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06-02-2014, 07:08 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 38
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Vacuum system woes, Thoughts needed
Well my 6 project is flying after a rebuild of the O-360 engine. 15 hours and the engine is breaking in nicely. We cleaned the vacuum pump and it worked OK for about 10 hours. The vac started going down to about 2 at cruise and on last flight finally quit altogether. My panel is traditional 6 pack and both AI and DG are making noise. I suspect both need OH. At this point I'm thinking of scraping the entire system and installing a dynon D6, D10 or may just put in a D1. I would really appreciate the thoughts of others.
Thanks!!!
Don
__________________
Don Thompson
Tallahassee, FL
Hangar D-3 Quincy, FL (2J9)
N726DT RV 6 Flying
N4493J '67 Cherokee 140 sold
N2120J '78 Warrior II owned twice, sold twice
2017 Dues Paid
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06-02-2014, 08:14 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Garden City, Tx
Posts: 5,145
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Dump the vacuum pump and put in a standby alternator, and go all-electric!
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Greg Niehues - SEL, IFR, Repairman Cert.
Garden City, TX VAF 2020 dues paid 
N16GN flying 700 hrs and counting; IO360, SDS, WWRV200, Dynon HDX, 430W
Built an off-plan RV9A with too much fuel and too much HP. Should drop dead any minute now.
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06-02-2014, 08:26 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: 8I3
Posts: 3,564
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I have been very happy with the Trutrak Gemini ADI as a horizon/DG replacement. Cheaper than the D1 and doesn't look like an afterthought.
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Please don't PM me! Email only!
Bob Japundza CFI A&PIA
N9187P PA-24-260B Comanche, flying
N678X F1 Rocket, under const.
N244BJ RV-6 "victim of SNF tornado" 1200+ hrs, rebuilding
N8155F C150 flying
N7925P PA-24-250 Comanche, restoring
Not a thing I own is stock.
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06-02-2014, 08:38 AM
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Senior Curmudgeon
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Dayton Airpark, NV A34
Posts: 15,420
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Dump the pump 
__________________
Mike Starkey
VAF 909
Rv-10, N210LM.
Flying as of 12/4/2010
Phase 1 done, 2/4/2011 
Sold after 240+ wonderful hours of flight.
"Flying the airplane is more important than radioing your plight to a person on the ground incapable of understanding or doing anything about it."
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06-02-2014, 09:32 AM
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been here awhile
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: North Alabama
Posts: 4,301
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Apexeon
Well my 6 project is flying after a rebuild of the O-360 engine. 15 hours and the engine is breaking in nicely. We cleaned the vacuum pump and it worked OK for about 10 hours. The vac started going down to about 2 at cruise and on last flight finally quit altogether. My panel is traditional 6 pack and both AI and DG are making noise. I suspect both need OH. At this point I'm thinking of scraping the entire system and installing a dynon D6, D10 or may just put in a D1. I would really appreciate the thoughts of others.
Thanks!!!
Don
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Don, I think you (and your dead vacuum system) have answered your question. It was just a matter of time.
There are several good options for replacing the vacuum devices. The D6 will provide the "basic vacuum" info or a D10/magnetometer will do the same and much more (TAS, DA, winds, accurate heading). Whatever you choose you will quickly adapt....and wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
Add a couple of servos to the D10 and you have a very capable autopilot.
Last edited by Sam Buchanan : 06-02-2014 at 09:35 AM.
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06-02-2014, 05:11 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Prescott, AZ
Posts: 1,614
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If on a budget, order the Grand Rapids Mini. It will replace everything in the six pack. Sell the leftovers to a Cessna driver on Barnstormers. You will come out ahead...
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06-02-2014, 05:24 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Rochester NY
Posts: 669
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Quote:
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...We cleaned the vacuum pump and it worked OK for about 10 hours. The vac started going down to about 2 at cruise and on last flight finally quit altogether....both AI and DG are making noise....
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Sure does sound like you could have pump and / or instrument problems - it could be quite a chase to get them all working as they should.
I have a friend with a 7 who has had very good results with Dynon - I have had very good support and results with TruTrak. Tough choice - both are excellent.
For the longest time we ran vac AI / DG and electric TB (or TC) for IFR redundancy in certified aircraft. These days, you can get a pretty good AHRS backup on the iPad (with the new Stratus - I'm sure competitor products also work well). I've flown my 7A with the Stratus display to see if there was a reasonable shot at getting out of the clag with just that - and, frankly, it works pretty well. So, the redundancy issue is gone in my mind, and the simplest resolution for you might well be the Dynon / TruTrack solution. It's probably what I'd do.
Dan
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RV7A (N7101) - Flying 10/2008
CFI- SE/ME/Inst
A&P
KC2ZEL
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06-03-2014, 04:08 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,082
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Vacuum pumps are designed to fail so why use one when there are so many electronic solutions out there. Three vacuum pump failures within a five year period (club airplanes) with the last one occuring on a climbing turn missed approach convinced me a long time ago that I will never install one of these dangerous instruments in my own plane.
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Mike
JAMES AIRCRAFT.com
Flying - RV8 Hot Rod "Drone Killer"
Flying - RV8 "Look'n Good"
RV4 - FAST & FUN! Rebuilt, Flown, Sold
RV-7A Built, Flown, Sold
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06-03-2014, 10:54 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 878
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I've got a new overhaul 211CC (I think it is) with about 10 hours on it. I'll give you a good price :-)
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RV-8 IO-360 (Bought)
RV-6 O-360 C/S (Sold)
Walkman aka Flame Out
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06-08-2014, 12:25 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 38
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Update
First of all, thanks to all of you who offered a suggestion. After taking the old pump apart we found that the vanes were all gummed up. We think that some solvent (mineral spirits) found its way into the pump during an engine cleaning after the first oil change. After cleaning and drying out the pump and adjusting the regulator, everything is back to normal.
At this point I'm going to stick with the old vacuum system until there is another major problem. Since I just spent $$$ on an engine overhaul, I just can't justify pulling a working system just for the sake of change. Thanks also to those of you who made suggestions of other units besides Dynon. I will look at all options when the time comes.
dt
__________________
Don Thompson
Tallahassee, FL
Hangar D-3 Quincy, FL (2J9)
N726DT RV 6 Flying
N4493J '67 Cherokee 140 sold
N2120J '78 Warrior II owned twice, sold twice
2017 Dues Paid
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