SonexN76ET wrote:Skippy Diesel,
I highly recommend that you join Rotax-Owner.com to help you get some answers. There is plenty of legitimate and Rotax endorsed information there. I gave you advice on oil hoses but you chose to go in a different direction. There is very limited informed advice on this Sonex builders group here because right now there are so few Sonex aircraft with Rotax engines flying.
Jake
Kai wrote:There must be quite a few R9-series engines in the Sonex by now!
This Sonex A #0525 operator has the Rotax recommended oil hose between tank, cooler and pump. So far everything works as advertised. After 15 years behind a Jab, fretting about all that could go wrong, I decided that enough was enough and again get back into some relaxed flying. Hence I left the experimental engine work and component delection to those in the know and with the facilities to test their findings. I am just happy to follow in their wake- and sod the costs!
Maybe, if you have to ask what original spares cost, a R9- series is not for you after all.
Thx
SonexN76ET wrote:Skippy Diesel,
The reason I went with the Teflon oil lines is due to longer service life. On the non Teflon lined fuel and oil hoses Rotax requires replacement every five years.
Jake
SonexN76ET wrote:Unfortunately I have found if a person chooses a Rotax engine it turns out to be expensive in many ways. I have spent around $30,000 USD on replacing my trusty AeroVee with the Rotax 912 ULS. I am using all new Rotax approved components with the exception of a custom exhaust required due to using the Sonex engine mount.
Here are the approximate major costs:
Engine $20,000 - Don't know where you live - the price would suggest USA. If this is the going rate, well that's what it is. I assumed you shopped around for the best deal.
Propeller, spinner, & extension $2,500 - Most aircraft have a spinner but why the extension?
Exhaust $2,000 - "Custom exhaust required due to using the Sonex engine mount". You have either been misled or misinformed. My Sonex /Rotax 912ULS with standard Sonex mount & Rotax adapter easily accommodates a standard Rotax exhaust.
Oil lines and fuel return line and return line restrictor $600 -I think you will find most aircraft engines will use fuel & oil lines to some degree. The cost seems unusually high in your case. Perhaps you were unware of the alternative reputable manufactures/suppliers of hose that easily meets the Rotax specifications.
Radiator, hoses, clamps & mounts $500 - Yeah a Rotax radiator is costly however ordinary automotive hose, from a reputable manufacturer, is more than adequate. You may have to do some reserch to find the correct profile (bends) for your application. As for clamps, again automotive clamps with rolled edges & inside sleeve to minimise the change of damaging the hose construction, are my proffered style.
Oil cooler $200 - Doesn't seem to be an outrageous price. You did shop around? You are ware that Rotax have 3 sizes on offer?
Fiberglass & materials for radiator ducting and cowling modification $ 300 - Well done looks like you did well in this area
Sonex Rotax mount & hardware $2000 - All engines will need a mounting system - just the way it is
Throttle and choke cables and throttle quadrant $600 - See above - you have to have some way of communicating with your engine
Keyed ignition switch $200 - Why? A keyed master switch from your local auto or electronics store, would have been much cheaper and achieved all the security you need. Then have one ordinary switch for each ignition
MGL temperature probes for Rotax $200 - Your choice
Cabin heat $400 - Well if you live in a cold climate this might just be considered essential. Here is Australia, even in winter, there is enough heat from the engine side of the firewall to keep the cockpit pretty comfortable even when OAT is way below freezing.
Carb heat (coolant heated) $400 - My Sonex/Rotax also has these (fitted by the first builder). My last Rotax powered aircraft had no carburettor heat of any kind. In flight cowling air temperatures, (carby intake air) were a consistent 10C above OAT, effectively reducing the chance of icing to close to 0. There was probably a slight reduction in engine performance but I never noticed. In 10 years and about 600 hrs + of flying, I never experienced carby ice. I am not completely convinced that these down stream air warmers are truly effective therefore cost effective.
Boost pump, pump bypass & check valve $200 - Yet to find a low wing aircraft that does not have a boost pump. Just part of the cost of flying. As for the rest - what are they for?
Capacitor & wiring & battery cables $150 - Don't know if this is a high/low cost but you certainly need them
Hardware, clamps, misc $1,000 - Wow! seems a tad steep & more clamps?
May be a few other things as well.
Jake
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