REFLECTOR: Help -- Franklin -- stuck in SLC

[Laurence Coen]

I have a Franklin with a priming system.  Even on days with temp. in the mid 
80's I use about 2 seconds of prime.  This prime uses the electric fuel pump 
and a solenoid valve.  At 70 deg. F I use about 4-5 sec of prime and always 
fire up on the second compression.  If you don't have a primer them you can 
pump the throttle a couple of times.  The carb has a really stout pump and 
will do the prime job.  The bad news is that up-draft carbs can load the 
induction system with fuel and create a fire hazard.  Try priming before 
major disassembly.

Larry Coen
N136LC
SE/RG-Franklin

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "wurzel parsons-keir" <wurzel at ccpu.com>
To: <reflector at tvbf.org>
Sent: Saturday, October 09, 2004 8:39 PM
Subject: REFLECTOR: Help -- Franklin -- stuck in SLC


> Hi!  I'm in SLC with a Standard RG with 6-cyl Franklin.
> I've flown the plane for about 20 hours now with no issues,
> (other than my landings, but that's for another post!) but today
> when we went to start up it just wouldn't.  The engine has 600
> hours on it, and hasn't needed any major service recently.
>
> First I tried starting with the normal procedure
> (mixture rich, throttle full, fuel pump on until I see pressure,
> fuel pump off, throttle just cracked, mags on, crank away).
> The prop spins really well (good battery, good starter) and
> I can hear the impulse mags clicking away, but I don't
> hear anything that sounds like ignition.  After about
> 30 seconds of that, I gave it a rest for a while.
>
> Next try, thinking maybe I flooded it, so I left mixture
> cutoff, went full-throttle, and cranked a while.  Normally
> I'd expect to hear the engine fire for a bit and then peter
> out unless I push the mixture on... but again, no ignition
> noises.
>
> Still thinking maybe it was flooded, we went to lunch for
> 1.5 hours, came back and again tried the standard start procedure,
> still no detectable engine firing, just spinning and clicking.
>
> Anyone out there who is flying a Franklin have any advice?
> Is there a "high altitude" start procedure (4300 feet, 21degC)?
>
> If a Franklin is flooded, any advice for un-flooding?
>
> It sounds kind of like trying to start it with both mags grounded
> or something, but I can't imagine how both of my P-leads could
> have been grounded accidentally at the same time.
>
> I sumped the tank and verified it's good fuel, I inspected the
> ignition harness and I don't see any chafing or anything.
> I verified the throttle and mixture arms are attached and moving
> fine.  Fuel pressure looks good with the electronic pump and
> also with the engine pump while cranking.
>
> The only things I can think of now are finding a voltmeter
> somewhere and checking the P leads for grounding (does a simple
> continuity test to ground work?) and/or pulling out filter
> screens in the carb to see if they're clogged.  Is there any
> other simple way to verify presence of spark?  Is there anything
> I could have done running too rich or too lean that would
> have fouled all my plugs this badly?  After we landed, the
> engine seemed to be idling fine as we taxied in.
>
> Any other thoughts or ideas on diagnosing this (especially
> with minimal tools) would be greatly appreciated!  If I
> can get out of Million-air's hangar before 8am Monday,
> maybe they won't charge me; otherwise I'll probably have
> to have one of their A&Ps help me in return for renting
> the space, as it were.
>
> Many thanks!
> -wurzel
> flying Rick's N570!
> WooHoo!
>
>
>
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