[rebel-builders] Prop governor and firewall
Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:04 pm
Eric: what you plan to do sounds right on target. Years ago, I
converted my 1977 SkyHawk to 180 hp with constant speed prop, and was
real pleased with the results. It was a rental and became the most
popular plane on the line after that. Power management is much easier
with a constant speed. Minor climbs and descents do not cause rpm
fluctuations, and the need for minor trim adjustments all the time. At
about 24/24 you probably will burn about 10 gals/hr.
If you're XP-360 is like most other Lycs. with a rear governor, you will
probably need a longer prop control cable and have a loop in it as many
pipers do. Try to make the box in the fire-wall big enough to allow
easy removal and installation of the gov. and still not be in the way of
radios etc mounted in the panel.
Good luck with your plane,
Dick Wampach SR-108
-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Eric Fogelin
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 10:51 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: [rebel-builders] Prop governor and firewall
Since I started this project, I assumed that some (several) builders
have
used constant speed props on their O-320/360 Rebel and Elite projects. A
recent scan through the archives has not confirmed my assumption. Ah,
the
dangers of assuming.
As I start fitting my engine to the firewall, I now realize that I will
be
doing some extra firewall work to allow the prop governor on the
Superior
XP-360 to fit. I'm more familiar with a Continental O-470 in a Cessna
182
with a small prop governor located up front next to the...prop.
On most Lycomings and the Superior (Lycoming clone), the prop governor
is
located as far from the prop as possible (the rear) and is the size of a
trash can (well, not quite that big). Since the Murphy dynafocal mount
leaves barely enough room to slip a feeler gauge between the engine and
the
Rebel/Elite firewall, I've got a problem.
Has anyone else blazed this trail on a Rebel or Elite? I've learned that
Vans has stainless steel boxes for those using constant speed props. So,
this is not a unique problem. The box rivets onto the firewall and
sticks
into the cabin. The extra work on the firewall comes as a surprise (to
me),
but looks to be okay with some concern about right seat rudder pedals
(also
fixable). I won't be using a Vans box, as a custom fit will work better.
I prefer going constant speed and am using an MT-prop which weighs
around 30
pounds less than a fixed pitch aluminum prop. But, firewall work is the
consequence.
Any other constant speed prop projects out there?
Eric Fogelin
Elite 645
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converted my 1977 SkyHawk to 180 hp with constant speed prop, and was
real pleased with the results. It was a rental and became the most
popular plane on the line after that. Power management is much easier
with a constant speed. Minor climbs and descents do not cause rpm
fluctuations, and the need for minor trim adjustments all the time. At
about 24/24 you probably will burn about 10 gals/hr.
If you're XP-360 is like most other Lycs. with a rear governor, you will
probably need a longer prop control cable and have a loop in it as many
pipers do. Try to make the box in the fire-wall big enough to allow
easy removal and installation of the gov. and still not be in the way of
radios etc mounted in the panel.
Good luck with your plane,
Dick Wampach SR-108
-----Original Message-----
From: mike.davis@dcsol.com [mailto:mike.davis@dcsol.com] On Behalf Of
Eric Fogelin
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 10:51 PM
To: rebel-builders@dcsol.com
Subject: [rebel-builders] Prop governor and firewall
Since I started this project, I assumed that some (several) builders
have
used constant speed props on their O-320/360 Rebel and Elite projects. A
recent scan through the archives has not confirmed my assumption. Ah,
the
dangers of assuming.
As I start fitting my engine to the firewall, I now realize that I will
be
doing some extra firewall work to allow the prop governor on the
Superior
XP-360 to fit. I'm more familiar with a Continental O-470 in a Cessna
182
with a small prop governor located up front next to the...prop.
On most Lycomings and the Superior (Lycoming clone), the prop governor
is
located as far from the prop as possible (the rear) and is the size of a
trash can (well, not quite that big). Since the Murphy dynafocal mount
leaves barely enough room to slip a feeler gauge between the engine and
the
Rebel/Elite firewall, I've got a problem.
Has anyone else blazed this trail on a Rebel or Elite? I've learned that
Vans has stainless steel boxes for those using constant speed props. So,
this is not a unique problem. The box rivets onto the firewall and
sticks
into the cabin. The extra work on the firewall comes as a surprise (to
me),
but looks to be okay with some concern about right seat rudder pedals
(also
fixable). I won't be using a Vans box, as a custom fit will work better.
I prefer going constant speed and am using an MT-prop which weighs
around 30
pounds less than a fixed pitch aluminum prop. But, firewall work is the
consequence.
Any other constant speed prop projects out there?
Eric Fogelin
Elite 645
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