> Hi Jerry-
    >
    > Yep - that's the sort of shape I need to make room for a wedge under
    > there.  I don't understand the comment about an oil intake pipe
   -- are
    > you referring to the one on top (underneath in your photo) of the
    > engine?  And -- pardon my ignorance -- but what is a windage tray?  I
    > assume it is designed to stop oil from foaming as it falls to the
   pan?
    >
    > Mark
    >

   I believe windage was originally a nautical term which refers to the
   exposed-to-wind are of a ship.  When going to windward, less is better.
   In the context of engine...  The crank/e-shaft will have quite a lot of
   oil dripping/spilling/spraying from it as the engine runs.  This effect
   actually represents energy lost.  On a crank-engine, I believe the crank
   may actually be submerged in oil during certain maneuvers (heavy
   braking,
   acceleration).  Not good for hp, and it foams the oil.  The windage tray
   is supposed to control all of this misbehavior..  It may be useful on a
   rotary aircraft too.


   Matt-

Matt,
The actual term windage comes from shooting. Wind blowing the bullet
off target. With respect to engines, earlier thinking was that you
needed to separate the oil sump from the crankshaft. Later it was found
that the solid windage tray caused the oil to bounce back into the
rotating mass. The most recent thinking is to actually scrape the oil
off of the crank, while using a screen to break up  the oil thrown off.
The screen system would probably [work] well with the rotary. The more oil you
can get out of the engine the better.

Bill Jepson


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