Paul, I am researching the Rotary engine for use in a Volmer
Sportsman (VJ-22). After searching the old Volmer archives, I came
across a fellow named Jim Moser an RV''r who installed a rotary in a
VJ-22 air frame he acquired. The power plant seized at 400 feet in
takeoff, and crashed. He told me the a Apex seal seized, he then
sold of what had remained. Why am I not considering the Coot, well I
do not like fiberglass, and the VJ is scratch built wood, a very
large support network, with many craft flying, and it is easy to
leave off the wheel gear, no need for that where I operate.
Steve
He was wrong. The engine will not stop running if an apex seal
seizes in the slot.
The only way to seize a rotary is to run it without oil pressure. He
made a mistake some where. He may have forgotten to tighten the bolts
on the oil pick up tube.
If he ran it plugs up in the VJ22 the oil pump may have failed to
suck oil because the pick up tube is two to three times longer. A
worn oil pump is likely to fail to draw oil in those circumstances.
He ran his rotary in his RV with plugs up which is asking for
trouble. Mazda did not design the engine to run lying on its side.
Shear stupidity.
Here are some pictures of his plugs up RV.
Paul Lamar
Again, this group provides fantastic info on the Rotary/PSRU, and now
amphib fLying with a Rotary! Just what a guy like me needs.
Thanks again , Steve Carlisle
BTW Finn Lassen started up his engine with no oil pressure due to a
plumbing error and the throttle wide open with no load. The engine
buzzed up to over ten thousand RPM and seized. He had to chisel it
apart. He rebuilt it and flew it for years. I think he used the same
e-shaft and rotors.
Paul Lamar
Hi the Volmer Sportsman was designed for an 85hp Continental, I
believe. Boats are very weight sensitive; the rotary is too heavy.
Murry I. Rozansky
Murray, yes, you are correct about the original design. The power was
increased to 100HP by Volmer, and many 125HP Lycoming GPU were used
in the tractor config, later than that numerous 150HP Lycomings were
used in the pusher config. All of these amphibs had no structural or
engine mount re-design. Now if one was to use center and end housings
made of aluminum, the weight would be close to those aircraft
engines. Also, I could build up a single rotor aluminum based that
would provide over 100HP. I think I have options with the rotary, but
we will see.
Thanks, Steve Carlisle
Hi Steve, a single rotor could work quite well; they are just more
difficult to build. The problem with the heavier Lycomings on the
Sportsman are that they eating into structural margins and/or useful
load with the extra weight and power. They will also sit deeper in
the water and make it harder to get over hump speed. What is the
point, to burn more fuel?
Murry I. Rozansky
Gents,
Tangent to the Volmer Engine discussion is the fact that it is
potentially an LSA. I have a Volmer builder / pilot in my chapter and
we have had that discussion. Apparently Volmer Jensen's original
empty weight was 1430 lbs, and as I am told, their are some Volmer
builders out their trying to get their empty weight as low as
possible ( or practical ) to shoot for the 1430 lb number to have a
decent useful load ( perhaps the Volmer Club of America - Home
<
http://www.volmeraircraft.com/home is a place to start ). I don't
know how plentiful or reliable they are, but had the 2 Rotor Norton
made a greater splash on the scene eon's ago, one may ask if it had
more umph would it be a fit for the Volmer, I am not sure it did.
Jonh Smith
No need for a LSA anymore as the FAA is going to do away with the
third class medical for anything 6 place and under.
Ken Welter
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