DLE35ra with Bowman ring low rpm and compression?
#28
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I just wanted to give a little update on what happened with the new ring. I have only put about 16oz of fuel through it today on the bench today to see how it ran with the new ring. I let it warm up a bit going up and down the range and then tuned for rpm with the same Xoar 19x8 prop, only this time instead of 7200 or so rpm's it was hitting 7600 and sometimes touching 7700. Starting it the first time today was initially somewhat difficult, I had to prime and try to start 4-5 times before it actually started, but once the first start was done every other start was within a few flips, just so easy and repeatable. At one point I shut it down and came back an hour later, primed to pop, choke off, two flips.
So whatever the deal was with the other ring I do not know. It could have had some issue, I could have installed it wrong and somehow damaged it, I am not sure. However, I do know Frank's customer service was great, and the new ring seems to be working very well. It has quite a bit of compression right now and when I turn it over slowly with the muffler off the leakage from before running to after running has already dropped considerably. I also think that it will continue to get stronger through the next gallon as the ring really starts to seat, I might not pick up 500 rpm's, but I would be shocked if it did not pick up some. So it has all worked out. As long as it is making good power and is well mannered then I am happy. Now I just need to get it up and flying actually enjoying it as it finishes breaking in!
So whatever the deal was with the other ring I do not know. It could have had some issue, I could have installed it wrong and somehow damaged it, I am not sure. However, I do know Frank's customer service was great, and the new ring seems to be working very well. It has quite a bit of compression right now and when I turn it over slowly with the muffler off the leakage from before running to after running has already dropped considerably. I also think that it will continue to get stronger through the next gallon as the ring really starts to seat, I might not pick up 500 rpm's, but I would be shocked if it did not pick up some. So it has all worked out. As long as it is making good power and is well mannered then I am happy. Now I just need to get it up and flying actually enjoying it as it finishes breaking in!
#31
Well its its a pity , he will not ship to Australia, anybody can suggest someone else who makes quality rings?
Much appreciated.
regards,
Kalps
#32
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#33
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Glenn, I tend to agree. While the Bowman ring is a great product and my first choice when replacement is necessary, I don't rush out and install a Bowman ring in every new engine I have just for the enjoyment of doing it. The stock DLE rings in later engines are quite good for the most part and most cylinders are "round enough" for our use. Every DLE I have looked at or had any experience in the last several years had a ring that was quite acceptable as provided and installed by DLE. They provide good compression and power output with minimal run time, not at all like the early rock hard and seldom round DLE rings / cylinders were. I prefer to use the stock ring until proven it has a problem. Perhaps the OP would have been better off in this case doing the same as perhaps more problems were created during the change than were prevented.
Frankly I'm not sure where the mentality came from that every DLE engine needs a new ring and the reed block resurfaced before you run the engine. Hardly a day goes by that I don't read somewhere about a guy buying a new DLE and saying "I'm going to install a Bowman ring and do the reed block mod". Just some things that make me go Hmmmmmmmmmm as I scratch my head.
Frankly I'm not sure where the mentality came from that every DLE engine needs a new ring and the reed block resurfaced before you run the engine. Hardly a day goes by that I don't read somewhere about a guy buying a new DLE and saying "I'm going to install a Bowman ring and do the reed block mod". Just some things that make me go Hmmmmmmmmmm as I scratch my head.
Tired Old CH guy.Going flying tomorrow.AMA 2500. I am a stick builder
#34
Senior Member
I just wanted to give a little update on what happened with the new ring. I have only put about 16oz of fuel through it today on the bench today to see how it ran with the new ring. I let it warm up a bit going up and down the range and then tuned for rpm with the same Xoar 19x8 prop, only this time instead of 7200 or so rpm's it was hitting 7600 and sometimes touching 7700. Starting it the first time today was initially somewhat difficult, I had to prime and try to start 4-5 times before it actually started, but once the first start was done every other start was within a few flips, just so easy and repeatable. At one point I shut it down and came back an hour later, primed to pop, choke off, two flips.
So whatever the deal was with the other ring I do not know. It could have had some issue, I could have installed it wrong and somehow damaged it, I am not sure. However, I do know Frank's customer service was great, and the new ring seems to be working very well. It has quite a bit of compression right now and when I turn it over slowly with the muffler off the leakage from before running to after running has already dropped considerably. I also think that it will continue to get stronger through the next gallon as the ring really starts to seat, I might not pick up 500 rpm's, but I would be shocked if it did not pick up some. So it has all worked out. As long as it is making good power and is well mannered then I am happy. Now I just need to get it up and flying actually enjoying it as it finishes breaking in!
So whatever the deal was with the other ring I do not know. It could have had some issue, I could have installed it wrong and somehow damaged it, I am not sure. However, I do know Frank's customer service was great, and the new ring seems to be working very well. It has quite a bit of compression right now and when I turn it over slowly with the muffler off the leakage from before running to after running has already dropped considerably. I also think that it will continue to get stronger through the next gallon as the ring really starts to seat, I might not pick up 500 rpm's, but I would be shocked if it did not pick up some. So it has all worked out. As long as it is making good power and is well mannered then I am happy. Now I just need to get it up and flying actually enjoying it as it finishes breaking in!
Trying to get 8000+ on these props and on mufflers is optimistic. The 19-8 might get there on a piped set-up.