cubpilot2
SPONSOR
Anchorage Alaska
During the restoration of my project 18A I installed a new Sky Tec 122 NL starter.
later this summer after being gone a couple of weeks it would fail to crank. Just get a solenoid click. I would prop it and taxi to the gas shack. At that time it would then work normally. I was thinking that the battery was weak, and a brief charge made the difference. This happened about three times after sitting idle for a couple weeks. I began to think it could be the solenoid or ground connection.
Winter arrived and she sat for a couple of months.
Got out the skis on and was anxious to check out my cabin for earth quake damage. Got in to go and “click”. So I propped it and all looked good and took off.
Landed at the cabin and thought to check the starter after a good recharge of the battery. “Click” again.
Promptly began evaluating my foolishness.
Made a quick inspection of the cabin and thankfully all was great. Got to get going as not much daylight left.
Guess I got in a hurry and flooded it trying to hand prop; thereby exhausted myself in the process. Tried jumping arround the start solenoid under the seat several times but still no luck. At my last attempt it started to crank and finally caught. Flight home was uneventful. Glad battery was under the seat and easy to access.
Starter had only 11 hours so how could that be the problem......
replaced the starter solenoid as jumping around it did work....sort of.
Checked the battery connections and all grounds. Nothing.
Swapped the battery thinking perhaps something there....nothing.
Finally went to the starter itself and applied 12 volts direct. The solenoid inside it made a loud click but no rotation. Rats!
In thinking back it was trying to tell me it was a starter issue at the cabin as when jumping around the solenoid I could still hear the click at the starter. I was too tired to think straight. I just wanted it to crank.
In the photos you can see that something is leaking from the split line near the post. Something is “melted”.
I never thought to look for anything like this during a preflight; but it looks like it’s been there for some time.
This engine has always started great, so over stressing of the starter was not a contributing factor.
I would think that if this is discovered on your starter; then don’t head out in the dead of winter to a remote cabin and expect it to work...
If you have an intermittent failure to crank; don’t ignor it.
The Sky Tec factory people were quick to work with me on a warranty claim. I did have to buy another one from them and send this one back for inspection. At that that time I should receive credit. The warranty time from purchase had long expired but since it was only in service less then 12 hours and just a few months there was no problem.
FYI: I was able to swap it out without pulling the prop and nose cowl, thanks to the rear mounted cooler and original exhaust.
I did not open the starter or disturb the evidence due to warranty issues. Would be interested to know just what has failed for knowledge gathering. First Sky Tec issue I’ve had.
Im sure I’m not the first with this.
later this summer after being gone a couple of weeks it would fail to crank. Just get a solenoid click. I would prop it and taxi to the gas shack. At that time it would then work normally. I was thinking that the battery was weak, and a brief charge made the difference. This happened about three times after sitting idle for a couple weeks. I began to think it could be the solenoid or ground connection.
Winter arrived and she sat for a couple of months.
Got out the skis on and was anxious to check out my cabin for earth quake damage. Got in to go and “click”. So I propped it and all looked good and took off.
Landed at the cabin and thought to check the starter after a good recharge of the battery. “Click” again.
Promptly began evaluating my foolishness.
Made a quick inspection of the cabin and thankfully all was great. Got to get going as not much daylight left.
Guess I got in a hurry and flooded it trying to hand prop; thereby exhausted myself in the process. Tried jumping arround the start solenoid under the seat several times but still no luck. At my last attempt it started to crank and finally caught. Flight home was uneventful. Glad battery was under the seat and easy to access.
Starter had only 11 hours so how could that be the problem......
replaced the starter solenoid as jumping around it did work....sort of.
Checked the battery connections and all grounds. Nothing.
Swapped the battery thinking perhaps something there....nothing.
Finally went to the starter itself and applied 12 volts direct. The solenoid inside it made a loud click but no rotation. Rats!
In thinking back it was trying to tell me it was a starter issue at the cabin as when jumping around the solenoid I could still hear the click at the starter. I was too tired to think straight. I just wanted it to crank.
In the photos you can see that something is leaking from the split line near the post. Something is “melted”.
I never thought to look for anything like this during a preflight; but it looks like it’s been there for some time.
This engine has always started great, so over stressing of the starter was not a contributing factor.
I would think that if this is discovered on your starter; then don’t head out in the dead of winter to a remote cabin and expect it to work...
If you have an intermittent failure to crank; don’t ignor it.
The Sky Tec factory people were quick to work with me on a warranty claim. I did have to buy another one from them and send this one back for inspection. At that that time I should receive credit. The warranty time from purchase had long expired but since it was only in service less then 12 hours and just a few months there was no problem.
FYI: I was able to swap it out without pulling the prop and nose cowl, thanks to the rear mounted cooler and original exhaust.
I did not open the starter or disturb the evidence due to warranty issues. Would be interested to know just what has failed for knowledge gathering. First Sky Tec issue I’ve had.
Im sure I’m not the first with this.