REFLECTOR: Help -- Franklin -- stuck in SLC

John Dibble aminetech at bluefrog.com
Sun Oct 10 13:12:17 CDT 2004


When I use my injection system, but don't crank, fuel drips out the carb after a few
seconds, so it seems likely that fuel would drip out after pumping the throttle.  I
have one EI and I routinely start my Franklin on one mag only.

John

Brian Michalk wrote:

> So if he pumps the throttle while cranking, this should basically prime?
>
> If one is down by the carb, can you hear it squirting fuel?  Will the fuel
> drip out of the carb?  Just thinking of how he could verify that he's
> actually getting gas.
>
>  Brian Michalk  <http://www.michalk.com>
> Life is what you make of it ... never wish you had done something.
> Aviator, experimental aircraft builder, motorcyclist, SCUBA diver
> musician, home-brewer, entrepreneur and barely single
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org]On
> > Behalf Of Laurence Coen
> > Sent: Sunday, October 10, 2004 11:37 AM
> > To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
> > Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Help -- Franklin -- stuck in SLC
> >
> >
> > 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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