Difficulty Starting

Service and maintenance tips, questions, and issues.

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donlew
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 2:07 pm
Location: midwest

Difficulty Starting

Post by donlew »

I am having difficulty in starting my Brantly B2B. It ssems to want to miss some at first then will speed up when all cylinders kick in. This is creating torque on the rotor blades as the centrifical clutch tries to engage putting stress on the outboard blades.

I have had some mention of a possible wrong starter that would draw juice from the shower of sparks box under the pilots seat.

I would like to know if any other owners have had this problem and if they have any possible solution.

Any advice would be appreciated.
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Steve Chenoweth
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Check Which Starter You Have

Post by Steve Chenoweth »

This sounds very similar to a problem I had. The aircraft supply company who sent me a new SkyTec starter sent me the wrong one. Some of the symptoms were that the engine would seem to be running when the starter button were depressed, and then die or engage the clutch causing the rotors to jerk when the starter buttom were released. Apparently, this model will not work properly with the starter vibrator. That, coupled with some flooding and a cutoff switch that was set too high led to loss of two outboard blades ($$$) :evil: .

If this is a SkyTec starter, make sure it is an "HT" model, not an "LS" model. The model numbers go by number of gear teeth (149 in my case), then the voltage (12), then the model (HT). The HT now works great and starting has been much easier.
donlew
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 2:07 pm
Location: midwest

Post by donlew »

Steve,
I have called the factory to find out what starter comes on the new Lycoming engines. They gave me a part # 31A22110. It had no Model #.

Can you let me know what part # your starter is? If I have to change the starter I want to make sure to get the right one.

Thanks,

Don L.
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Steve Chenoweth
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How Many Gear Teeth?

Post by Steve Chenoweth »

Don,

Sure, no problem. I just need to know how many teeth there are on your starter ring gear. Mine has 149, but I know there are some with 122. I had to use a flywheel tool to turn the gear and count the number of teeth to be sure.

Steve
donlew
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 2:07 pm
Location: midwest

Post by donlew »

Steve,
At anual I replaced the starter with a new starter from B&C Specialty Products, Inc. Part #BC315-100-2 / 149 teeth.

It really works well.

DL
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Steve Chenoweth
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Great!

Post by Steve Chenoweth »

Don,

Glad to hear the new starter helped. It sure makes it a lot more fun when you don't have a struggle to get the thing going!
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