Hi Al I do happen to know a little about the 175 If you will excuse me for
butting in . It was a fine engine the problem arose out of misuse. pilots

would

not throttle the engine up to it's operating rpm they were used to 2300 2400
rpm and I believe it ran about 3200rpm I'm not sure but the engine was quiet
and vibrationless.
                                                         ebriggs

I Recently subscribed to a Rotary Engine I guess, newsletter,as I am considering 
Building a Zenair 801 and the smoothness of the
Rotary has fascinated me for years. The attached note caught my attention, 
as I had a Geared 175 for a couple of years.

It was a great performing very dependable engine . I made a very 
good living with it in the aerial mapping business.
Very smooth an climbed, with that big Prop like a homesick angel.

One day I borrowed a 172 , taxied out and returned without 
taking off because the engine was running very rough and  the  whole
airframe was vibrating............The Owner couldn't find a 
thing wrong with It and said it sounded and felt great to him..
I flew the 175 way past its recommended overhaul, and lost a 
piston at 10,000ft.
{In Florida , that usually gives one at least a half dozen 
landing strips}.

Exchanging the Engine With a Well Known (at that Time) 
Rebuilder for $12,000.00 I went back to work for about a week, when it
failed on take-off,and I landed in the nearby ocean.
The FAA's unofficial Diagnosis Was that the Oil holes at 
the Main bearings were Plugged as well as other passages.
The Engine Seized. The spark Plugs were the only New components   
the investigator could find.

No, I didn't sue and Retire,Mainly because it was suggested 
that I  declare I was traumatized, could no longer fly and My wife to
declare that I could not pursue my marital prerogatives.  
but did take a 5 year Hiatus, Made enough money to get back into the
aerial mapping business.

I still miss that smooth 6 cylinder engine,with that big prop , 
was a great performing combination
This is a 1 time note, as I have never spoken of the 
demise of my first Aerial Mapping.
The note about the 175 just Triggered something.
-- 

H.L.Silvia,
V.Pres. usMicroMap.com
Go to:
http:www.usamicromap.com    For Our Aerial Image Archives

Wait till you fly a rotary for smooth. How far are you from Gainesville FL?
You could contact Tracy Crook in Bell and ask for a ride in his 13B powered
RV4.


Paul Lamar
 
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