom end gave out, (loss of oil pressure). The engine had to be run at 4800 at cruise and 5200 on climb. It just can't take the pounding. I sold it to a gyro copter guy in az and built a 3100 corvair." Kind regards, Henni South Africa -----Original Message----- From: KRnet [mailto:krnet-boun...@list.krnet.org] On Behalf Of Stef den Boer via KRnet Sent: Friday, 01 September 2017 3:39 AM To: KRnet <krnet@list.krnet.org> Cc: Stef den Boer <stefk...@ziggo.nl> Subject: Re: KR> Subaru EA81 Hi, I have been to a samenar about this engine. The 2.2 EJ wil give you about 136 HP but with the reduction and prop it is 170 KG. The 1.8 is about 130 KG. I forgot how many HP it is. The guy made his own EMS system, it runs very smooth but it is to havy. http://www.nvav.nl/vereniging/activiteiten/301-motoren-en-motormanagement It is a nice story but you need google translate. Stef > > Op 31 augustus 2017 om 14:03 schreef jeb via KRnet <krnet@list.krnet.org>: > > > All this EA81 talk - very interesting. > > I ran into cooling problems - then moved the radiator to the belly and > built a fiberglass > > ducting shroud. Radiator is (I think 12x27 inches) > > So I may not need a speed brake :*> > > Since retirement I've been working on it quite a bit, new liteweight > battery that really cranks > > Now if I just had a hangar. > > > On 08/31/17 4:52 AM, EWMP via KRnet wrote: > > Hi > > > > > > I have flown many hours behind an EA81 in a Jodel D18, G-WIBB. The > > engine is direct drive and probably only produces 45-50 HP in that > > configuration but it runs like a sewing machine and has covered around > > 450 hours without any major problems. The radiator is from an Austin > > Metro and the engine never overheats, regardless of how long you spend > > ground running or climbing. It is definitely heavier than a VW but it > > is totally reliable. > > > > > > Duncan > > > > > > On 31/08/2017 11:36, Hendrik van Rooyen via KRnet wrote: > >> Tx Mark, > >> > >> I have decided against the idea. You raised very valid points and I > >> agree totally. I'll stick to the Rotax 582 as I have many hours > >> behind the type. This Subaru offer appeared out of the blue and hence > >> my initial consideration. 100hp sounded so attractive, but not at the > >> price that comes with it (problems). > >> > >> Kind regards, > >> > >> Henni > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: KRnet [mailto:krnet-boun...@list.krnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark > >> Langford via KRnet > >> Sent: Thursday, 31 August 2017 12:31 PM > >> To: krnet@list.krnet.org > >> Cc: Mark Langford <m...@n56ml.com> > >> Subject: Re: KR> Subaru EA81 > >> > >> Henni wrote: > >> > >> >> What is your experience on the KR2 powered by the Subaru EA81 > >> >> converted to 100hp? > >> > >> I feel sure Steve Makish or Bob Lester will eventually comment, but > >> they were big fans of the Subaru and flew behind them for many > >> hours. I believe they'll tell you that the main crank bores in the > >> case simply couldn't take it and needed to be replaced more often > >> than you'd expect. > >> They are also quite heavy, especially when you factor in the cooling > >> system and water. > >> > >> And as I've said quite often, I think it's a bad idea to use a water > >> cooled automotive engine in an airplane, unless it comes complete > >> with the cooling system assembled to the engine already (and none > >> exist that way). The reason is that YOU become the cooling engineer, > >> and it's not as simple as it looks. Contact! magazine is full of > >> stories of various water cooled installations boiling over on > >> climbout on the the first flight. Imagine flying a plane on its first > >> flight, with a plan to go to altitude, determine IAS stall speed so > >> you'll have a clue of landing speed, getting used to how the plane > >> flies and responds to input, but you never get there. 300' off the > >> ground it boils over and blows steam all over the canopy, and the > >> temp gauge is in the red. You are completely screwed...you've got to > >> get it on the ground before the engine locks up, with zero experience > >> as to how the plane flies, and now you're pressed to do a very > >> shortened landing with a quick u-turn thrown in for good measure, and > >> you can barely see where you're going! I've heard that story too many > >> times. It's too easy to create a place in the system where steam > >> gathers and prevents proper circulation of the coolant, and the > >> problems start. You'd think a proper ground runup vetting would show > >> these kinds of problems before they occur, but apparently not. I'm > >> not saying all installations are like this, but it's a failure mode > >> that air-cooled engines simply don't have. Both Steve and Bob > >> swapped their Subarus for Corvairs, and seemed very happy with them. > >> > >> Mark Langford > >> m...@n56ml.com > >> http://www.n56ml.com > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Search the KRnet Archives at > >> https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. > >> Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. > >> see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to > >> change options. > >> To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Search the KRnet Archives at > >> https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. > >> Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. > >> see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to > >> change options. > >> To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org > >> > >> > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Search the KRnet Archives at > > https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. > > Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. > > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to > > change options. > > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to > krnet-le...@list.krnet.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > Search the KRnet Archives at > https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. > Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. > see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to > change options. > To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to > krnet-le...@list.krnet.org > Steph and his dad are building the KR-2S see http://www.masttotaalconcept.nl/kr2 http://www.masttotaalconcept.nl/kr2 _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org _______________________________________________ Search the KRnet Archives at https://www.mail-archive.com/krnet@list.krnet.org/. Please see LIST RULES and KRnet info at http://www.krnet.org/info.html. see http://list.krnet.org/mailman/listinfo/krnet_list.krnet.org to change options. To UNsubscribe from KRnet, send a message to krnet-le...@list.krnet.org
