Nitty
Well Known Member
Help with O-360 starting problem **SOLVED**
Spent yesterday trying to solve the problem of the engine not starting. With the P lead wire on, the mag was grounded and would not fire. Took the P lead wire off and the mag operated normally.
Started chasing the wire from the P lead back to the switch, nothing, checked that the shielding wasn't touching the P lead, all looks good.
Happened to shine a flashlight on the P lead post and saw this
It was extending from the P Lead pad under the phenolic disk to the magneto case.
In installing the magneto originally, the ring terminal broke and I had to put a new one on. In the process of either stripping the wire or working the conductor through the shielding, this little wire fell onto the magneto and found the perfect spot to hide and ground out the mag. It is a very fine wire and I doubt that we would have found it in normal daylight.
Put everything back together and the engine fired right up.
Gotta love aviation.
I have a carbureted O-360 with Slick mags, C/S prop and cannot get the engine to start. Not even the hint of a spark. I've had the mags out and sent for inspection. I dont have a primer system and my technique is to engage the starter and give the throttle a couple of pumps. It usually started on the first or second blade after the throttle pump.
There is gas getting into the carb intake as evidenced by the puddle under the airplane, I've taken off the air filter so it's getting air. The only thing I haven't checked is the spark plugs but these Tempest plugs only have 70 hours on them. Visual inspection shows no fouling. I'll check their resistance nonetheless.
The only thing different that occurred two flights prior was that I went full throttle on a touch and go at sea level with the prop set to 2300 rpm so I'm wondering if the manifold pressure exceeded limits.
Compression seems normal but haven't had a gauge on it to verify.
Anything I should inspect internally given that condition? Any other ideas?
Spent yesterday trying to solve the problem of the engine not starting. With the P lead wire on, the mag was grounded and would not fire. Took the P lead wire off and the mag operated normally.
Started chasing the wire from the P lead back to the switch, nothing, checked that the shielding wasn't touching the P lead, all looks good.
Happened to shine a flashlight on the P lead post and saw this
It was extending from the P Lead pad under the phenolic disk to the magneto case.
In installing the magneto originally, the ring terminal broke and I had to put a new one on. In the process of either stripping the wire or working the conductor through the shielding, this little wire fell onto the magneto and found the perfect spot to hide and ground out the mag. It is a very fine wire and I doubt that we would have found it in normal daylight.
Put everything back together and the engine fired right up.
Gotta love aviation.
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