A
Anonymous
Guest
I would like to make up some new plug wires for my 540, can anyone tell me if I need any kind of special resistance wire when using Bendix mags.
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marshmaster pat
Well-known member
Not that I know and not from my experience. I have made a few sets and just used high quality copper core wires. I bought wire with a little thicker rubber coating for extra protection. Used a little di-electric grease on the ends to reduce impacts from the moisture and humidity, but I use that on every electrical connection. Have not seen any difference in performance.
cowboy
Moderator
All shielded ignition harnesses used on aircraft are used with resistor plugs. They do this on aircraft to keep radio interference down to a min. On your airboat this will probably not be a big concern, so you want to get non-resistor wire for best spark energy.
The hardest part is getting a good connection at the distributor block.
I use ferrulls by taking apart aluminium pop rivets, and crimping them on the mettalic conductor.
Some people use a small brass screw run straight into the end of the wire for this connection to the conact spring in the block.
I have 8mm wires on my engine, but getting them through the rubber gland was a little tough. 7mm might make the job a little easier, and I see most folks use that. Just make sure you buy mettalic core wire like marshmaster recommended, and you sould be able to install them with out to much difficulty.
Oh yeah, the dielectric grease is a must for a reliable connection at the mag.
If you are chasing an ignition miss, and the wires do not fix the problem, then try cleaning the dist. block with alcohol. Dirty dist. blocks will track to ground alot easier than you might expect. Probably should clean them up while your in there installing the wires.
The hardest part is getting a good connection at the distributor block.
I use ferrulls by taking apart aluminium pop rivets, and crimping them on the mettalic conductor.
Some people use a small brass screw run straight into the end of the wire for this connection to the conact spring in the block.
I have 8mm wires on my engine, but getting them through the rubber gland was a little tough. 7mm might make the job a little easier, and I see most folks use that. Just make sure you buy mettalic core wire like marshmaster recommended, and you sould be able to install them with out to much difficulty.
Oh yeah, the dielectric grease is a must for a reliable connection at the mag.
If you are chasing an ignition miss, and the wires do not fix the problem, then try cleaning the dist. block with alcohol. Dirty dist. blocks will track to ground alot easier than you might expect. Probably should clean them up while your in there installing the wires.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Tried to find Marshmaster, with no luck. could you tell mw where I might find a distributor
cowboy
Moderator
you can buy new parts for your bendix mags on-line at aircraft spruce for one, but the prices on new airworthy parts are very steep.
I don't know where you are located, but if you find out who the local aircraft mag man is, he probably has a box full of these components in "as-removed condition" that will be a whole lot cheaper, and perfectly acceptable for airboat operation.
Or you can try calling Howard "the mag man" Libersky. (863) 467-6464
He is located in Okeechobee. He probably has the parts you need in good used condition.
Shoot I need to call him myself, and get one of our engines running smoother.
Let me know if you can't find what you need, and I'll help you locate the parts.
I don't know where you are located, but if you find out who the local aircraft mag man is, he probably has a box full of these components in "as-removed condition" that will be a whole lot cheaper, and perfectly acceptable for airboat operation.
Or you can try calling Howard "the mag man" Libersky. (863) 467-6464
He is located in Okeechobee. He probably has the parts you need in good used condition.
Shoot I need to call him myself, and get one of our engines running smoother.
Let me know if you can't find what you need, and I'll help you locate the parts.
Has anyone tried this ignition system?
http://www.geocities.com/lycoming540/Classifieds.html
edit: It's outlaw airboat in FL, the site is having capacity problems today. I think it's Gary Barber in Plant City, he advertises in the trader. It looks like a dual coil distributor set up to me.
http://www.geocities.com/lycoming540/Classifieds.html
edit: It's outlaw airboat in FL, the site is having capacity problems today. I think it's Gary Barber in Plant City, he advertises in the trader. It looks like a dual coil distributor set up to me.
marshmaster pat
Well-known member
Lots of guys on the Lycoming Yahoo site are using electronic ignition. Most of them love them. I always was worried about getting all the electronic parts wet and corrosion starting.
But they have a system that is called a shower of sparks and it supposedly produces lots more spark to get the motor started.
But they have a system that is called a shower of sparks and it supposedly produces lots more spark to get the motor started.
cowboy
Moderator
Yeah Marshmaster,
I have the Bendix s-200 "shower of sparks" mags on my 200 lycoming.
It is actually an old system that was popular years ago.
It uses a main set of points in each mag for normal running, but has an extra set in one mag for starting. The extra set is the retard points, and comes into play only during starting.
These mags are direct coupled with no impulse, and have a starting vibrator mounted remotely from the mag. when you hit the starter the vibrator energizes the condenser and coil with battery power at a retarded timing to ease the starters life. This sytem will actually buzz the plug with multiple sparks as long as the rotor in the mag is lined up with that particular plug.
Once the engine fires, the main points take over.
Impulse coupled mags rely on the impulse coupling to retard the timing, and snap the mags rotor over faster that the starters rpm. At those reduced rpm's on the starter, the mags can't generate a decent energy, and need to be sped up to provide decent spark for starting.
Both systems are basically accomplishing the same task, but the shower of spark will provide a couple of seperate arcs during one firing.
Most people give up on the shower system as the vibrators are all mechanincal, and can be problematic. I installed a slickstart system which is all solid state, and is a direct replacment for the expensive starting vibrators. It has cured all my starting problems so far, and I am waiting to see how long the unit lasts.
I know one salty airboater who had a carborated lyc 360 w/ shower of sparks mags on it. He could actually disable his starter, prime the cylinder by pulling through a stroke or two, and set his crank timing mark. Then he would hit the shower of sparks, the engine would fire and run from that one cylinder touching off, whithout the starter. Anyway I thought that to be most impressive.
I am going to have to check into that system that Rick posted. Looks interesting to me.
I have the Bendix s-200 "shower of sparks" mags on my 200 lycoming.
It is actually an old system that was popular years ago.
It uses a main set of points in each mag for normal running, but has an extra set in one mag for starting. The extra set is the retard points, and comes into play only during starting.
These mags are direct coupled with no impulse, and have a starting vibrator mounted remotely from the mag. when you hit the starter the vibrator energizes the condenser and coil with battery power at a retarded timing to ease the starters life. This sytem will actually buzz the plug with multiple sparks as long as the rotor in the mag is lined up with that particular plug.
Once the engine fires, the main points take over.
Impulse coupled mags rely on the impulse coupling to retard the timing, and snap the mags rotor over faster that the starters rpm. At those reduced rpm's on the starter, the mags can't generate a decent energy, and need to be sped up to provide decent spark for starting.
Both systems are basically accomplishing the same task, but the shower of spark will provide a couple of seperate arcs during one firing.
Most people give up on the shower system as the vibrators are all mechanincal, and can be problematic. I installed a slickstart system which is all solid state, and is a direct replacment for the expensive starting vibrators. It has cured all my starting problems so far, and I am waiting to see how long the unit lasts.
I know one salty airboater who had a carborated lyc 360 w/ shower of sparks mags on it. He could actually disable his starter, prime the cylinder by pulling through a stroke or two, and set his crank timing mark. Then he would hit the shower of sparks, the engine would fire and run from that one cylinder touching off, whithout the starter. Anyway I thought that to be most impressive.
I am going to have to check into that system that Rick posted. Looks interesting to me.
marshmaster pat
Well-known member
Cowboy - that is a good idea on that 360. Somebody has a finely tuned motor.