Hi everyone,

I fixed the engine. It was an air leak at the phenolic block. Sanding did not fix it. I had to buy a new block. The recess where the thick black seal sits can not be sanded flat. A mill could be used, but if I had access to one I would make a new block.

My opinion is that the dark red/brown block is a poor design made from the wrong material. 3W apparently knows this, since the new engines come with a redesigned block made from what appears to be G-10. The replacement blocks are still made from the dark material.

Warning to all, this failure happened over only a few flights. Due to the block design this failure will eventually happen to all of these engines.

If anyone wants to make a redesigned block made of a better material, I be first in line to buy it.

Thanks to all for the help.

Cliff