Today's Message Index:
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1. 12:43 PM - Lousy Idle (DEAN PSIROPOULOS)
2. 01:17 PM - Re: Lousy Idle (Bud Williams)
3. 01:43 PM - Re: Lousy Idle (G Vogt)
4. 04:37 PM - Re: Lousy Idle (Kelly McMullen)
Message 1
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Anyone have a few words of wisdom for me:
I'm pulling my hair out over a crappy engine idle that I can't seem to tame.
The basic problem is that I'll start the engine and it fires right up and
runs at about 700-750 RPM just like the book says it should. But from
there, all it seems to want to do is gradually idle slower and slower as the
engine warms up until it barely runs (between 450-500 RPM) by the time I've
done all my checks and am ready to take the runway for takeoff.
The engine is a new Mattituck built TMX-IO360 Lycoming clone with Lightspeed
electronic ignition on one side and a magneto on the other. It also has
Airflow Performance fuel injection with purge valve, a Sterba wood prop and
Mark Landoll's 11 pound steel inertia ring bolted to the flywheel. The
configuration is updraft with the AFP fuel controller bolted to the bottom
of the sump (like carbureted engines) and uses Van's airbox. I've read the
AFP manual and talked to the tech there and adjusted the idle mixture and
stop numerous times but I can't seem to stabilize it. When I have the
cowling off, I make the adjustments and taxi around a bit to warm up the
engine and it seems to be ok. Then I'll put the cowling back on and the
symptoms seem to reappear. There isn't anything banging against the cowling
that I can see that would be causing trouble so I'm totally stumped!
Anyone else having this problem? I'm flying out of a long but narrow strip
with trees on three sides and no good places to land near the airport.
Needless to say it makes me nervous, even though the engine runs strong just
off idle and at full power. Thanks.
Dean Psiropoulos
RV-6A N197DM
4.1 hours
Message 2
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I am no expert by any means, and I would not claim to have all of the
answers. I had a somewhat similar problem in an old C-35 Bonanza that had
spent a lot of time in the AZ desert. The engine started great, ran
beautifully and we never had a problem with it when we flew. The problem
ALWAYS occurred after landing and roll-out. We would bring the throttle back
to idle and the engine would die. We tweaked the fuel pressure until it was
at the stop. Same thing. During the annual we finally discovered the
culprit: the fuel line from the aux tank (in the baggage compartment) to the
engine was filled with sand (remember it came from the desert).
You may want to check your fuel lines for some possible contaminant. While I
am sure you don't have any sand, you may find you have something that takes
time to travel through the system to cause your problem.
Alternatively, you say that it runs fine with the cowling off but you have
the same problem when you put the cowling back on. Perhaps there is some
sort of blockage in your induction system between the cowling (air filter)
and the airbox?
I know these things sound simple and you most likely have looked into them,
but in the event you have not, sometimes it is the most simple of things
that creates our problems.
Bud
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-engines-list-server@matronics.com
[mailto:owner-engines-list-server@matronics.com] On Behalf Of DEAN
PSIROPOULOS
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 3:42 PM
Subject: Engines-List: Lousy Idle
<dean.psiropoulos@verizon.net>
Anyone have a few words of wisdom for me:
I'm pulling my hair out over a crappy engine idle that I can't seem to tame.
The basic problem is that I'll start the engine and it fires right up and
runs at about 700-750 RPM just like the book says it should. But from
there, all it seems to want to do is gradually idle slower and slower as the
engine warms up until it barely runs (between 450-500 RPM) by the time I've
done all my checks and am ready to take the runway for takeoff.
The engine is a new Mattituck built TMX-IO360 Lycoming clone with Lightspeed
electronic ignition on one side and a magneto on the other. It also has
Airflow Performance fuel injection with purge valve, a Sterba wood prop and
Mark Landoll's 11 pound steel inertia ring bolted to the flywheel. The
configuration is updraft with the AFP fuel controller bolted to the bottom
of the sump (like carbureted engines) and uses Van's airbox. I've read the
AFP manual and talked to the tech there and adjusted the idle mixture and
stop numerous times but I can't seem to stabilize it. When I have the
cowling off, I make the adjustments and taxi around a bit to warm up the
engine and it seems to be ok. Then I'll put the cowling back on and the
symptoms seem to reappear. There isn't anything banging against the cowling
that I can see that would be causing trouble so I'm totally stumped!
