SonexBuilders.net

Just ordered my Jabiru 3300 from sonex today :D

Now i am broke :cry:

Anywho.. as i daydream for for the next 2-3 months untill it gets here, i was wondering if people would be willing to share their tricks, tips, and gotchas that they figured out during their installations. Thanks!

Just finishing up my installation. I haven't installed my baffles or cowl yet, but it looks pretty straight forward.
No real gotchas so far. But be ready to do some pretty major surgury on the cooling fins of #1 cylinder head. And the front of the oil sump. Also, you will need to buy an oil cooler, lines and fittings. All of this is documented in the Sonex install manual.
Use your time now to get your wiring installed. Battery box, contactors, ground plane, and EMS. Much easier to do with the engine off than mounted. I didn't and had to work around the engine. If you are thinking cabin heat, nows the time too.
I also purchased the Sonex rubber mounts. They are better than the stock ones.
Just waiting for my Aerocarb. They have been backordered for over a month but got word today they will be shipped before the holiday.
Last weekend I finally hit the big red button on the panel. The engine turned over like a champ. Oil pressure came up, all temp probes read ambient. Can't wait to actually start the beast.

First of all, it's worth every penny... :shock: Congratulations!

Just going from memory here.

-The Sonex manual is pretty good. Follow it.

-consider aligning your prop flange a bit "up" in the cowl ring to couter the sag that will occur within 30 days of having the weight of the engine compressing the rubber dampers

-monitor all six cylinders and keep them cool (no high power ground run-ups)

-insulate all fuel lines and keep them as short as possible, consider NOT using a gascolator (I have one and it works great but if I did it all over again...?)

-go right to the #3 needle using the AeroCarb

-expect high EGT's at the last 1/2 inch of throttle travel with no increase in RPM. It's likely induction turbulence. I made a throttle stop to avoid this area.

-You will need at least three people to lift it on the mount and one to install the bolts...that was me... :twisted:

-add doublers to the Sonex baffle between the cylinders because they crack. I can supply pics.

-prepare to hacksaw, file, and shave your beautiful engine. Look at it realistically...your are trimming it to fit in a tight space!

-Consider using Jegs high performance automotive fittings instead of AN stuff for the fuel and oil lines (or just use simple alumium tubing in areas). An AN 90 degree fitting is $54 and the Jegs was $13. They looked identical and I tested mine to 350 PSI. The max the system may see is 60.


-Other tidbits...I use and like my K@N airfilter. I use 1 oz. of oil per hour to where I add about 4 oz after four hours of flying. I use a NAPA Gold 1394 oil filter after the first oil change (to replace the stock filter)

Write back with questions...:)

Kip, yes please post pics of the baffle doublers.

Well, I cannot find the pics. I may have to take a few the next time the cowling is off.

Basically, they consist if two inch wide strips of .032 aluminum with a height of approximately the baffle area riveted on the centerline between the inner cylinders (four total). The cracks develop from the bottom up...

fastj22 wrote:Kip, yes please post pics of the baffle doublers.

Great tip on the Jegs High performance automotive fittings instead of the AN stuff... I didnt realize those AN fittings were so expensive!

You can bet anything with "AN" in the product description is 3-5x more expensive than it would otherwise be. :)

It's funny that Jegs uses "AN" designation for some of their stuff that are copies. They must think "AN" is just a random name for what they are copying... :lol:

Andy Walker wrote:You can bet anything with "AN" in the product description is 3-5x more expensive than it would otherwise be. :)

Kip, what k &n filter did you go with?

fastj22 wrote:Kip, what k &n filter did you go with?

I'm using the RU-1710. Some guys on the Yahoo group say that they have better EGT balance with another model but I'm not sure what it is... :)