AX-O
Well Known Member
I had a failure on my starter yesterday. I won't post the name brand yet as I sent it in and will wait to hear back. It is one of those light weight starters without a Bendix. The starter has less than 25 starts on it. The engine is a IOX-340 with 9 to 1 pistons.
Yesterday I attempted to start my airplane. I hit the starter and the prop turned without issues. As I let go of the starter the engine caught about 3 firing cycles but I was not able to keep the engine running (still learning this fuel injection thing).
After all motion stopped, I re-attempted. Nothing... My MFDs flickered and the prop did not move. "What is going on?" I tried it again and I observed the same outcome.
Got out of the plane thinking that the prop did not want to turn because it got stuck at the top a compression cycle. "I'll just move the prop and try it again". To my surprise the prop was stuck and I could not move it. My heart just sunk. "oh boy, here we go".
Got the plane in the hangar (luckily it was at home) and took the cowling off. After inspection, I determined that the starter failed (pictures below). Spent the next hour removing the 4 nuts that hold the starter. Has anyone seen this failure before? The starter gear would not retract or turn at all. It was jammed. No damaged to the starter gear or the starter ring. The company tech told me that in over 60,000 units this is the first time he has heard of this. I am sure I am not that lucky.
Yesterday I attempted to start my airplane. I hit the starter and the prop turned without issues. As I let go of the starter the engine caught about 3 firing cycles but I was not able to keep the engine running (still learning this fuel injection thing).
After all motion stopped, I re-attempted. Nothing... My MFDs flickered and the prop did not move. "What is going on?" I tried it again and I observed the same outcome.
Got out of the plane thinking that the prop did not want to turn because it got stuck at the top a compression cycle. "I'll just move the prop and try it again". To my surprise the prop was stuck and I could not move it. My heart just sunk. "oh boy, here we go".
Got the plane in the hangar (luckily it was at home) and took the cowling off. After inspection, I determined that the starter failed (pictures below). Spent the next hour removing the 4 nuts that hold the starter. Has anyone seen this failure before? The starter gear would not retract or turn at all. It was jammed. No damaged to the starter gear or the starter ring. The company tech told me that in over 60,000 units this is the first time he has heard of this. I am sure I am not that lucky.