Rotary oil pulsator,DR1

1 September 2003, 02:58 AM

Thanks to all for above ideas. Agree pulsator was more a headsup warning devise than a flight instrument. While a full glass was only mildly comforting an empty site glass really caught your attention. The pulsator I built has a funny little shut off valve on the left side to interupt oil loss if the glass broke, so I don't think it was intended for installation on the left side of cockpit. The handel would be hard to reach. Langdon I think I see what you are talking about in the photo. If there was no shut off lever, then that spot fits well. Thanks.
Hugh

Langdon · 1 September 2003, 11:37 AM

Hugh,

I have an original German pulsator and its shut off valve is perfectly located to be fitted on the left hand side of the cockpit as the handle would face the pilot. I certainly would not operate a rotary without one.

Langdon

baldeagle · 2 September 2003, 01:17 PM

On most of the rotary engined aircraft that I've been around the pulsator wouldn't work. At Kermit Weeks his Pup with 80 LeRhone was always sucking the pulsator empty, and the Avro with twin Monosoupape pulsators would hold the level, but if it pulsated it wasn't much. Cole Palen used to say that as long as you could see oil streaks forming on the lower wing roots you were OK. Maybe that was the theory on the Triplanes.