Another question:

   I seem to recall hearing that the 13B runs quite rough if one rotor
   stops firing - total ignition or fuel failure on that rotor.  Is that
   right?  Or is it just a huge power loss - motoring the dead rotor?

   If it runs really rough, do any of the reduction units put up with
   this?  Or would they risk damage if one rotor quits?  How about at idle?

   What got me thinking about this is the Reno team that had a gearbox
   failure when 2 cylinders quit on their big Continental...


   Thanks,

   Matt-

   It does run rough but the gear boxes don't seem to care other than
   in theory the
   smooth idle RPM is doubled due to resonance conditions. There are
   two splines
   in Tracy's gear box that can wear in addition to the gears.

   I think that Reno Continental gearbox was poorly designed for a huge
   displacement
   six cylinder engine with severe torque pulses at 2500 RPM or below.
   Given the same power
   at the same prop RPM the Continental torque pulses are at least four
   times as strong.

   Putting it another way the 250 HP rotary is about 200 foot pounds
   average at 5000 RPM
   while a large 500 HP six cylinder would be at least four times that
   or 800 ft/lbs at 2500 RPM.

   Gear boxes are primarily designed around torque capacity. Also I
   suspect the Continental gear box had no rubber torque isolator.
   --
   Paul Lamar ...No rotor no motor.



Okay..   That sounds good to me.


Matt-



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