Boost performance of Solo 2350 turbo (sustainer)

Wondering if anyone has boosted the horsepower of a Solo 2350 turbo (or sustainer engine) to get better high and hot performance? If anyone has done this would like both positive and negative comments as to the work done, the results and what they did to boost engine performance.

Just a word of caution...

When I was building my Harley, I asked the head porter for 10.5 or 11.5
to 1 compression and extremely high lift, long duration camshafts. He
asked me if I planned to race the bike since, with each point increase
in compression, I'd lose 10% or more in reliability. I opted for less
performance and I'm glad I did. It's been over 100,000 miles since I
built my engine.

Small aircraft engines produce a lot of power given their displacement
and I've no doubt that increasing the power will reduce the longevity.

On 3/6/2015 12:14 AM, wrote:
Wondering if anyone has boosted the horsepower of a Solo 2350 turbo (or sustainer engine) to get better high and hot performance? If anyone has done this would like both positive and negative comments as to the work done, the results and what they did to boost engine performance.

--
Dan Marotta

I was told that Ventus CT & Ventus CM engine were thery similar.
Ignition, carbs and exhausts differed.

Nice way to have fun and flames...

On Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2:14:12 AM UTC-5, wrote:
Wondering if anyone has boosted the horsepower of a Solo 2350 turbo (or sustainer engine) to get better high and hot performance? If anyone has done this would like both positive and negative comments as to the work done, the results and what they did to boost engine performance.

Yes indeed, I have done it. It is not to INCREASE the horsepower so much as it is to RESTORE the horsepower that the 2350 was originally built to. It was de-tuned by tack welding a pair of constricting rings into the exhaust, and then reducing the jet size by one.

Mine is installed in a Discus 2cT, and as such, it is a sustainer. That means no throttle, no choke, no generator, - just the simplest get-you-home and lightest possible. If I understand correctly, the LBA required that it be able to sustain level flight, presumably in controlled airspace. With the full 28 HP it was built to, in level flight it would overspeed, which cuts off the ignition.

But using it in controlled space requires the use of headphones; a non-starter for me. I just stay out of controlled space. However, with the horsepower estored from the diminished 22 to 28, does it climb better. You better believe it.

The restrictor rings are tack welded in and very vulnerable to a Dremmel tool. Then you must remove the two jets, move the larger one in the rear (larger to overcome how much hotter it will run with already heated air from the front cylinder passing over it) and move it to the front, and then put the next larger size in the rear.

Don't mix up the covers for the pulse diaphragm that 'injects' the air/fuel; the front one should not have the hole that would make it vulnerable to the prop wash.

The result: MUCH improved climb, - perhaps 300 - 350/fpm vs. ~200. Hard to be exact as the vibration shakes the hell out of the varios.

And in ~1100 hours, there is less than 10 hours on the engine, because it is just a sustainer, and because I start it right off tow each day (because it's complicated and it starts faster if it has already run.

On Friday, March 6, 2015 at 7:55:20 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
Just a word of caution...



When I was building my Harley, I asked the head porter for 10.5 or
11.5 to 1 compression and extremely high lift, long duration
camshafts.* He asked me if I planned to race the bike since, with
each point increase in compression, I'd lose 10% or more in
reliability.* I opted for less performance and I'm glad I did.* It's
been over 100,000 miles since I built my engine.



Small aircraft engines produce a lot of power given their
displacement and I've no doubt that increasing the power will reduce
the longevity.




On 3/6/2015 12:14 AM,
wrote:



Wondering if anyone has boosted the horsepower of a Solo 2350 turbo (or sustainer engine) to get better high and hot performance? If anyone has done this would like both positive and negative comments as to the work done, the results and what they did to boost engine performance.





--

Dan Marotta

If you lose 10% reliability in a Harley, it's pretty much all gone, isn't it?

Sorry, don't know anything about the Solo engine.

I have de-restricted a Discus BT and a Discus 2cT as described below. The

climb rate definitely improves but not as much as reported - from averaging

timed climbs and post flight analysis of flight recorder data I reckon you
get
about half a knot increase to average of 2.9 knots. Its still a worthwhile

improvement but you have to be aware the regulatory and possible
insurance considerations.

John Galloway



At 23:30 06 March 2015, Charlie Papa wrote:
On Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2:14:12 AM UTC-5,
wrote:
Wondering if anyone has boosted the horsepower of a Solo 2350 turbo
(or
s=
ustainer engine) to get better high and hot performance? If anyone has
don=
e this would like both positive and negative comments as to the work
done,
=
the results and what they did to boost engine performance.

