REFLECTOR: Franklin Fuel Pump Issues

Sun, 4 May 2003 22:04:38 -0500

I was hoping to fly today. The gusty wind pushed me back. But I did engine
runup and got the lower GREEN vacuum (~4.5" HG) at 2200 RPM. This is
substantially better than 3" at 1800 RPM. All I did was to tighten
everything and a few more engine runs.

Thanks all for your inputs.

Jay Yu

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]On
Behalf Of mike deeter
Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2003 10:26 AM
To: reflector@tvbf.org
Subject: RE: REFLECTOR: Franklin Fuel Pump Issues

Jay et al:

I just got back on the net after some travel
(business, darn it, not Velocity).

My update on my vacuum.  I gradually adjusted my
regulator to get 'middle of the green' on my gauge
anytime I'm flying, certainly 1800 and above.  Now, my
only issue is that it isn't easy or convenient to
reliably set the DG on the ground prior to takeoff
into IFR conditions.  I guess one could do a runup
sitting on the runway just prior to the takeoff run.
That'd probably get it done.

Otherwise, I'm satisfied I'm getting good vacuum
during all flight ops.

Mike Deeter

--- Jay Yu <jayyu@arczip.com> wrote:
> Hi Wayne,
>
> Thanks for the input. Based on the Franklin manual,
> the accessary drive pad
> on which I installed the vacuum pump has a drive
> ratio of 0.847 which is
> certainly less than 2 1/2. I wonder what vacuum
> other builders with the same
> configuration are getting.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jay
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: reflector-admin@tvbf.org
> [mailto:reflector-admin@tvbf.org]On
> Behalf Of Wayne Owens
> Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2003 9:59 PM
> To: reflector@tvbf.org
> Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Franklin Fuel Pump Issues
>
>
> Seems like the Airborne customer service folks told
> me that pump RPM should
> be 2 1/2 x crank rpm. Verify that. Can you crank
> your prop over by hand and
> count pump revolutions to determine what ratio you
> are driving it at?
> Wayne
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jay Yu" <jayyu@arczip.com>
> To: <reflector@tvbf.org>; "mike deeter"
> <iguanamagic@yahoo.com>
> Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2003 10:42 PM
> Subject: RE: REFLECTOR: Franklin Fuel Pump Issues
>
>
> > Hi Mike and All Franklin Drivers,
> >
> > I know that I am late in the game on this. I just
> installed my new fuel
> pump
> > that's working well. But, like Mike's original
> configuration, my SigmaTek
> > vacuum pump used to be on fuel pump drive and now
> has been moved to rear
> > pilot side. When I started the engine, I didn't
> get any vacuum at idle
> > speed. I only got about 3" HG when the engine was
> running 1800RPM. The
> GREEN
> > arc is about 4.5" to 5.5" HG. How much vacuum can
> you get and at what RPM
> > (Mike?) What's the lowest vacuum we need for safe
> flight?
> >
> > My vacuum pump did have about 80 hours in original
> configuration. In that
> > configuration, the vacuum was in GREEN easily (may
> be a little over 1000
> > RPM). With this new installation, I adjusted the
> vacuum regulator (both
> ways
> > to extreme) but still cann't get more than 3" at
> about 1800 RPM.
> >
> > Any and all hints will be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Jay Yu
> > N86YU
> > Velocity RGE
> > Franklin/MT
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: owner-reflector@dax.awpi.com
> > [mailto:owner-reflector@dax.awpi.com]On Behalf Of
> mike deeter
> > Sent: Friday, November 01, 2002 12:17 PM
> > To: reflector@tvbf.org
> > Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Franklin Fuel Pump Issues
> >
> >
> > Franklin drivers:
> >
> > OK , so now I'm answering my own emails.
> >
> > I just got off the phone w/ my engine builder,
> Pete
> > Askeland at Franklin Aircraft Engines, Inc. (FAEI)
> in
> > Colorado.
> >
> > Referring to the problems I've outlined in my
> email
> > below.  If you have a bidirectional vacuum pump
> you
> > will have no problem; just switch the input and
> output
> > lines.
> >
> > If you don't have a bidirectional pump you will
> > obviously have to get a new vacuum pump.
> >
> > As for the speed of the accessory pad:  FAEI has
> the
> > STC for Cessnas w/ Franklins and they run their
> vacuum
> > pumps off the accessory pad in question, i.e. no
> > problem running vacuum off the pad on the pilot
> side
> > near the prop.
> >
> > Sorry to get us all excited.
> >
> > Mike
> >
> > --- mike deeter <iguanamagic@yahoo.com> wrote:
> > > Franklin drivers:
> > >
> > > Well, I got my fuel pump installed and fuel
> lines
> > > redone.  I only needed to hoist the engine for
> > > taking
> > > the old one off.  I was able to reinstall the
> new
> > > one
> > > w/ the engine bolted tightly to the firewall.
> > >
> > > I installed the vacuum pump on the pilot side
> accy
> > > pad
> > > near the prop.  Unfortunately, this may not work
> as
> > > well as PZL intended.  Larry Coen pointed out
> the
> > > accy
> > > pads near the prop turn 0.847 times crank CW
> while
> > > the
> > > accy pad on the rear of the engine (fuel pump
> mount)
> > > turns 1.65 times crank CCW.
> > >
> > > This could be a problems (ahem, issue).
> > >
> > > The vacuum pump will now turn more slowly and
> > > opposite
> > > the way it previously turned (it previously was
> on
> > > the
> > > fuel pump drive).  I called SigmaTek about this
> and
> > > they said, though the pump is bi-directional,
> the
> > > direction change is significant because it gets
> a
> > > wear
> > > pattern after awhile and changing could shorten
> the
> > > life.  I only have 12 hours on mine so they said
> it
> > > should be OK.  The other problem is they said
> their
> > > pump needs about 1500 RPM to get good vacuum
> (gauge
> > > in
> > > the green) so at 0.847:1 I'd need around 1800
> crank
> > > RPM to get good vacuum.  Hmmm.
> > >
> > > The SigmaTek guy did say that other pumps on the
> > > market only need 1200 RPM to get up to speed so
> only
> > > would need around 1400 crank RPM to get good
> vacuum.
> > >
> > > Still not the best situation.
> > >
> > > I hope to get some comments from the Franklin
> guys
> > > to
> > > see what ideas are out there for solving this
> > > problem.
> > >  Can't go running around w/o vacuum.
> > >
> > > Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings.
> > >
> > > Mike Deeter
> > > N2011P Franklin RG E
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > =====
> > > *******************************************
> > > Mike Deeter
> > > N2011 Test Pilot
> > > iguanamagic@yahoo.com
> > > http://iguanamagic.siegesmund.org
>
=== message truncated ===

=====
*******************************************
Mike Deeter
N2011 Test Pilot
iguanamagic@yahoo.com
http://iguanamagic.siegesmund.org
*******************************************

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