[rv6n6r]

With all the talk about bearing play in Emagair ignitions, I thought it might be worth a poll to help illuminate how much of an issue it is for people. Not scientific but perhaps it will give a better sense of things than the individual anecdotes. The poll allows for multiple responses for those with dual EI or multiple planes. Please only report your own aircraft.

 

[FORANE]

Not meaningful without old and improved bearings data separated.

 

[rv6n6r]

Not meaningful without old and improved bearings data separated.

Thanks for the feedback. It's out there now, not so easy to change after votes have come in. In any case I would say it's still better than a bunch of scattered anecdotes.

 

[mfleming]

Bearing play at 250 hrs. 2021 IO-360-M1B, P-Mag installed at the Lycoming factory.

 

[N10KE]

Bearing play on 1 pMag and phase failure on the other, less than 70 hours. Board failure on one after that, another failed range check when hot 2 flights after "overhaul" at E-MAG Air, unknown failure on takeoff at 550 hours (haven't bothered to attempt repair).

Yes, the prop (Hartzell wide chord composite) has been balanced to 0.03 ips.

 

[MacCool]

Condition Inspection just completed on my -9A (470 hrs)...no bearing end play on either pmag according to my mechanic.

 

[Walt]

Condition Inspection just completed on my -9A (470 hrs)...no bearing end play on either pmag according to my mechanic.

I assume you/he means lateral play not end play.

 

[Walt]

I’ve sent probably half a dozen to Brad for bearing play. Have also seen a couple where the internal gen is weak or inop.

 

[MacCool]

I assume you/he means lateral play not end play.

Yeah, I dunno. He inspected both mags according to Emag's recommendations. He probably said lateral play and I probably heard end play.

 

[Rdog420]

Bearing play on 1 pMag and phase failure on the other, less than 70 hours. Board failure on one after that, another failed range check when hot 2 flights after "overhaul" at E-MAG Air, unknown failure on takeoff at 550 hours (haven't bothered to attempt repair).

Yes, the prop (Hartzell wide chord composite) has been balanced to 0.03 ips.

Send them in for warranty repair. They should cover repair if it failed that soon after work being done.

 

[rv6n6r]

So, a couple of weeks and 66 votes so far.

First off, the percentages displayed are off, presumably because each person can make multiple choices. Consolidating the actual percentages yields:

- 80% of responses with no bearing play in all hour ranges. Most of those responses are in the 200-1000 hour range.
- 20% of responses with bearing play in all the hour ranges, most with mid to low hours.

So, not an insignificant number but it also doesn't account for whether newer units could be more reliable than older ones.

Conclusions? Nothing concrete as it's an unscientific poll with a lot of unknowns. I have two of them and still prefer them over magnetos, so for me it mainly reinforces the importance of doing the bearing play check at every condition inspection.