Ryan,
I was looking at great planes site today. They seem a bit heavy
though. I would sure appreciate any advice you may have. I was
thinking the smaller one with a reduction. I would really like to use
the prop I had made for the P60. It rotates clockwise from the pilots
point of view. I suppose if I had to have a new one made I would. I
was looking at the Aero twin. Vertex from the Czech republic--pricey
though. I really liked
www.rotaryae.com but after talking to them it
was around 12K, too much money for me. Maybe I need to get over my 2
stroke paranoia. I was also talking to J-bird....but that is a two
stroke motor cycle engine. Your's was a VW wasn't it? Which one? How
is the mount for a VW? I finally have a hanger. I moved the airplane
to it the saturday after Christmas, no simple task, but it went well.
It's kind of a small milestone, after the engine milestone being
nuked. There is a multi year waiting list for hangers at my local
airport....which happens to be across the street from where I work (S-
Tec has a hanger there also). I'm still kind of really annoyed over
the P60 ordeal.
Thanks,
DAve R.
N4YQ
--- In
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, 'Ryan' <rryan@...> wrote:
>
> Dave,
>
> I would like to remind you that a 4 cylinder VW engine makes the Q1
> a great performing aircraft. It is not as perfect a fit as the
503cc
> Rotax, however it is trustworthy and has 4 stroke reliability.
>
> Yes there are other engines to choose from but how many have a
> proven track record.
>
> Except for price the 4 cyl Jabiru would be a good choice.
>
> Ryan
>
>
> --- In
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, 'davedrosen' <d2r@> wrote:
> >
> > All,
> > As many of you may know, I have been building a Q1 with the
intent
> of
> > installing a Hexatron Engineering Inc., Hexadyne P60 four stroke
> > engine. I am writing this now to warn others to stay away from
> > Hexatron Engineering and their engine. I have been working with
Cy
> > Williams (Hexatron President) for years now. When I first saw the
> > engine, it was advertised in Aircraft Spruce and Specialty--
> leading
> > me to believe it was currently available (note that AS&S no
longer
> > deals in engines at all). At the time Cy sent me a mock engine
(no
> > pistons, crank etc) so I could build my cowling. I had a custom
> made
> > motor mount, constructed by Hexatron Engineering. I had to
> purchase
> > it and several other items to mount the mock engine. I built my
> > cowling and returned the mock engine (others needed it--I was
> told).
> > This all made me think that the engine was real, and soon to be
in
> > full production. As time went on, the engine was having oil
> scavenge
> > problems, causing delays in the production engines. This was
about
> > two and a half years ago. Working in Aviation R&D I had somewhat
> of a
> > tolerance for taking a product to production. I was assured that
> the
> > problem was solved and needed flight test only. I ordered an
> engine
> > and put down a large deposit. I had a business trip to Brazil and
> > expected my engine to be here when I returned. Well, no engine.
It
> > seemed that Cy was avoiding my calls. I finally talked to him and
> was
> > told he was in final test and everything looked good. Cy sent me
a
> > new oil tank and cooler with larger fittings, Still no engine
> though.
> > As time passed, and two weeks, after two weeks occurred I again
> > called Cy. Apparently he was having problems getting crankshafts
> > forged (finding a vendor to do small runs). This would be another
> > delay (on the engine that was ready before I went to Brazil), I
> was
> > assured I would be production engine two out of the factory.
Well,
> > months passed again, finally got cranks. New testing showed that
> > cranks were cracking. This was found to be due to the following:
> the
> > forged shaft is hardened then was to be ion nitrided on the
> bearing
> > races only, well the vendor ion nitrided the whole crank shaft,
> > making the counter balance portion brittle. So much for incoming
> QC.
> > Cy's answer was to machine away the hardened material (ion
> nitrided)
> > where it doesn't belong and run/test the shaft (a structural DER
> told
> > me that this was not a good thing to do, it is very difficult to
> un-
> > harden metal). Note that the first 50 production crank shafts
will
> be
> > these modified rejected crankshafts. I was assured this would be
> > solved and I would soon have my engine. two weeks...two
> weeks....two
> > years. To make a long story short, Thanksgiving I placed
> everything
> > in a box, and having not getting returned phone calls from Cy at
> > Hexatron, I shipped everything back. It seems apparent that
> Hexatron
> > Engineering is an un ethical company and will force me to fight
> for
> > my deposit back. The following is Cy's own words from one of our
> > final e-mails:
> >
> > ' You have shown remarkable patience and restraint regarding
> the
> > shipment of your engine. I understand your frustration and
> > irritation. My feelings, were I in your situation, would be
> exactly
> > the same.'
> >
> > I have since sent Hexatron Engineering a Certified letter,
> requesting
> > my deposit and refunds to be returned....no response. This shows
> the
> > ethics of Cy and Hexatron Engineering. Fortunatly the State of
> Utah
> > has good consumer laws which I will now need to learn more than I
> > care to about. That followed by legal action.
> > Sorry for the long diatribe, but I am warning others who may fall
> for
> > this rouse. I don't want someone else's dreams to be shattered
due
> to
> > an unscrupulous vendor. My Q1 is close to being done, except for
> > firewall forward. I now need to fight for my money back and find
> an
> > alternative engine.
> >
> > Lessons learned would include. Do not trust anyone who isn't
> shipping
> > engines, no matter how close they say they are to production.
> Don't
> > give a deposit.
> >
> > If anyone has had a similar experience with Hexatron Engineering
> (Cy
> > Williams) please contact me. Maybe we can consider a class action
> law
> > suit, or at least team up legally.
> >
> > If anyone is actually considering a Hexatron P60 engine, please
> feel
> > free to contact me. I can show documentation on everything I have
> > stated (and then some). I don't want others to have this terrible
> > experience.
> >
> > Dave R.
> > Q1
> > N4YQ
> > Looking for an engine and a lawyer.
> >
>