Briar Rabbit
Line Up and Wait
Nice day yesterday so decided to practice a few touch and goes at dusk/dark. Ice in front of the hangar so a bit of a challenge getting the bird out. Preflighted, climbed in, pulled out the checklist and got to the point where I turn on the fuel pumps. IO-520 so a low and high boost pump. The low does not operate until the throttle is open and starter is engaged. So to initially prime the system you have to run the high boost pump. I always turn on the low pump first and then watch the fuel flow gage for movement when I turn on the high pump. When the needles come off the peg operate for about 3 to 5 seconds and then off with the high pump. So I am at this point and turn off the high pump when the starter engages on its own and turns the prop about 10 inches??? WTF? I then turn on the key and crank the prop about 4 revolutions - no fire so again run the high boost pump a bit, turn off the pump and the starter again moves the prop another 10 inches or so. I know it is going to be a nice flight but I have never had an engine want to start on it’s own?
I just had the fuel pump replaced and they also replaced the two boost pump switches. Obviously there is a gremlin in there so it is going back to the shop next week. Also I noticed that the charging system is not working during climb out, negative 4 to 5 amps above 2600 RPM but normal at all RPMs below that weird? Went negative on every climb out about 8 times and started working when I throttled back, even when taxiing back in at idle. And my panel lighting has an issue with the two rheostats turning on the same lights. This will be the third attempt by the avionics shop to get the new panel lighting wired correctly.
Must be haunted!
I just had the fuel pump replaced and they also replaced the two boost pump switches. Obviously there is a gremlin in there so it is going back to the shop next week. Also I noticed that the charging system is not working during climb out, negative 4 to 5 amps above 2600 RPM but normal at all RPMs below that weird? Went negative on every climb out about 8 times and started working when I throttled back, even when taxiing back in at idle. And my panel lighting has an issue with the two rheostats turning on the same lights. This will be the third attempt by the avionics shop to get the new panel lighting wired correctly.
Must be haunted!