Bubblehead
Well Known Member
I just took a great trip from Fort Worth to Yuma and back, with fuel stops in Lordsburg, NM KLSB westbound and Fabens Airport E35 near El Paso eastbound. BTW, people at both airports were very nice but Lordsburg was exceptions. Free soda or water and candy bars, use of the crew car and even a little help troubleshooting.
Both times when I stopped for fuel the starter would not turn over or even engage the flywheel after refueling. At Lordsburgh I pulled the prop through, checked battery voltage (12.4) and then pulled the cowl to check connections to solenoid and starter. Everything was tight. The Sky-Tec troubleshooting manual says check voltage at the starter when in failure mode so with the tail tied down the FBO operator (and A&P) held the volt meter and I got in the cockpit to turn the key. This time the starter engaged and I turned it off quickly.
With everyone out of the way I tried it a couple of more times and it worked each time so I buttoned up the cowl and continued to Yuma.
After a day in Yuma the starter worked normally, but at Fabens the starter failed to move. I went to lunch, came back, and the starter worked first time. Apparently it is a temperature related issue where after two hour flights with the CHTS between 370 and 390 the starter gets hot enough that it does not run, but given a little time (even in 100 degree F El Paso) it cools down enough to work.
Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know what is behind it? The starter has at least 400 hours on it, and probably at least 710 (hours N247TD has flown with 4 owners). Perhaps it is time for an overhaul.
Both times when I stopped for fuel the starter would not turn over or even engage the flywheel after refueling. At Lordsburgh I pulled the prop through, checked battery voltage (12.4) and then pulled the cowl to check connections to solenoid and starter. Everything was tight. The Sky-Tec troubleshooting manual says check voltage at the starter when in failure mode so with the tail tied down the FBO operator (and A&P) held the volt meter and I got in the cockpit to turn the key. This time the starter engaged and I turned it off quickly.
With everyone out of the way I tried it a couple of more times and it worked each time so I buttoned up the cowl and continued to Yuma.
After a day in Yuma the starter worked normally, but at Fabens the starter failed to move. I went to lunch, came back, and the starter worked first time. Apparently it is a temperature related issue where after two hour flights with the CHTS between 370 and 390 the starter gets hot enough that it does not run, but given a little time (even in 100 degree F El Paso) it cools down enough to work.
Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know what is behind it? The starter has at least 400 hours on it, and probably at least 710 (hours N247TD has flown with 4 owners). Perhaps it is time for an overhaul.