This last weekend we flew up to Stanley, ID for a family reunion and had a great time. On the way home, we stopped in Jerome for fuel and my starter decided to go TU. So, give me your recommendations on starters or places to overhaul it. With the flying club, we've had good luck with the Skytech starters. They run $498 for the CS12ST3 that I'd need. They do offer a weight savings, but if I can overhaul it for considerably less, I'd probably go that route.

Anyway, let me hear what experiences you all have.

Thanks,
GSP

Cory,

I shot you a message thru the Utah group page. If you did not receive it, text me. 801.455.0165. (Or call-but you are probably too young to know how to do that....)

Cal
OSO LOCO

I would take it (quietly) to A&E Generator in Salt Lake...tell 'em its for a tractor but they prolly won't ask.

Thing about those light weight starters is they tear up starter drives - more rpm to archive the torque to twist the prop to start. When starter drive starts making metal and little pieces go in oil pan you will have much bigger problems than slipping starter drive. If you overhaul engine get a Niagara starter drive put in for light weight starter - otherwise I'd just get the old delco rebuilt ( around 50 bucks at most automotive shops tell them it's for your boat or tractor ) and be done with it . Make sure it's the starter it self might be senolid ---- jumper across terminals ( radio shack clips and # 4 gauge wire about 8-10 inches long ) with battery off . When you turn battery on if prop spins it's the senolid - maybe starter or power circuit. Also test the switch to see if it's working as advertised . BTDT YMMV Bill Reid

Skytec starters are the cat's meow for 4-cyl Lycomings, but I know two different guys who put Skytecs on their 470's and had problems. Both those guys, plus another guy (with a Ponk 520, got Hartzell ("m-drive"?) starters and loved them.

Cory, I've got about 360 hrs on a CS12ST3 on my Pponk and so far so good, no metal in the oil and it spins that 520 over just fine.

Thanks guys. We did test the solenoid contactor by putting a new one on and put juice directly to the starter. Nothing. Also rotated the started in case it was on a dead spot. Nothing. So the starter is definitely dead. We've used the Skytechs on the club's 172s. That's interesting that people have had problems with them on the 470. As soon as my mechanic gets back in town in a few weeks, we'll meet and review our options.

The starter motor is easy peezy to remove. The advice given above regarding the "tractor" was pretty sound at one point a few decades ago for one person I knew.

Be careful about the "tractor" idea. A friend was in a club with a PA28, and the alternator had been replaced with the equivalent automotive one--probably absolutely identical except for the badging. Worked fine, until there was an unrelated incident requiring an FAA investigation, and the Inspector while looking over the airplane found the non-PMA'd alternator. Trouble in River City!

Cary

Cary wrote:Be careful about the "tractor" idea. A friend was in a club with a PA28, and the alternator had been replaced with the equivalent automotive one--probably absolutely identical except for the badging. Worked fine, until there was an unrelated incident requiring an FAA investigation, and the Inspector while looking over the airplane found the non-PMA'd alternator. Trouble in River City!

Cary

So what was the outcome Cary?

Glidergeek wrote:

Cary wrote:Be careful about the "tractor" idea. A friend was in a club with a PA28, and the alternator had been replaced with the equivalent automotive one--probably absolutely identical except for the badging. Worked fine, until there was an unrelated incident requiring an FAA investigation, and the Inspector while looking over the airplane found the non-PMA'd alternator. Trouble in River City!

Cary

So what was the outcome Cary?

Bump

So Cary what happend in this alleged FAA bust of the non PMAed or STC alternator?