This is from a family member. It's a real mind boggler. Wanted to see if the VAF family could help figure this out.
Hi, I could use some input on troubleshooting a problem.
Have an RV-6A which we built.
0-360 Lycoming and a fixed pitch Sensenitch prop.
222 TTSN, 222 SMOH.
Due to life circumstances the plane has not flown for several years.
It has been kept covered in an enclosed hanger and the mice properly fed, so the plane is clean, no varmint damage or nests.
We live in a sparsely populated area, therefore there is no mechanic within 120 miles. We can get one to come, and we will if necessary, but would like to try to solve this on our own if possible.
A few years ago the plane began to be hard to start. Troubleshot and it seemed to be the left magneto, and impulse coupler problem. Removed the mag, took it to a licensed mechanic who determined that indeed it was not working. We bought a factory new mag and did have a licensed mechanic come and time it and got the engine going.
Tried to start it a short time later and plane wont start. Got the mechanic again to help troubleshoot. It was determined at that time that the ACS key start switch, #A-510-2, was not working right. The plane would only start with the ground wire to the left magneto removed.
Ordered another ACS keyed start switch. Same model. Installed per schematic. Installed the diode wire on the solenoid indicated as our plane has a two solenoid setup.
Engine will not start.
Then we unhook the ground wire to the left mag and it starts fine. I have not been running the engine up hard, only to about 1200 RPM. There is no indication that it will not develop full power, I just haven?t been testing it at higher. You will see my reasoning as you read farther.
With Left Mag ground wire unhooked:
Go to Right Mag: Slight drop
Go to Left Mag: Slight drop??? With ground wire off it should not drop at all?
After running the engine a minute, we shut down. Hook the left mag ground wire back up.
Now the left mag is hooked up ?properly?
Engine warm now starts, but it starts at that moment, after you decide that it won?t start, and you release the key from the start position. that?s when it fires up.
Run up only to about 1200 RPM,
Go to Right Mag : Slight Drop
Go to Left Mag: Engine DIES instantly.
Flip back to both, it resumes running.
When we built our plane, the one thing that we had done by another person, was the wiring. We installed the instruments but had a retired Air Force avionics technician do all the electrical.
Before all of our challenges referred to above, the plane did have what I would call ?hot mag? issues. My meaning to that is that, like my instructor taught me, before shutting down, idle the plane, and quickly shut off/on the ignition. Properly grounded, the engine should momentarily die. Ours sometimes would, sometimes not, so there has probably been an issue right from the beginning.
If someone can give us some ideas on what is going on and how to fix this, we would be most grateful. I have tried to give all the info that we have learned so far. Any ideas, or if pictures might help, I can take some.
As a different but related question, Is there a good electronic ignition system for this engine. Laser, Light Speed, etc?
Thank you!
Hi, I could use some input on troubleshooting a problem.
Have an RV-6A which we built.
0-360 Lycoming and a fixed pitch Sensenitch prop.
222 TTSN, 222 SMOH.
Due to life circumstances the plane has not flown for several years.
It has been kept covered in an enclosed hanger and the mice properly fed, so the plane is clean, no varmint damage or nests.
We live in a sparsely populated area, therefore there is no mechanic within 120 miles. We can get one to come, and we will if necessary, but would like to try to solve this on our own if possible.
A few years ago the plane began to be hard to start. Troubleshot and it seemed to be the left magneto, and impulse coupler problem. Removed the mag, took it to a licensed mechanic who determined that indeed it was not working. We bought a factory new mag and did have a licensed mechanic come and time it and got the engine going.
Tried to start it a short time later and plane wont start. Got the mechanic again to help troubleshoot. It was determined at that time that the ACS key start switch, #A-510-2, was not working right. The plane would only start with the ground wire to the left magneto removed.
Ordered another ACS keyed start switch. Same model. Installed per schematic. Installed the diode wire on the solenoid indicated as our plane has a two solenoid setup.
Engine will not start.
Then we unhook the ground wire to the left mag and it starts fine. I have not been running the engine up hard, only to about 1200 RPM. There is no indication that it will not develop full power, I just haven?t been testing it at higher. You will see my reasoning as you read farther.
With Left Mag ground wire unhooked:
Go to Right Mag: Slight drop
Go to Left Mag: Slight drop??? With ground wire off it should not drop at all?
After running the engine a minute, we shut down. Hook the left mag ground wire back up.
Now the left mag is hooked up ?properly?
Engine warm now starts, but it starts at that moment, after you decide that it won?t start, and you release the key from the start position. that?s when it fires up.
Run up only to about 1200 RPM,
Go to Right Mag : Slight Drop
Go to Left Mag: Engine DIES instantly.
Flip back to both, it resumes running.
When we built our plane, the one thing that we had done by another person, was the wiring. We installed the instruments but had a retired Air Force avionics technician do all the electrical.
Before all of our challenges referred to above, the plane did have what I would call ?hot mag? issues. My meaning to that is that, like my instructor taught me, before shutting down, idle the plane, and quickly shut off/on the ignition. Properly grounded, the engine should momentarily die. Ours sometimes would, sometimes not, so there has probably been an issue right from the beginning.
If someone can give us some ideas on what is going on and how to fix this, we would be most grateful. I have tried to give all the info that we have learned so far. Any ideas, or if pictures might help, I can take some.
As a different but related question, Is there a good electronic ignition system for this engine. Laser, Light Speed, etc?
Thank you!