AD on carb floats

[Jetguy]

Originally Posted by tomkk

The Rotax SB says: "... Only certified technicians (iRMT-Level: Line Maintenance) are qualified to work on these engines ..."

My understanding is that, as builders of an Experimental, we meet this qualification by definition. Is that correct or am I wrong?

You are correct!

[Ex Bonanza Bucko]

Does anyone have a handle on when Rotax will deliver enough new carb floats to meet demand? Lockwood has been on backorder for a very long time and there seems to be no real info about when that will change.

I also read here that the new floats are exactly the same as the old ones but that Ducati had "tested" them three times instead of the two times previously. Do you know anything about that?

Thanks,
EBB

[Top Cat]

EBB,

I received my "new floats" a couple of weeks ago and will be installing them this coming week. They appear to be exactly like the "old floats" except for two tiny round dents to identify them.
They cost about $35 more than the previous ones but as you said, as far as I know, they've just been tested more. As in quality control. I've sent Lockwood the four floats, which failed, that came with the airplane along with the refund form. They said it'll be a while before they're processed as Rotax does it in batches.

As soon as the "new floats" are installed I'll send the ones we remove in for refund too.

I'll also be installing the new carb springs this week. I've sent the form and invoice from Vans in to McFarland for refund/credit for those too.

I got on the list at Lockwood a while back and they sent them to me when they came in about 2 weeks later.

[Charlie12]

FYI here's a relatively current status on the floats. I was at Lockwood in mid April for the Rotax service course. They had no floats in stock and did not know when they would get more, but were hopeful it would be soon. I got on the wait list for floats on 3/6/15 and they verified that I am now near the top of the list. Fingers crossed and waiting......

[Dave12]

I have access to a set of new floats that are on a 912/80hp that is about 10 years old. does anyone know if they are the same part? I have not removed them pending a call to Lockwood on the subject. My floats have been on order since March also.

[ben barron]

I just got off the phone with California Power and they tell me they just spoke to Rotax and they have rescinded on a notice to ship floats out on 5-12-15 stating there is a manufacturing issue and no new shipping date is available.

[Ex Bonanza Bucko]

This has been going on for so long that I am beginning to suspect another motive in the delays. It will drive some of the partisans here nuts but I think one should consider that a corporate bean counter would find a delay in shipping new floats as a really nice way to slow down outlays of warranty payments.

EBB :-(

[aerofurb]

EBB are you so untrusting and unhappy in all walks of your life or do you save it up for here....?

Just asking

[Ex Bonanza Bucko]

Dear Aerofurb:
Well....it certainly seems that it's time for some pointed questions to be asked. BTW I am supremely happy in most things....but not about a "mandatory" SB (as opposed to an AD that would be "mandatory and which would put enough heat on Rotax to get them more interested) that is now 7 months old.

I guess since you are a "furb" you must spend at least part of your time fixing carb floats and other such stuff.

One of the things I'm happy about right now is sitting on a beautiful Mexican beach watching the sun start to set while I drink a Margarita:-)

All the best,
EBB

[Top Cat]

EBB,

What kind of 'floats' do you have in that margarita!?

Cheers!