Anyone else having this problem? I'm flying out of a long but narrow strip
with trees on three sides and no good places to land near the airport.
Needless to say it makes me nervous, even though the engine runs strong just
off idle and at full power. Thanks.
Dean Psiropoulos
RV-6A N197DM
4.1 hours
Message 3
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Call Ken Tunnell at LyCon
(559) 651-1070
Sent from my iPhone
On Dec 31, 2008, at 12:42 PM, "DEAN PSIROPOULOS" <dean.psiropoulos@verizon.net
> wrote:
> >
>
> Anyone have a few words of wisdom for me:
>
> I'm pulling my hair out over a crappy engine idle that I can't seem
> to tame.
> The basic problem is that I'll start the engine and it fires right
> up and
> runs at about 700-750 RPM just like the book says it should. But from
> there, all it seems to want to do is gradually idle slower and
> slower as the
> engine warms up until it barely runs (between 450-500 RPM) by the
> time I've
> done all my checks and am ready to take the runway for takeoff.
>
>
> The engine is a new Mattituck built TMX-IO360 Lycoming clone with
> Lightspeed
> electronic ignition on one side and a magneto on the other. It also
> has
> Airflow Performance fuel injection with purge valve, a Sterba wood
> prop and
> Mark Landoll's 11 pound steel inertia ring bolted to the flywheel.
> The
> configuration is updraft with the AFP fuel controller bolted to the
> bottom
> of the sump (like carbureted engines) and uses Van's airbox. I've
> read the
> AFP manual and talked to the tech there and adjusted the idle
> mixture and
> stop numerous times but I can't seem to stabilize it. When I have the
> cowling off, I make the adjustments and taxi around a bit to warm up
> the
> engine and it seems to be ok. Then I'll put the cowling back on and
> the
> symptoms seem to reappear. There isn't anything banging against the
> cowling
> that I can see that would be causing trouble so I'm totally stumped!
>
> Anyone else having this problem? I'm flying out of a long but narrow
> strip
> with trees on three sides and no good places to land near the airport.
> Needless to say it makes me nervous, even though the engine runs
> strong just
> off idle and at full power. Thanks.
>
> Dean Psiropoulos
> RV-6A N197DM
> 4.1 hours
>
>
Message 4
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Look for an intake manifold leak. Also, are you certain all plugs are good?
Do you have an engine analyzer? If so, look for a cold cylinder, one not
running close to the other 3 on EGT or CHT. See how it idles on just the
magneto, or just the Lightspeed.
On Wed, Dec 31, 2008 at 1:42 PM, DEAN PSIROPOULOS <
dean.psiropoulos@verizon.net> wrote:
> dean.psiropoulos@verizon.net>
>
> Anyone have a few words of wisdom for me:
>
> I'm pulling my hair out over a crappy engine idle that I can't seem to
> tame.
> The basic problem is that I'll start the engine and it fires right up and
> runs at about 700-750 RPM just like the book says it should. But from
> there, all it seems to want to do is gradually idle slower and slower as
> the
> engine warms up until it barely runs (between 450-500 RPM) by the time I've
> done all my checks and am ready to take the runway for takeoff.
>
>
> The engine is a new Mattituck built TMX-IO360 Lycoming clone with
> Lightspeed
> electronic ignition on one side and a magneto on the other. It also has
> Airflow Performance fuel injection with purge valve, a Sterba wood prop and
> Mark Landoll's 11 pound steel inertia ring bolted to the flywheel. The
> configuration is updraft with the AFP fuel controller bolted to the bottom
> of the sump (like carbureted engines) and uses Van's airbox. I've read the
> AFP manual and talked to the tech there and adjusted the idle mixture and
> stop numerous times but I can't seem to stabilize it. When I have the
> cowling off, I make the adjustments and taxi around a bit to warm up the
> engine and it seems to be ok. Then I'll put the cowling back on and the
> symptoms seem to reappear. There isn't anything banging against the
> cowling
> that I can see that would be causing trouble so I'm totally stumped!
>
> Anyone else having this problem? I'm flying out of a long but narrow strip
> with trees on three sides and no good places to land near the airport.
> Needless to say it makes me nervous, even though the engine runs strong
> just
> off idle and at full power. Thanks.
>
> Dean Psiropoulos
> RV-6A N197DM
> 4.1 hours
>
>
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