Yes indeed, I have done it. It is not to INCREASE the horsepower so much
a=
s it is to RESTORE the horsepower that the 2350 was originally built to.
I=
t was de-tuned by tack welding a pair of constricting rings into the
exhaus=
t, and then reducing the jet size by one. =20

Mine is installed in a Discus 2cT, and as such, it is a sustainer. That
me=
ans no throttle, no choke, no generator, - just the simplest get-you-home
a=
nd lightest possible. If I understand correctly, the LBA required that
it
=
be able to sustain level flight, presumably in controlled airspace. With
t=
he full 28 HP it was built to, in level flight it would overspeed, which
cu=
ts off the ignition. =20

But using it in controlled space requires the use of headphones; a
non-star=
ter for me. I just stay out of controlled space. However, with the
horsep=
ower estored from the diminished 22 to 28, does it climb better. You
bette=
r believe it.

The restrictor rings are tack welded in and very vulnerable to a Dremmel
to=
ol. Then you must remove the two jets, move the larger one in the rear
(lar=
ger to overcome how much hotter it will run with already heated air from
th=
e front cylinder passing over it) and move it to the front, and then put
th=
e next larger size in the rear. =20

Don't mix up the covers for the pulse diaphragm that 'injects' the
air/fuel=
; the front one should not have the hole that would make it vulnerable to
t=
he prop wash.

The result: MUCH improved climb, - perhaps 300 - 350/fpm vs. ~200.
Hard
to=
be exact as the vibration shakes the hell out of the varios. =20

And in ~1100 hours, there is less than 10 hours on the engine, because it
i=
s just a sustainer, and because I start it right off tow each day
(because
=
it's complicated and it starts faster if it has already run.

I guess you're right about that 10% reliability loss. I didn't consider
that.

Great laugh - thanks!

Dan

On 3/6/2015 8:34 PM, jfitch wrote:
On Friday, March 6, 2015 at 7:55:20 AM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
Just a word of caution...



When I was building my Harley, I asked the head porter for 10.5 or
11.5 to 1 compression and extremely high lift, long duration
camshafts. He asked me if I planned to race the bike since, with
each point increase in compression, I'd lose 10% or more in
reliability. I opted for less performance and I'm glad I did. It's
been over 100,000 miles since I built my engine.



Small aircraft engines produce a lot of power given their
displacement and I've no doubt that increasing the power will reduce
the longevity.




On 3/6/2015 12:14 AM,
wrote:



Wondering if anyone has boosted the horsepower of a Solo 2350 turbo (or sustainer engine) to get better high and hot performance? If anyone has done this would like both positive and negative comments as to the work done, the results and what they did to boost engine performance.





--

Dan Marotta
If you lose 10% reliability in a Harley, it's pretty much all gone, isn't it?

Sorry, don't know anything about the Solo engine.

--
Dan Marotta

Any idea if the gliders by Alexander Schleicher Asw-28 E and Asg_29 E solo 2350 engines are also similarly restricted in power?


On Friday, March 6, 2015 at 3:30:52 PM UTC-8, Charlie Papa wrote:
On Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2:14:12 AM UTC-5, wrote:
Wondering if anyone has boosted the horsepower of a Solo 2350 turbo (or sustainer engine) to get better high and hot performance? If anyone has done this would like both positive and negative comments as to the work done, the results and what they did to boost engine performance.

Yes indeed, I have done it. It is not to INCREASE the horsepower so much as it is to RESTORE the horsepower that the 2350 was originally built to. It was de-tuned by tack welding a pair of constricting rings into the exhaust, and then reducing the jet size by one.

Mine is installed in a Discus 2cT, and as such, it is a sustainer. That means no throttle, no choke, no generator, - just the simplest get-you-home and lightest possible. If I understand correctly, the LBA required that it be able to sustain level flight, presumably in controlled airspace. With the full 28 HP it was built to, in level flight it would overspeed, which cuts off the ignition.

But using it in controlled space requires the use of headphones; a non-starter for me. I just stay out of controlled space. However, with the horsepower estored from the diminished 22 to 28, does it climb better. You better believe it.

The restrictor rings are tack welded in and very vulnerable to a Dremmel tool. Then you must remove the two jets, move the larger one in the rear (larger to overcome how much hotter it will run with already heated air from the front cylinder passing over it) and move it to the front, and then put the next larger size in the rear.

Don't mix up the covers for the pulse diaphragm that 'injects' the air/fuel; the front one should not have the hole that would make it vulnerable to the prop wash.

The result: MUCH improved climb, - perhaps 300 - 350/fpm vs. ~200. Hard to be exact as the vibration shakes the hell out of the varios.

And in ~1100 hours, there is less than 10 hours on the engine, because it is just a sustainer, and because I start it right off tow each day (because it's complicated and it starts faster if it has already run.

According to the manuals the ASG29E has 18kW@5400rpm. The unrestricted engine has 19.6kW@5500rpm.

My experience, a few years ago is that phoning Solo got me the engine designer, with all the right answers instantly, no BS. t.e.l.e.p.h.o.n.e -- it's old technology. Involves something called "conversation."