Having just sold my Maule and just purchased my 182, i've noticed there is a significant difference in sound (and ease) when starting each aircraft. The Maule has an 0-540 Lyc. in it, 78" prop and when you start it, it seems to turn slower than my other engine, and each rotation, i would describe the sound as a louder "clunking" sound and the engine / prop seems to labor while turning over. When starting the 182 with the 0-520 Cont, 82" three blade, the sound is much quieter, and seems to be rotating faster even though I'm swinging a lot more blade mass with the 520.

Also, when swinging the 0-520, the prop seems to swing at a constant speed and smooth rotation and the 0-540 seems to speed up and slow down, depending on blade position during the rotation. The 0-520 starts much easier.

I also fly a C182 with a 0-470 in it, and that starts and sounds identical to the 0-520.

I'm curious - is this the engine that makes the two different from eachother, or is it the starter? I don't know what type of starters are in each aircraft. Sorry if this description isnt the greatest - hard to describe without a sound clip - but too late for that - delivered the Maule this past Sunday to the new owner.

Any comments would be appreciated.

garth

Could be the compression ratio difference. It's also possible your Maule had a weak battery or starter. Lots of differences in starters out there.

MTV

It's the starter. Continental has an expensive geared starter with a motor and starter adapter. Very quiet. The Lycomings have a simple, tough Bendix type starter like a Ford tractor.

The Lycomings have a simple, tough Bendix type starter like a Ford tractor.

A Skytech lightweight starter will change all of that--and the way it cranks, while shaving off several unnecessary pounds.

Cary

This would make sense that it could be the starter - i know the battery is solid in the Maule. Although a new starter may change the "sound" of the starting, is there a better chance of improved starting characteristics - maybe through quicket rotation of the prop?

garth

Being
we are talking a 520.....I don't think this is a jack, but how do you guys do a (cold start) and a (hot start) on your io-520? I've heard a gazillion different ways and I'm interested in 1 more

gear wrote:This would make sense that it could be the starter - i know the battery is solid in the Maule. Although a new starter may change the "sound" of the starting, is there a better chance of improved starting characteristics - maybe through quicket rotation of the prop?

garth

Pretty sure the lightweight Skytech mentioned also turns faster which should help. Probably not relevant to your situation, but if you didn't know this already, with the Lycomings it is a good idea to squirt the Bendix with a little LPS-3 when you do an oil change. Easy to do and helps keep it from getting hung - up.

Mkae sure the battery is up to snuff, brushes are good in the starter, and clean all the electrical connections in the battery & starter circuits. Years ago my old C170 starter was turning over pretty slow-- new starter brushes & hitting all the electrical conections with some scotchbrite did wonders.