LIghtweight starter recommendations for PA24-250?

[Chris Kennedy]

I'm coming up on annual time for 24P, and as usual I'm planning to take
advantage of the fact that the thing is taken to bits to make some
improvements. On the list this time around are new fuel cells, new gear
harnesses and switches (since there's no evidence that they've ever been
replaced and visual evidence that the harnesses are deteriorating) and a
new starter. It's the latter category that I'm looking for suggestions.

The obvious choices are various offerings from SkyTec, Magnaflight and
B&C. SkyTec is pushing their new inline starter for the PA24, but being
a new offering and in the same street price range I'd probably be
inclined to go with the B&C simply because it has more time in service.
I was curious what other Comanche 250/260 drivers were doing in this
regard (and before someone suggests it, the ICS/Delphi forum has been
less than useful in this regard)

[hs]

I had G&N put in a Skytec when they overhauled the io540 in my pa24-260.
I'm glad I did it. Its biggest advantage has been on hot starts. They are
just not a problem anymore. One downside, though minor, is that there seems
to be less torque available. I find myself needing to "bump" or "rock" the
starter to get it over the first compression hump; then it cranks at a fast
pace.

I must admit I didn't do a lot of research into other starter alternatives.

Let's keep those pa-24's flying...
Harry

"Chris Kennedy" > wrote in message
...
> I'm coming up on annual time for 24P, and as usual I'm planning to take
> advantage of the fact that the thing is taken to bits to make some
> improvements. On the list this time around are new fuel cells, new gear
> harnesses and switches (since there's no evidence that they've ever been
> replaced and visual evidence that the harnesses are deteriorating) and a
> new starter. It's the latter category that I'm looking for suggestions.
>
> The obvious choices are various offerings from SkyTec, Magnaflight and
> B&C. SkyTec is pushing their new inline starter for the PA24, but being
> a new offering and in the same street price range I'd probably be
> inclined to go with the B&C simply because it has more time in service.
> I was curious what other Comanche 250/260 drivers were doing in this
> regard (and before someone suggests it, the ICS/Delphi forum has been
> less than useful in this regard)

[Ben Jackson]

In article >,
Chris Kennedy > wrote:
> I was curious what other Comanche 250/260 drivers were doing in this

I'd have to check the records to see what starter I have, but I do know
that the previous owner installed the 'copper cable STC', which replaces
the wires from the battery to the firewall. I've heard that starting
problems cured with new starters often expose weaknesses in the electrical
system.

--
Ben Jackson
>
http://www.ben.com/

[Chris Kennedy]

Ben Jackson wrote:

[snip]

> I'd have to check the records to see what starter I have, but I do know
> that the previous owner installed the 'copper cable STC', which replaces
> the wires from the battery to the firewall. I've heard that starting
> problems cured with new starters often expose weaknesses in the electrical
> system.

Yeah, been there, done that. Since installing the copper cables I can
almost taxi the aircraft on the old Prestolite starter -- when the
bendix decides to engage. Rather that perpetually
cleaning/lubing/replacing the thing I just want to junk the Prestolite
in favor of something bendix-free but would like to be sure that I
select something that (a) is going to fit properly and (b) isn't simply
going to be a fresh sort of hell ;)

[John Galban]

Chris Kennedy > wrote in message >...
>
> Yeah, been there, done that. Since installing the copper cables I can
> almost taxi the aircraft on the old Prestolite starter -- when the
> bendix decides to engage. Rather that perpetually
> cleaning/lubing/replacing the thing I just want to junk the Prestolite
> in favor of something bendix-free but would like to be sure that I
> select something that (a) is going to fit properly and (b) isn't simply
> going to be a fresh sort of hell ;)

I believe that the Sky-Tec is the only lightweight that is
Bendix-free. The Magnaflite and B&C use the traditional Bendix
arrangement.

John (Bendix-hater) Galban=====>N4BQ (PA28-180)