Continental 0-240B

[rognal]

Hi Cris,

I only know of two Rebels with the IO-240B. Mine and Steve Sloan's. I don't
know if Steve still monitors this site. Some others on this site may know
more about his Rebel, but I think it started out as the lightweight Rebel
(Canadian UL?) with some standard Rebel mods to beef it up. He also cleaned
it up with a lot of custom made fairings, gap seals, etc. and ended up with
one of the fastest Rebels around. At one time he had his performance specs
listed in the archives. I don't know if they are still there. I think he
has it on floats now.

I am happy with the IO-240B. I bought it new and have had no problems with
it. There have been no AD's on it in the five years I have owned it. It
starts easily when cold. Hot starts require a little more finesse with the
priming pump and mixture control, as well as longer cranking.

This engine has an engine mounted fuel pump but the engine requires an
additional electric fuel boost pump making 15 psi to prime the engine for
starting. It also requires a fuel vapor return line to the fuel tank. These
are things that, while not difficult, did require 'extra engineering' on my
part to figure out how to install, route, wire, etc. In addition I had to
make my own engine baffles since none were available commercially.

Would I recommend this engine for the Rebel? I think it depends on the
'mission' you have for your airplane. My mission was simply to travel by
air. I wanted an airplane/engine/prop that would give me at least 100 mph
TAS at 75% power. I didn't want the extra weight or fuel burn of a bigger
engine. I didn't need to go faster. I wasn't planning to install floats,
nor did I intend to fly into and out of high mountain, short field
airstrips. I expected to do most of my flying without a passenger and I
wanted to be able to carry a reasonable amount of camping gear without
having to reduce my fuel load.

With this engine and a wood Sensenich 74X54 prop I'm seeing 100 mph TAS at
2350 RPM burning 5 gph average. So I'm happy with that. On a cool day with
just me and a light fuel load I've seen 950 fpm climb. Nothing to write
home about.

On the down side, I have flown into a couple remote airstrips to get some
idea how this Rebel will handle the effects of high density altitude. I'm
wondering now if I should have gone with higher horsepower 'cause I'm kinda
enjoying back country flying. Also, to my knowledge, I can't hand prop this
engine because it is fuel injected, which could be an issue if I ever had a
dead battery in the wilderness.

So anyway, for the type of flying I originally intended I think the engine
is working well.

Roger Hoffman
Eugene, OR USA!







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[bransom]

Chris
This is indirect, but thought I'd relate it anyway. I talked with Steve
Sloan a couple years ago at the EAA Arlington show. Of course I was trying
to absorb anything and everything I could. We touched on engines of course
and he said starting from zero, an 0320 Rebel would be his preference. I
believe he went with the IO-240 either because he had a deal on it or a
deal on the UL version of the Rebel. (So yes, his plane at least started
out as a 1320 gross Rebel.) One of the other big factors that makes his
plane perform so well is his own implementation of variable pitch prop(!).
Yes, he's a clever guy. Anyway, I recall his putting it rather simply
that he just thought the more power 0320 on a full Rebel would be the best
way to go. For my $.02, one can get good gas mileage even from a properly
configured 0320 and going a little slower, and then you also have the ummph
when desired. O course an 0240 could deliver even slightly better gas milage.

Well, that's all the gossip I know -- maybe you can get info from Steve
directly, or maybe Richard VanderWeken since they are friends there at
Arlington (and Richard was on the list here recently).
-Ben/ R496

On 8/13/2008 4:10 AM, cristucker@webtv.net wrote to rebel-builders:

Roger Hoffman and other Builders,
Rebel #719 is ready for an engine. Would you share your opinion and

experience with your new Cont 0-240B. Does the fuel injection work well and
would you recommend this engine to another Rebel Builder?
Thanks, Cris Tucker



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