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Sport Engine upgrade


Olarry

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Roger.......In another post, you mentioned there may be variables associated with the CTLSi sport engine upgrade that we may not like. Could you elaborate on what those might be and also, do you recommend doing the upgrade or not?

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The 912is engine upgrade is optional. It is worth doing. You will get better torque through the rpm range and even better fuel economy.

The things you may not like were not functional items with the engine. It was the procedure to get there.

 

1. Order your kit through a distributor (because it is serial number specific because you get a new engine serial # plate) This may take a while to get the kit.

2. Then you will pay up front the cost of the kit and when you have finished and send all the paperwork back in with the old serial number plate you'll get a refund.

3. It will cost you 8-10 hrs of labor time. ( this could be anywhere from $600-$1000)

4. You must remove the gearbox and send it to a distributor to have the clutch tightened up and send the ECU to Florida for it's updating. All this will take a couple of weeks. 

5. Not just any mechanic can do the work. He needs to have some Rotax training on the is engine, but the big item is they need to have the dongle which will cost him about $1000.

 

You will need to leave the plane at which ever mechanic for a minimum of 2 weeks, but probably closer to 3 weeks.

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Rotax felt that there new engine was a little doggy in performance and figured out that some minor upgrades to the ECU for run parameters and a better tuned air intake would spice it up more. The engine is more than capable and I think on its release they were playing it a little safe and they hadn't taken the time to really explore its software.

It's a paperwork nightmare for the distributor in the Bahamas and here in the US. Rotax won't even send the parts to the Bahamas until they get the serial number to your plane so they can make a new serial number plate for the engine. Shipping of the new parts to the distributor here in the US from Austria can take 1-2 months. They are getting better at it now that people are getting used to the procedure. Plus there is a new Rotax CEO and he may get things cranking  in more than one area.

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Just got off the phone with Dave Armondo at Flight Design regarding the Sport engine upgrade and he provided the following information.

 

He has submitted all names, serial numbers etc.of all injected engine owners to all  service centers that are qualified to do the work. We in turn have to contact whoever we choose to do the work and they in turn will order 

the kits and schedule the time to do the install.

 

Sounds pretty simple. I will be ordering thru Lockwood in Florida next week (Tish is out until monday) and will let you know if it is in fact that simple!

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Speaking of which, what does the extra torque mean in practical terms?  Better acceleration?  Climb?

 

 

In theory, yes. When your speed is also holding the prop rpm down, your operating in the range where "more torque" should help. But seeing a dyno curve would be a lot more helpful because it depends on where it's making more torque etc. Though I have no doubts this update could make a real difference... I've done a lot of ECU tuning both gas/diesel.. there is always something left on the table when it comes from the factory (often times this can be utilized without any real negative impact on longevity too). When the factory issues an update, there was definitely something left on the table :)

 

Seems pretty neat they are making this available!

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Aaron at Lockwood has just confirmed he has received my sport engine upgrade kit as well as several others.

 

Unfortunately I'm in Michigan for the summer and won't be back in Florida until sometime in late October. Will schedule an appointment to have it installed then.

 

Olarry

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