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Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

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keithmckinley

Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 434

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 6:49 am Post subject: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Just went out the other day and flew two flights, 1 hour apart. The second start was worse than the first. Excellent air pressure on both, I did not check the bat voltage during start. The prop barely turned after depressing the start button. I could not hear any air leaking and the prop did not hang up in any one spot (ie broken air line to cyl). Just turned painfully slow. Both times I pulled the prop through numerous time as I always do prior to start.



Any thought on this one gents?

Thanks,



Keith

mark.bitterlich(at)navy.m
Guest

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 7:54 am Post subject: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Besides some kind of blockage in the air system, there is a possibility that your start valve is not opening fully, which it can do right before total failure.  If your model has the manual lever on the side to open it, I would suggest trying it out and see if the prop spins normally.   I am not suggesting you start it this way except when there is no other choice, but if you use the manual valve lever and it spins normally, then you can pretty much feel safe that you have figured out what is wrong.  



You also brought up a very good point about battery voltage.  Just for the record, I have run into a lot of battery issues over the years with both ALL of these aircraft.  Since the battery is not used to crank a starter, and really requires very little energy during start, people tend to ignore and never test the batteries.  A crude but effective test is just to hook a 24 volt landing light up to your batteries while you also have a voltmeter connected to them.  If the battery voltage drops to below 20 volts, they are SHOT.  Flying with batteries in this condition is also a good way to cause damage to avionics.   And yes, very low battery voltage during start will cause the starter valve not to open fully.   So battery voltage would be the very first thing to check.  



Mark

--

kelmonroe(at)comcast.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 1:19 pm Post subject: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Also check the gasket between the tach generator and the spider housing.  If 

you have the manual starter valve you should be able to hear the air leaking 

while the lever is depressed.  Doug Sapp has these gaskets in stock.  Kelley

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keithmckinley

Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 434

Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 8:28 am Post subject: Re: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Thanks guys! The reason I did mention the battery is because I do not have a trickle charger on it and it went dead when the airplane sat for 5 months. The first start I did out of annual was very similar (slow) on a weakly charged  battery. Subsequent starts seemed OK until the other day. You are most likely correct Mark about shot batteries since the batteries (2-12 volts in series) are 5-6 years old. I'll try the landing light test as well as the manual start and report back.



Thanks again!



Keith

viperdoc(at)mindspring.co
Guest

Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 4:53 pm Post subject: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Better yet Kieth just go the battery source and buy a new set. You have squeezed the lift out of those.

Doc



Sent from my iPad



On Dec 1, 2013, at 10:28 AM, "keithmckinley" <cetopfed(at)gmail.com> wrote:



 	  Quote: 	
		   

 

 Thanks guys! The reason I did mention the battery is because I do not have a trickle charger on it and it went dead when the airplane sat for 5 months. The first start I did out of annual was very similar (slow) on a weakly charged  battery. Subsequent starts seemed OK until the other day. You are most likely correct Mark about shot batteries since the batteries (2-12 volts in series) are 5-6 years old. I'll try the landing light test as well as the manual start and report back.

 

 Thanks again!

 

 Keith

 

 --------

 Keith McKinley

 700HS

 X26 Sebastian, FL

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=414692#414692

keithmckinley

Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 434

Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 7:33 am Post subject: Re: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Agreed Doc!!



K

mark.bitterlich(at)navy.m
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 12:02 pm Post subject: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Keith,



For what it is worth, I am a strong believer in the Battery Minder series of chargers/desulfators.   It is not too hard to wire in the included quick disconnect so that you can simply plug it in and go when the flight is over.   These are "smart" chargers and will let you know if the battery is not charging properly.  For the standard "two 12 volt batteries in series" method I'd go with the 4 amp model as the typical gel cells should not be charged with higher amperage versions.   These units are not designed to charge batteries that are just totally dead.  They're more for long term maintenance and they work exceptionally well.



Mark

--

PS

Joined: 08 Sep 2006
Posts: 84
Location: Texas

Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 8:30 pm Post subject: Re: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Mark,



Would you mind giving a brand or model you suggest.



Thanks



Phil

_________________
Phil

mark.bitterlich(at)navy.m
Guest

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 7:03 am Post subject: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

I noticed when I went to their web site yesterday that they have come out with a new model line, and I did not take the time to study each model number.



You're looking for a 24 vdc 4 amp model (they make an 8 amp model, but personally I would not go that route) that is made for AGM type batteries (assuming that is what you are using).



The very best advice I can give you would be to call them up, tell them exactly what batteries you are using, and let them make recommendations on their new product line.



Mark

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Dale

Joined: 30 May 2007
Posts: 178

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

two years ago I called Battery Minder and they built me a Odyssey 4amp AGM , 24 v Battery Minder out of a off the shelf version and relabeled it .  It charges the batteries to 13.64 volts or around there where it needs to be.  The last 1.5 volts are where the battery has most of its power if not charged all the way.

Dale

gyoung

Joined: 09 Jan 2006
Posts: 211
Location: Republic of Texas

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 7:59 am Post subject: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Looks like they now have a whole line of products specifically for aircraft batteries.

http://batteryminders.com/store.php?spawner=icon_home&&app=air

Regards,

Greg Young

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keithmckinley

Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 434

Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 6:24 pm Post subject: Re: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

For those following the original post....Batteries shot.



Keith

mark.bitterlich(at)navy.m
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 10:40 am Post subject: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger Keith...  it's happened to a lot of folks.  Thanks for letting us (me) know. 



Mark

________________________________________

From: owner-yak-list-server(at)matronics.com [owner-yak-list-server(at)matronics.com] on behalf of keithmckinley [cetopfed(at)gmail.com]

Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 9:24 PM

To: yak-list(at)matronics.com

Subject: Re: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help






For those following the original post....Batteries shot.



Keith



--------

Keith McKinley

700HS

X26 Sebastian, FL





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=414818#414818

keithmckinley

Joined: 11 Aug 2008
Posts: 434

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 12:02 pm Post subject: Re: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

hmmmm, perhaps that's why checking the battery voltage is on the before start checklist!



Keith

markdavis(at)wbsnet.org
Guest

Posted: Thu Dec 05, 2013 3:17 pm Post subject: Housai prop - VERY slow spin on start - help

Pure battery voltage isn't always a good clue without some sort of load on 

it.  I'd suggest testing the batteries after they're several years old on 

every condition inspection or anytime strange things starts happening with 

the electrical system.  I had an instructor beat into my head years ago to 

always start at the battery and its connections when diagnosing any 

electrical issue.  It was pretty good advice.



Mark Davis

N44YK



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