I have a RV7A with a carbureted o-360 with about 500 hours on it. I am the second owner and it has been a dream aircraft for the past 18 months- no issues at all UNTIL my annual finished last month. After my annual the engine really struggles to get started, and there has been a few time I had to give up and fly another day (and I tried to fly to see the northern lights last night but it wouldn't start, which has brought me here today).
Here are some observations I have noticed that are different- I won't draw the conclusions if any or all of them matter:
1. This was a big annual with a prop and mag overhauls, but I don't think that the problem...
2. My engine won't start. If it does start I have been using the flooded technique: mixture back and full throttle, then flip both once it fires. This happens even without using the boost pump or any movement of the throttle.
3. I can hear the *tapping* sound after I attempt to start like it is flooded. This is after the plane is just sitting for days/weeks. How could it be flooded after sitting???
4. The boost pump doesn't sound like it is pressurizing. It sounds the same for however long I run it.
5. The two times I couldn't get it started and walked away, the throttle didn't want to move and was locked in place after one or two priming pumps. It felt like a lot of pressure was keeping it in place. I could try to move it, but felt it would get harder the more I did. (And I know better than to use too much muscle to make it work when it's not right). Yet after it was started the throttle could move freely again- so I don't think it's a cable issue but the actual throttle sticking.
6. I have seen fuel dripping out of the fuel vents before I start the plane up-simply sitting on the ground, idle for days/weeks. It's spring in Ohio so it could be anywhere from 40-80F on a given day. If it's below 50 I usually preheat, but I have had the same issue at warm/ cold temps and preheated or not.
7.One odd thing about my annual was the A&P put WAY too much lubricant on the KN air filter, it was running down the front cowl for days. As a amateur when it comes to these engines, I wonder if some of that got injected into the carb and is causing some of this issues.
8. Once it's flying it has seemed normal. I even did the Savvy GAMI and mag check which came back with good results. It just feels like a starting issue.
I appreciate your help! Going from an extremely reliable machine, to one that won't start os frustrating.
Here are some observations I have noticed that are different- I won't draw the conclusions if any or all of them matter:
1. This was a big annual with a prop and mag overhauls, but I don't think that the problem...
2. My engine won't start. If it does start I have been using the flooded technique: mixture back and full throttle, then flip both once it fires. This happens even without using the boost pump or any movement of the throttle.
3. I can hear the *tapping* sound after I attempt to start like it is flooded. This is after the plane is just sitting for days/weeks. How could it be flooded after sitting???
4. The boost pump doesn't sound like it is pressurizing. It sounds the same for however long I run it.
5. The two times I couldn't get it started and walked away, the throttle didn't want to move and was locked in place after one or two priming pumps. It felt like a lot of pressure was keeping it in place. I could try to move it, but felt it would get harder the more I did. (And I know better than to use too much muscle to make it work when it's not right). Yet after it was started the throttle could move freely again- so I don't think it's a cable issue but the actual throttle sticking.
6. I have seen fuel dripping out of the fuel vents before I start the plane up-simply sitting on the ground, idle for days/weeks. It's spring in Ohio so it could be anywhere from 40-80F on a given day. If it's below 50 I usually preheat, but I have had the same issue at warm/ cold temps and preheated or not.
7.One odd thing about my annual was the A&P put WAY too much lubricant on the KN air filter, it was running down the front cowl for days. As a amateur when it comes to these engines, I wonder if some of that got injected into the carb and is causing some of this issues.
8. Once it's flying it has seemed normal. I even did the Savvy GAMI and mag check which came back with good results. It just feels like a starting issue.
I appreciate your help! Going from an extremely reliable machine, to one that won't start os frustrating.