Need to put new light weight starter on my 56' Cessna 180 w/ O470-K & wanted some opinions? The three I'm looking @ the Sky-Tec ST3, Sky-Tec ST5, & Hartzell MRZ-7000?

The Lightweight starters they get there "torque " by getting higher rpm in starter > the starter Drive will drop little pieces of the torque spring in the oil pan >been there done that. You should get the Niagara starter adapter if you want one of those lightweight starter. I can get old delco big stater rebuilt for under $50 bucks at any auto shop.

I installed the Sky-Tec on an O470 ( if I remember right, the ST3) and the starter drive would not fully lock up and would slip. I was told the small starter didn't engage hard enough to lock up the starter drive and would start making metal.
I replaced it with the original and no more slippage.
It's collecting dust on the bench if someone wants it.

Just finished trying 2 Hartzell M drives on our 0520. The first one slipped right from the start. We thought the starter was faulty so sent it back for a replacement. The second one slipped also after a half dozen starts. We gave up and went back to the big old heavy original and it's been working fine ever since.

JG

I know a guy who had troube with a Skytec on his 470 and went to a Hartzell which was recommended to him & it worked great. Another guy then did the same thing with the same results. Not much time yet on either one though. I was surprised the one guy had trouble with the Skytec as they seem to be the cat's meow for the small Lycomings. I know I really like mine.

Im selling my ISKRA starter from my 182, for a cheap price $250 has about 400hrs since new.

Worked very well, but was too fast for my MT propeller which is too light.

305 hrs on my Sky Tec C12ST3 so far, oil Analyzed every oil change no monsters yet, little battery up front turns that Pponk over just fine couldn't be more pleased. Guess I'm just lucky I bought the ST3 before I Pponked I should have bought the ST5 for the 520 but was planning on a O-470

Lot of controversy on the light weight starters for big bore TCM's. Lot's of problems and most owners going back to big starter or staying with it. If you want to convert, talk to the Niagara guys first.
Ron

I had problems with the Skytec on a O470 182. No problems and just love the Skytec on my O-235. Have the Iskra on my 550 (newer drive) and no problems with over maybe 4000 starts. Had a starter drive go with a old big starter and all that bronze in my oil freaked me out!

We have the ST5 on a O-470 182 and it has been working well. Skytec is supposed to have resolved all problems with their starters. This plane gets 20+ starts a day. The stock starter is from a 37 buick as I have been told.