Irvine 46 engine sprays fuel from front bearing

by Robert
(Fife, Scotland)

I have an Irvine 46 2 stroke angine. I got it from a friend who wrote off his plane. The engine looks like new. I notice that when I put it on full throttle there is a continuous spray of fuel coming from between the front of the engine and the prop.

I have had several 2 stroke engines and never seen fuel leaking from here on them. I have only had 3 flights with this engine all have lasted for less than 3 minutes and all have ended up with the engine cutting out from about 3/4 throttle.

Can this fuel leaking cause the engine to cut out like this?

I have checked around the internet and found many people praising this Irvine 46 engine, so have I just got a bad one?

Or is it likely that the front bearing could be damaged and causing this excessive leak?

Comments for
Irvine 46 engine sprays fuel from front bearing

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Mar 06, 2010
Rating

Bent shaft?
by: Michael from Oz

G'day Your Irvine engine is a quality engine. It should not leak like this.

Decent engines like the Irvine rely on the fit of the crank shaft in the crank case to provide most of the seal. The "shield" in the front bearing is more to stop stuff getting in then out.

Could it be that the crash has done some damage to the shaft or to the bearing so that something no longer lines up properly leading to the leak? I think your engine needs a visit to someone who really knows these engines.

If the bearing is damaged the shaft may no longer be running true and if the shaft is bent this could also be a problem.

Difficult to diagnose by blind remote control.

Have fun.

Mike

Mar 05, 2010
Rating

It's critial to have a seal on the crank case in order to draw fuel properly...
by: Matt

Hi Robert,

Personally, I've never seen an engine spraying fuel from the front bearing either. It must be a bad seal in the bearing.

If there is not a good seal between the shaft and housing you will loose that negative pressure in the crank case that pulls fuel from the tank.

I would see about ordering a new bearing. I think the seal is part of the bearing on most engines. Better double check though, not sure about our engine.

But this is definitely the problem. The crank case needs to be sealed.

Matt