Very serious - please read

Regardless of the inaccuracies in the USA Today article, the float problem in Lycoming engine carburetors is real, and must be addressed. This problem happened to our Pawnee tow plane, resulting in an off field landing and extensive damage.

Tom Knauff

On Friday, June 20, 2014 4:54:54 AM UTC-6, wrote:
Regardless of the inaccuracies in the USA Today article, the float problem in Lycoming engine carburetors is real, and must be addressed. This problem happened to our Pawnee tow plane, resulting in an off field landing and extensive damage.



Tom Knauff

Yes, it's very real - and it's been recognized as a problem for at least 50 years.

I suspect most of the problem can be traced to the effects of engine vibration on delicate carburettor floats and the fact that float bowls tend to collect water condensation which causes corrosion. Corroding brass floats was why they tried plastic floats.

I've known operators who replaced their carburettors with rebuilt ones every 500 - 1000 hours as preventative maintenance. Just because the engine has a 2000 hour TBO doesn't mean the accessories will last that long.

This why it's nearly impossible to find a carburettor on a car these days.

At 13:47 20 June 2014, Bill D wrote:

This why it's nearly impossible to find a carburettor on a car these
days.

Er no. The reason you do not find carburetors in cars is the stringent
emission standards required, and the fact that they can only be met by
injected engines where the fuel is metered.

On Friday, June 20, 2014 8:19:58 AM UTC-7, Don Johnstone wrote:

Er no. The reason you do not find carburetors in cars is the stringent

emission standards required, and the fact that they can only be met by

injected engines where the fuel is metered.


I think the real reason you don't find more modern technology creeping into the legacy aircraft engines is FAA regulation, certification costs, and liability.

BTW, back in '09 there was a "mandatory SB" to replace metal, plastic, and previous foam floats with the new "blue epoxy foam" floats.

bumper