RV-10 start

[Pat Stewart]

Since my 10 was finished I have had the same finicky start issue. When I first engage the ignition the engine barely turns over and stops as if the battery were dead. I then try again and it usually repeats once or twice more until finally it spins the prop and starts normally.

Any ideas.

Pat

[Ironflight]

Are you using a Starter Solenoid on teh firewall? If so, it is possible that is the culprite (even a new one, if you twisted the contacts during istallation - I just learned that!). Try jumping around the solenoid (with a big jumper wire) and see if it cranks any better - this is just one thing that could cause this behavior.

[jchang10]

That was my experience with the LS starter that comes with the factory engine. I got tired of the embarassment of false starts and upgraded to the NL which has more torque.

Before even touching the starter i tried to get a replacement NL but was told once Lycoming bolted it to the engine, they considered it used. Early builders were able to jump on Skytec to get free replacements, but i had to pay the difference.

Jae

[BobTurner]

Just for info, in 2010, prior to any use, Lycoming (not Skytec) swapped starters for me, for free. I have heard that they may not do that now.

[Kahuna]

Originally Posted by Pat Stewart

finally it spins the prop and starts normally.

Pat

Pat just to confirm what your saying, it does at some point crank at normal speeds? Or is it that it eventually gets up enough flywheel effect to turnover slowly, but enough to get it started?
If its the latter it could be an undersized supply wire.

[Pat Stewart]

Originally Posted by Kahuna

Pat just to confirm what your saying, it does at some point crank at normal speeds? Or is it that it eventually gets up enough flywheel effect to turnover slowly, but enough to get it started?
If its the latter it could be an undersized supply wire.

It's almost as if its on the compression stroke and just not enough torque to turn over until after it gets through it and then it spins up as normal. Just guessing but that's what I am thinking.

Pat

[AaronG]

With the Vans firewall forward kit, and a larger battery than specified, I had the same problem with the LS starter. Swapped for the NL (skytec had a charge, but it was only a fraction of a new starter with the trade-in.). Problem went away. My understanding is that all new engines for the 10 now come with the larger starter.

Aaron

[rleffler]

Originally Posted by BobTurner

Just for info, in 2010, prior to any use, Lycoming (not Skytec) swapped starters for me, for free. I have heard that they may not do that now.

They told me I was the last free swap by skytec about a year ago.

[Wayne Gillispie]

and mine starts great even in 20F temps. If you have a #2 ga feed from PC925 battery, a good solenoid, good connections and a good ground back to battery it will turn over as fast or faster than an NL on a normal 8.5 compression 540.

Since you said it has been doing it since new, I would check and clean all connections from one end to the other. Did you sand the paint off of 6 ea mounting areas of your engine mount then apply dielectric grease before installing mount? Same on ground straps from engine to mount?

A quick way to check your airframe ground is to run 16' jumper cable from neg terminal at battery to engine. Leave existing ground connected at battery too. If it starts good you know where to continue troubleshooting.

[Strasnuts]

Sounds like connection problems or too small gauge wire.

I used perihelion design battery cables. Copper clad aluminum, 45% lighter than the weight of 2 gauge, strong starts.