I've had a Skytec starter on my bird since the beginning, but I'm tired of being "surprised" and stranded at foreign airports when it craps out unexpectedly.
For some reason, my bird eats Skytecs. I've put a total of four of them on (the same two rebuilt twice) over the last year and a half. This last time takes the cake, I was carrying a spare starter, since I was so gunshy.
Three weeks ago the main starter crapped out again (solenoid went bad). I put on the spare and flew home. Friday, with less than ten hours on the rebuilt starter, it crapped out and left me stranded in Houston.
Again, the (looks to be cheaply made) solenoid crapped out. The little metal plate that holds the hot lug was loose to the touch. Wiggling it would make the starter fire (if power was applied), but no way to do that with the cowl in place. This has been the case three of the four times. The metal holding the "hot" lug becomes loose and the starter becomes intermittent, then quits altogether.
So, suggestions are welcome. I'm looking at Kelly (now Hartzell) but any suggestion would be good.
Thanks
JP
For some reason, my bird eats Skytecs. I've put a total of four of them on (the same two rebuilt twice) over the last year and a half. This last time takes the cake, I was carrying a spare starter, since I was so gunshy.
Three weeks ago the main starter crapped out again (solenoid went bad). I put on the spare and flew home. Friday, with less than ten hours on the rebuilt starter, it crapped out and left me stranded in Houston.
Again, the (looks to be cheaply made) solenoid crapped out. The little metal plate that holds the hot lug was loose to the touch. Wiggling it would make the starter fire (if power was applied), but no way to do that with the cowl in place. This has been the case three of the four times. The metal holding the "hot" lug becomes loose and the starter becomes intermittent, then quits altogether.
So, suggestions are welcome. I'm looking at Kelly (now Hartzell) but any suggestion would be good.
Thanks
JP