Hirth F23 On Gyro Yet

[Gyro jeff]

Will I be The First maybe ? looks like project to me

 

[MikeBoyette]

Well no experience with that particular model however, plenty with other models including the fuel injected four cylinder.

I joke that the English translation of the German word Hirth is McCullough. They are for sure a German cousin to a Mac.

Ok design but quality in the past was lacking. We ordered replacement parts like a new cylinder and it wouldn't bolt up. The castings left a whole lot to be desired. Small spark plugs that blew out of the cylinder head.

They for the most part ran strong and plenty of power just not of a long period. A very good friend of mine had a four cylinder. Since day one it shook itself almost to pieces. He was told to put a clutch on it by the rep. It kept eating clutches every few hours. Finally when it just ran out of warranty the rep told him well it sounds like a bent crank. Then wanted to charge him full price for a crank bent from day one.

My friend convinced him probably not a good idea to make him an enemy as we and he held great influence in the gyro world. It was decided to split the cost. It ran good after that until it didn't in another 25 hours. He sold it and built a new machine with a Subaru. He flew that for 20 years. Sold it last year new owner hit power lines with it. He totaled it but survived.

 

[GyroChuck]

Your not the first. One of our club members has the F23 on his Nano gyro.

 

[sparxfly]

I fly a Fusioncopter Nano with the F23 engine.
Plenty of power for the very light US Part 103 compliant machine.
Easy to start, runs sweet, but I have only done 30 hours in it so far.

 

[Gyro jeff]

Well no experience with that particular model however, plenty with other models including the fuel injected four cylinder.

I joke that the English translation of the German word Hirth is McCullough. They are for sure a German cousin to a Mac.

Ok design but quality in the past was lacking. We ordered replacement parts like a new cylinder and it wouldn't bolt up. The castings left a whole lot to be desired. Small spark plugs that blew out of the cylinder head.

They for the most part ran strong and plenty of power just not of a long period. A very good friend of mine had a four cylinder. Since day one it shook itself almost to pieces. He was told to put a clutch on it by the rep. It kept eating clutches every few hours. Finally when it just ran out of warranty the rep told him well it sounds like a bent crank. Then wanted to charge him full price for a crank bent from day one.

My friend convinced him probably not a good idea to make him an enemy as we and he held great influence in the gyro world. It was decided to split the cost. It ran good after that until it didn't in another 25 hours. He sold it and built a new machine with a Subaru. He flew that for 20 years. Sold it last year new owner hit power lines with it. He totaled it but survived.

will work with what have for now look like next year before this piece hits the air the more i shred the more find wrong and try to update and save weight

 

[MikeBoyette]

will work with what have for now look like next year before this piece hits the air the more i shred the more find wrong and try to update and save weight

I wish you luck. I do have one friend whom has had pretty good service out of his on his Dominator. Dave McCutchen has only had to rebuild his one time I think.

 

[JEFF TIPTON]

Actually, the only problem David has had with his Hirth has been a gearbox rebuild due to it being operated previously without oil in the gearbox. He is rebuilding his carburetors to lower his temperatures in the mid-range at this time. I believe he has around three-hundred fifty hours on the engine.

 

[MikeBoyette]

Actually, the only problem David has had with his Hirth has been a gearbox rebuild due to it being operated previously without oil in the gearbox. He is rebuilding his carburetors to lower his temperatures in the mid-range at this time. I believe he has around three-hundred fifty hours on the engine.

Jeff I recall him having to leave Mentone to go to Illinois to get a cylinder or two from Matt at Rec Power?

 

[GyroChuck]

Jeff I recall him having to leave Mentone to go to Illinois to get a cylinder or two from Matt at Rec Power?

Mike, I think you meant located at Tiffin, Ohio

 

[MikeBoyette]

Mike, I think you meant located at Tiffin, Ohio

I stand corrected sir. I thought it was Illinois. I knew it somewhere within a few hour drive from Mentone.

 

[JEFF TIPTON]

Yes he did. The head had a stripped sparkplug hole. Not really a fault of the engine. You really need a good torque wrench when working on theses engines. Spark plug's are only sixty-pound inches.

 

[GyroChuck]

Mike you reminded of the only location for Hirth service. When my Hirth needed service I had a 5 1/2 hr drive to Ohio. If I had a Rotax there are 3 service locations within a hour to hour and a half drive from me. I would say Rotax has a better service network in place.

 

[sparxfly]

Yes he did. The head had a stripped sparkplug hole. Not really a fault of the engine. You really need a good torque wrench when working on theses engines. Spark plug's are only sixty-pound inches.

My F23 manual specs 108in.lb for the plugs...
Important with those small diameter plugs not to cross-thread them- a bit of assembly lube and just fingers to screw them home before using the torque wrench.

 

[Sv.grainne]

But torque applied only after plugs have been screwed in and are finger tight.

 

[rancherman]

one tidbit on aluminum heads- never remove the sparkplugs when hot.

 

[scottessex]

My old Hirth popped a spark plug out and left me in a hayfield.
I liked the simple design of the engine, had plenty of power. but yes the quality control was lacking at that time, plus only one place to get parts in the U.S.