VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics


Go Back   VAF Forums > RV Firewall Forward Section > Electronic Ignition Systems
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 07-10-2013, 04:07 PM
Fred.Stucklen's Avatar
Fred.Stucklen Fred.Stucklen is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brooksville, FL
Posts: 355
Default P-Mag Gear Failure

I've been having a temp related problem with a P-Mag on/off for some time. After shutdown, and setting out in the hot sun for a while, the P-Mag would not properly restart - i.e., the left mag (P-Mag) would not run the engine during the MAG check at runup. Letting it cool, or taking of on one MAG and getting cool air on it, allowed it to run normally. I've sent the unit back to E-MAG for overhaul.
In the process of taking off the P-MAG, I noted that the gear was badley worn.

Has anyone else seen this type of wear? The gear doesn't look like the gear I have on a certified MAG (slightly different forging). I have noted very small ferrous particles in the oil filter, but nothing I would have worried about.... There was no obvious wear on the mating gear in the accessory case....
__________________
Fred Stucklen
wstucklen1@cox.net
RV-7A N924RV Flying (1825 Hrs & counting)
RV-6A N926RV 875 Hrs (Sold)
RV-6A N925RV 2008 Hrs (Sold)
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-10-2013, 04:34 PM
Brantel's Avatar
Brantel Brantel is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Newport, TN
Posts: 7,496
Default

Others have reported poor life on the older non certified mag gears sold by Emagair.

Best to replace it with a real certified one.
__________________
Brantel (Brian Chesteen),
Check out my RV-10 builder's BLOG
RV-10, #41942, N?????, Project Sold
---------------------------------------------------------------------
RV-7/TU, #72823, N159SB
Lyc. O-360 carbed, HARTZELL BA CS Prop, Dual P-MAGs, Dual Garmin G3X Touch
Track N159SB (KK4LIF)
Like EAA Chapter 1494 on Facebook
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-10-2013, 04:48 PM
mannanj's Avatar
mannanj mannanj is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Mtns of N.E. Georgia
Posts: 1,322
Default Gear

Looks to me like it wasn't surface hardened like other gears and bearing surfaces.
__________________
LAUS DEO
Mannan J.Thomason, MSGT. USAF (RET)
VAF788
"Bucket List" checkoff in progress!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-10-2013, 05:37 PM
tomhanaway tomhanaway is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 313
Default

Just checked their site. Looks like they sell the certified gear now.
__________________
Tom Hanaway
Moved to Murphy, NC
RV-10/N518TP-sold
repeat offending-8A N116TP-Now Flying
based in Copperhill, TN 1A3
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-11-2013, 04:02 PM
Fred.Stucklen's Avatar
Fred.Stucklen Fred.Stucklen is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Brooksville, FL
Posts: 355
Default P-Mag Gear Failure

I just got off the phone with Brad at E-MAG. He told me that this P-MAG had a lot of oil inside due to a failed oil seal. He preplaced that and the shaft, and overhauled the rest of the unit. He included a new certified gear at no additional cost. I had also sent him the other P-MAG - an older 113 unit - which he also overhauled. It was running fine, but, since I do a lot of IFR, I thought it was a good idea to have him look at it too. Total cost was just $170 for BOTH unit overhauls (not including shipping)! A VERY reasonable price to say the least!
I can't say enough about E-MAG's support of their products. I have been using their units since they were introduced, initially with a standard MAG, then with two P-MAGs. Their products have now matured to the point where I trust them in hard IFR conditions. Even with this oil seal failure, the unit ran without any ignition issues (until it over heated on the ground, probably due to the hot oil all over the PCB, and no air cooling). I'm not sure that a Slick MAG, with points, would have fared as well with a similar seal failure....
Brad also mentioned something else about the gear wear issue. He stated that these gears tend to "wear-in" with high initial wear, then very little wear. My oil analysis supports that premise as I initially saw higher amounts of fine ferrous material in the filter, then smaller and smaller amounts over the 875 hours of engine operation. I had initially attributed the ferrous material to engine break-in wear. I guess next time I'll research this type of material in the oil filter more carefully.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Fred.Stucklen View Post
I've been having a temp related problem with a P-Mag on/off for some time. After shutdown, and setting out in the hot sun for a while, the P-Mag would not properly restart - i.e., the left mag (P-Mag) would not run the engine during the MAG check at runup. Letting it cool, or taking of on one MAG and getting cool air on it, allowed it to run normally. I've sent the unit back to E-MAG for overhaul.
In the process of taking off the P-MAG, I noted that the gear was badley worn.

Has anyone else seen this type of wear? The gear doesn't look like the gear I have on a certified MAG (slightly different forging). I have noted very small ferrous particles in the oil filter, but nothing I would have worried about.... There was no obvious wear on the mating gear in the accessory case....
__________________
Fred Stucklen
wstucklen1@cox.net
RV-7A N924RV Flying (1825 Hrs & counting)
RV-6A N926RV 875 Hrs (Sold)
RV-6A N925RV 2008 Hrs (Sold)
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:18 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.