I have a Rans S7 powered by a ROTAX 912 UL (80 HP) Serial Number 4403282.
The engine has less than 400 operating hours on it.
The problem:
On August 6th I took the aircraft out of the hanger and put it in the lake behind my house and it would not start. The prop would just make 1/4 turns and not fully turnover.
I thought the battery must have run down so I put it on the battery charger for several hours until the battery was fully charged.
I tried starting again, same thing. I took the cowling off and tried starting while observing the ignition components. The starter relay was "chattering" quite bad. I continued to work the key switch on and off and eventually the starter kicked in and the engine started and ran fine. When I shut it off and tried to restart the engine the chattering returned and the engine would not start. Therefore I came to the conclusion that the starter relay must be malfunctioning and replaced it with a new one.
After installing I tried starting the engine and no change. The started relay continued to chatter and the engine failed to start. So I then thought I should check to ensure all electrical connections are tight and OK. I went from the battery all the way to the starter and have found no loose or corroded connections.
I then focused on the starter. I removed it, took it apart and checked the brushes - all looks fine. I reassembled the starter components and bench tested it with 12V DC and it appears to be operating fine.
I reinstalled the starter and then tried to start the engine. The starter relay did not chatter, the circuit was made all the way to the starter because I could hear the starter turning. But the starter gear was not mating with its mating gear in the engine. The starter was running free. Somehow I must have not installed the starter correctly!!
I removed the starter again and that is where this project is at the moment.
Does anyone have any step by step procedures for installing a starter in a 912 UL engine? If you can offer any advice at all on this issue I would certainly appreciate it.
Thanks
Doug Dean
email: deandoug@nbnet.nb.ca
The engine has less than 400 operating hours on it.
The problem:
On August 6th I took the aircraft out of the hanger and put it in the lake behind my house and it would not start. The prop would just make 1/4 turns and not fully turnover.
I thought the battery must have run down so I put it on the battery charger for several hours until the battery was fully charged.
I tried starting again, same thing. I took the cowling off and tried starting while observing the ignition components. The starter relay was "chattering" quite bad. I continued to work the key switch on and off and eventually the starter kicked in and the engine started and ran fine. When I shut it off and tried to restart the engine the chattering returned and the engine would not start. Therefore I came to the conclusion that the starter relay must be malfunctioning and replaced it with a new one.
After installing I tried starting the engine and no change. The started relay continued to chatter and the engine failed to start. So I then thought I should check to ensure all electrical connections are tight and OK. I went from the battery all the way to the starter and have found no loose or corroded connections.
I then focused on the starter. I removed it, took it apart and checked the brushes - all looks fine. I reassembled the starter components and bench tested it with 12V DC and it appears to be operating fine.
I reinstalled the starter and then tried to start the engine. The starter relay did not chatter, the circuit was made all the way to the starter because I could hear the starter turning. But the starter gear was not mating with its mating gear in the engine. The starter was running free. Somehow I must have not installed the starter correctly!!
I removed the starter again and that is where this project is at the moment.
Does anyone have any step by step procedures for installing a starter in a 912 UL engine? If you can offer any advice at all on this issue I would certainly appreciate it.
Thanks
Doug Dean
email: deandoug@nbnet.nb.ca
