Float Test

[procharger]

How many people have done the required float test and what were your results? That dude on video reminds me of my high school history

teacher, almost fell asleep

[Doug G.]

Thankfully, I am outside the S/N range.

[Anticept]

Thankfully, I am outside the S/N range.

If you ever change floats, you have to do it then .

[Runtoeat]

I had my floats changed just before the SB came out and, luckily, the mechanic was specific about part no's on his log entry. He installed floats that have part no's that were prior to the newly released, problem, floats. I've been flying for over a month with the new floats with no observed carburetor problems.

[ralarcon]

Just had the floats checked last week, everything is nominal.

 

Cheers

[FlyingMonkey]

If any one has a sunken float you won't have to have it tested to know you have an issue.

 

What are the symptoms?

[Doug G.]

If you ever change floats, you have to do it then .

Unless I don't need to do it until the floats in development come out. Since my S/N is not included I am thinking there is a difference in the floats, or is it just a matter of age?

[Anticept]

Unless I don't need to do it until the floats in development come out. Since my S/N is not included I am thinking there is a difference in the floats, or is it just a matter of age?

 

Once the new floats come out, you don't have to worry. For now, this SB applies to all floats with part 861184 since July 1st, 2012. http://legacy.rotaxowner.com/si_tb_info/serviceb/sb-912-065.pdf

 

The thing is, all the distributors and RFSC management is telling rotax that this SB is completely overkill. Using the syringe is unnecessarily complicated, when just dropping the bowl and weighing would have just been simpler (and by the writing of the SB, you can go straight to weighing and it will satisfy the requirements anyways). There is a point made that in a couple of engine installs, the syringe is the easier method.

 

If you do use a syringe, the SB requires that you replace the choke gasket every time you use the syringe (every 25 hrs or 60 days!) which is absolutely ridiculous, and further warrants just weighing the floats.

[Jim]

I don't have a seaplane rating, so I guess I don't have to test my floats.

[sandpiper]

I don't have a seaplane rating, so I guess I don't have to test my floats.

Maybe not, but you should pump out any water before each flight.

[Rich]

  Here's a pix of the float I removed. My 912 ULS serial # was above the affected engines but as you can see, this float needed replacement.

Approx 149 HRS TT

[Znurtdog]

Weighed floats from two 912uls' this weekend and found the 2010 floats weighed 5.9 grams (2 floats from one carb) and 5.8 grams. Then tried some from a 2014 and both sets were overweight (more than 7 grams) by almost a gram. The 2014 also seems to be burning about 1 gal/hr over what I've seen in other 912's

[Anticept]

DSCN1696.JPG  Here's a pix of the float I removed. My 912 ULS serial # was above the affected engines but as you can see, this float needed replacement.

 

Approx 149 HRS TT

 

That's what my old floats looked like on a set of carbs that I overhauled with 2000 hours on them. It was a leading factor in my decision to do so.

 

 

Just a tid bit of info on the sinking float issue. Bing has a solution and hopefully out to everyone soon.

 

The second tid bit that no one really knows is the Rotax will pay .75 hr. worth of labor time for each time you document the 25 hr. float inspection.

 

Based on what pay rate?

[FlyingMonkey]

My float weights:

 

RIGHT:  3.1g / 3.1g

 

LEFT:    2.9g / 3.2g

 

This is a 7.5 year old airplane (2007 CTSW) with ~260 hours on the Hobbs.

[Top Cat]

On my 2014 RV-12  I noticed fuel smell and small drip stains under left carb at around 60 hours. Mechanic found one float completely sunk and other float was fine. Replaced with 'new' float. It's been fine since.

 

 Last week I got fuel smell from right carb and few drips at about 78 hours. Both floats were floating slightly low, one almost at surface the other a little below. Weights over the limit but not a lot.

 

 Replaced both from a  batch of 4 I just recently bought from Lockwood, lucky for me they had just received a shipment of parts. Replaced bowl gaskets too.

 

  Engine always ran well, mixture didn't appear to be over rich and only sign (apart from physical inspection) , was the fuel smell.

[Top Cat]

Maybe not, but you should pump out any water before each flight.

You should also empty your 'floats' with the tiny syringe that Rotax suggests. That should keep you busy!!

[FastEddieB]

Roger,

 

I think I asked this before, but...

 

...would I have gotten new floats when you overhauled my carbs last year?

 

If so, (or even if not), is there any reason for me to do anything now?

[FastEddieB]

Thanks.

 

Is it worthwhile to just install new floats and be done with it? Or are new floats suspect as well?

 

Mine are original, so about 7 years old.

[FastEddieB]

Thanks again.

 

I have a gram scale so next time I have my float bowls off (in a few months as part of my annual, if not sooner) I'll weigh my floats and go from there.

[Anticept]

I have a gram scale.

I always feel like this should never be said no matter how innocent the circumstances are

[FastEddieB]

I always feel like this should never be said no matter how innocent the circumstances are

 

Stock photo, but here's mine:

 

 

For reloading.

 

Honest!

[S4Flier]

 

 

For reloading.

Reloading what? 

[Marco01]

Last WE, just after take off (100 feet high), I got a significant power loss + high vibration during 1 Sec: stick push immediatelly, reduce gaz. Power came back immediatelly, I keep on going, getting high altitude and staying in the pattern. i have check the 4 floats: one of them sink completely! I have replace it with the old one. Floats were replaced 3 months ago: so the issue happened after 3 months, 35 hours flight. I will wait from Rotax to find a solution before buying new one...

[rookie]

Looks like the float problem includes a lot more engines than the SB includes. Since im stuck at home and can't fly I decided to do my annual early, really early. Good thing, doing the carb check I found one float in the rt. carb almost fully submerged. The odd thing is there were no indications and my last flight was perfectly normal. Apparently the one good float exerted enough force to prevent over flow.

Apparently when they go bad it happens fairly quick, last spring when I did the annual they were fine. My engine is far below the cut off point of the SB and I only flew 51 hours since last check. Whatever the problem was it involved more than some bad batches.

I just received new floats which are supposed to be the new type but won't have time to install before we go to AZ so I rigged up a test unit to hold the in the normal position and filled the jar with fuel. I'll see what they look like when we get back in April.

 

al meyer