My first impression of the Zenoah G23 gas engine was
that it seemed a bit heavy for its size. I would later
realize that this is a non issue for this aircraft. I did
notice the craftsmanship on this engine is top notch.
(Note: by the time you read this review, Zenoah will be
replacing the G23 with the new and more powerful G26.
This engine promises to produce a minimum of 20%
more power.)
The G23 came with the new direct throttle linkage. You
no longer have to install a bell crank to get to the
throttle. Setting up the throttle was just as simple as a
glow engine.
The G23 uses a magneto system for ignition rather than
an external electronic ignition. There are several
advantages to this design. The engine does not require
a separate battery to operate and there are no extra
cables or boxes to mount.
The only modification that I had to make on this engine
as to drill and tap the muffler for a smoke inlet fitting.
Once we got to the field I was planning on running the engine to break it in. I fueled up the Taylorcraft
with regular unleaded gasoline mixed 32:1 with Zenoah engine oil. I was very pleased to see that the
G23 started right away. I noticed that the transition was not that great and it was lacking on power at
full open throttle. I made a couple quick adjustments to the carburetor high and low settings and I had
it purring like a kitten in no time. I used a Master Airscrew 16x8 wood prop for the initial break in
flights. After the first tank I wanted to fly the plane and finish the break in while in flight.
NEW DIRECT THROTTLE LINK
SIMPLIFIES THROTTLE LINKAGE
INSTALLATION
ZENOAH
ENGINE
MANUAL
PDF FILE
Overall I was very impressed with the G23 and the amount of power that it produces. It was easy to
install and very easy to start. This is one very reliable gas engine!
F L I G H T R E P O R T
The day of the ìTest Flightî has come. Fall in
New England does not present as many nice
flying days as the spring and summer. Not only
is the weather getting colder, but there is always
a greater chance for wind. This day was no
exception. While we did luck out with a warm
day, the winds were steady at 15-20 mph with
gusts over 25. Not exactly the ideal conditions
for a high wing plane ñ or so I thought!
TAYLORCRAFT READY FOR FLIGHT
TESTING THE SMOKE SYSTEM
