New Motor for the Phoenix

...installed and tested!

The Turnigy 2217 motor has been installed and test flown and all's well, having failed to make a note of it in my excitement to get the Phoenix 1600 up and running.



The Turnigy 2217 motor is the same size (28mm) and has the same shaft diameter (3.175mm) so installation is easy, except for two mounting holes in the Phoenix fuselage requiring slotting to match the motor mounting plate.

The motor mount is just a cross-piece without any backing plates, unlike the plywood mounts provided on the Phoenix's stock setup. Also, the mounting screws were tiny - undersized even for mounting only through the  Phoenix's moulded fuselage, so I used some slightly longer screws to ensure sufficient engagement - I really don't want the motor coming loose during a flight...

Apart from that the motor works well - it pulls strongly and is quiet even at full throttle which is nice for a glider...

Motor Shaft Fixed

...and the Walrus flies again

I wasn't too sure of fixing the Walrus motor, although I had read that replacing bent shafts appeared to be common enough, so re-securing the shaft in the motor shouldn't be too hard. However The circlip really didn't inspire too much confidence.

As it turned out I couldn't get an 3mm external circlip anyway, but what I did get I think is better, although it required a little modification to the motor mount. The external locking ring has almost full engagement around the shaft and I really can't see that coming loose, unlike the sad little circlip (which I found hiding in the fuselage).

The only problem is the outer diameter (10mm) is much larger than the circlip, so the hole in the bulkhead had to be increased from the original 8mm to about 12mm, which I did with a round file.

Having re-assembled the motor and done a brief power test (happily the prop didn't fly off) I checked the weather then dashed off to the field with the Walrus for a fly before the rain came returned...