Ignition /starter problems

by Roland McKie in 2 Stroke Technical Questions 12 years ago

Hi all

I have a Rotax 582 engine flexwing/trike and have the following problem:

The a/c is fitted with a key-switch starter (like an automobile ignition switch) and it is working intermittently - sometimes it will operate the starter motor and other times it will just be dead. When I leave the switch on and turn the prop over by hand (main ignition switches off) I see that the red light on the switch (to show that it power is on) appears on and off as I turn the engine over. Is this linked to ignition power/ charging stator or another problem e.g. regulator/rectifier?

The engine can be started manually by hand swinging it.

Thanks for any feedback/help.

Re: Ignition /starter problems

by bill martin » 12 years ago

bill martin

10 757 0

Roland,

I think I would start with the battery. The next time it acts dead, check the battery voltage and see if the battery is charged. The 582 will start by hand propping and run great even with with a dead battery or no battery at all. If the battery is dead, start the engine by hand or with jumper cables and check the regulator output voltage. It should be putting out 12-13.5v. If you get no voltage, check the ac input to the regulator. It should be anywhere from 10 to 80vac depending on engine rpm. If you get output voltage but it is higher or lower than what it should be, you could have a bad regulator. Too high a voltage output can fry the battery. Too low and it won't charge enough to run the starter. It might be as simple as a bad switch or a loose or corroded ground wire. Hot wires are not usually a problem but ground wires are prone to corrosion even if tight. A common corrosion problem for starters is the ground wire from the engine block to the battery or frame.

Just making a guess here, but if you are getting a flickering red light when you hand prop, your generator is working. That means the problem is probably not going to be an expensive one.

Bill.

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Re: Ignition /starter problems

by Roland McKie » 12 years ago

Roland McKie

3 4 0

Bill

thanks for the advice. I have used a multimeter on the battery after starting and it showed around 11V (it is a 12 amp hour battery - which I believe is a little lightweight for the job). When the engine was running the multimeter showed about 12V (it is a dial type so not digitally accurate).

The weird thing is that if the starter won't turn, if you turn the engine over a few times ny hand you can get the starter mode back to life! I am wondering if there is something wrong with the generator stator (but as (I think) 8 of them are for charging and 4 for ignition then the flicker is, I suppose, the generator working as you say?).

I'll try checking for bad earth connections and/or corrosion on the earth leads.

Thanks

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Re: Ignition /starter problems

by bill martin » 12 years ago

bill martin

10 757 0

Roland,

If your battery is reading 11v at rest, it is pretty much dead. If it does go to 12v with the engine running, it sounds like your regulator is working. Another couple of items to check are the starter solenoid and the starter. Have a friend check the voltage at the starter as you turn the key to start. If you get voltage at the starter but the starter won't run, Its probably a weak battery. If you get no voltage at the starter, it could be the switch or the solenoid.

Bill.

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Ignition /starter problems

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