Just completed TOH on my Zodiac with 3300 Jaburi. Actually, this is 2nd toh. Did an early service to correct stuck rings cause by Bing carb & poor oiling system. Corrected with throttle body carb with mixture control.

Recent service was due to burned exhaust valve. Added double ring kit, too. Run in numbers are great.

Anyone changed their rear wing mount plates to reduce drag in cruise?

???Please report your experience with the Prince propeller on a Zodiac 601XLB with the Jabiru 3300 Engine.  It would be nice to hear your Static, climb and cruise numbers.  Knowing how the CHT & EGT temps are affected would be helpful. Fuel burn and other engine info please.??? 

I been reading about the P-tip carbon fiber coning prop by Prince.  58x48 are the dimension that they recommend for my A/C.  My Current prop split on the tip and I am about to buy a new prop. 

Recently, We replaced the Bing Carby w/ a Rotec's 40 TBI to my Jabiru 3300.  Here the results: (After 25 hours running)  Still using same throttle system and air box system.   

1. Now can reach 2850 rpm in static run-up.

2. Shorter lift off distance.

3. Fuel burn @ cruise 5gph.

4. EGTs closer.  CHTs cooler.

5. Able to control mixture.

6. Very easy Starts.

7. Only use electric fuel pump for first start of day w/ primer once.

8. Climb…

(690 Hours total time.)

(The following is my opinion) ...

I bought it, I built it, I maintain it and I…

Just completed test flights after top overhaul.  High flow valve lifters with improved upper oiling system was a easy but expensive change to our a/c.  New piston were added as well. 

Reinstalling connecting rods went very smooth and neat.  Cylinders were reused and new through bolts were installed, too.  Cylinders and pistons mounted together like…

March 2013, 675 hours, Low compression, blow by @ rings & two leaking intake valves.  Major issue is with baked carbine on pistons, stuck rings and oil starvation @ top of heads.  New pistons and new hallow rod & valve system assem.  Need control of mixture so we are going with Rotec TBI, dropping Bing.  Will…

Are any Zenith owners w/ Jabiru 3300 using this Throttle body fuel system?  If so, please update us about the product. 

I am thinking about retiring the Bing Carby.  Thank You, Mark

N200BE has been a good 601XL.  It is a better 601XL-B.  "Betty" has been safe, reliable & fun.  This a/c has been to Oshkosh, Mount Rushmore & more.  Four things I would change about the last five years of flying this Zodiac. 

First, tuning the Bing carby was very difficult.  After several experiments the best adjustment was to put a divider in the intake tube ahead of the carby.  The result of not tuning the carby sooner required me to put new rings on the odd side of the…

As I reported last January, N200BE was struck from the rear by a biplane during rollout after landing.  As you can see the tail of the Zodiac was chewed off by the biplane's prop.  You can read all about the accident on the FAA's accident website (01/29/2011).  What I wish to report is that as of 16 May, the little silver 601XL-B is airworthy again.   Thanks to Hampton Aviation in Mena, Arkanas, the tail of N200BE has been repaired.…

Photo of damaged tail section ready for trailering.  Prop ate rudder & elevator to the hinges and bent stabilizer.  This damaged the upper longerons at the mount points to stabilizer.  Repair is estimated to take five weeks.   

Next photo of a/c w/ wings removed for trailering.  Look closely at tail to see that it is gone.…

A beautiful day to fly, and then...

01/29/2011

On RWY36 at KBRL, 30yards from taxiway A2, a Cummingham Model 1 biplane struck the rear of my 601XL-B during landing and roll out.  The PIC of the biplane came straight in one hour before dark on a ferry flight.  The biplane was w/o radio and lights.  After entering the pattern, calling my positions &…

This would be an ideal time of year to hear from the Zenith forums & bloggers about their tried and true ways to preheat their aircraft. Please posts your ideas and share how you get her warmed up for Winter flight.

On my 500 hour 601XL-B, I use an electric automotive oil pan heat pad (45 mins.) and I also use the electric small milkhouse heater (45 mins.) (the one posted on the Jabiru site). I put a flexible metal tube on the heater and…

After aprox. 70 hours and $600.00, we "Got-r-Done". Thanks to my friends and Brother Bo we are back in the air. We were short A5 rivets, too. Another Zodiac builder came up with rivets over the weekend to keep us popping w/o a break in the action. I bought the angle drill attachemnt this blog recommended and we installed new Sonex rubber bushings on the Jabiru engine mount. Got a local tow truck operator to haul for us this time.

As for the upgrade, our a/c had no signs of wear or…