Flap Motor Blues

painless · Post by **painless** » Fri May 23, 2008 10:12 pm

Well, after hoping it wouldn't happen to me, I have been bitten by the greasy flap motor gremlin.

Way back when I ordered my fuse kit, I was one of the unlucky ones to get the last batch of Motion flap motors before Vans went with a new supplier. Turns out this batch had too much grease in the gearbox, which with time, works its way up into the motor and basically insulates the contacts.

There I was, entering the downwind for 11 in Oconto Wisconsin when I hit the flap switch for the first 10 degrees of flap. Nothun!! Tried again....Nada!! Drat!!!!

So I headed home and landed sans flaps with no problem. Actually, it was one of my better arrivals, just a tad faster.

Now I am faced with either following the posted instructions for cleaning said motor out, or forking over $350.00 for a new motor/actuator arm. I think I will see how cleaning this one goes and then order a new one if it goes TU on me again.

This on the eve of giving Young Eagles rides. Double Drat!!!

weezbad · Post by **weezbad** » Fri May 23, 2008 10:30 pm

clean it out. ya know power window motors on cars do this all the time. if you've ever had to hit a door to get the motor to run, you were a victim.
seems like i recall some of the newer motors did this also.

svanarts · Post by **svanarts** » Fri May 23, 2008 10:51 pm

There are reports of the newer motors doing it too. That's why I don't have electric flaps anymore. Just a good old johnson bar.

weezbad · Post by **weezbad** » Sat May 24, 2008 6:11 am

i like manual. the piper had them. it is a nice connection the plane...just like manual trim. but i am a plans type guy. so i followed what vans reccomended. if i modified this and that i'd never finish.

and im already 5 years into this.....

painless · Post by **painless** » Sun May 25, 2008 3:44 pm

Update on my flap problem......

After I got the motor/actuator out of the airplane, I was all set to start in with cleaning it. But before I started I figured I should see if the motor runs directly off a 12 volt battery. I have the Flap Positiong System that Van's sells in the airplane.

Sure enough, the motor worked like a charm. So the most common problem with the flap motor was not my problem.

Back to the drawing board. I figured I should troubleshoot from the other end, so I felt up behind the panel where the flap switch is.

PLUNK! Out falls a tiny starwasher. Then I could feel a couple dangling wires!! HOLY WAYWARD ELECTRONS, BATMAN!!

This is the only switch in the whole airplane that has ring terminals that are screwed to the switch. It came with the Flap Positioning System. Must not have torqued this particular terminal down adequately on initial installation.

So I basically removed my electric flap system for two measly wires at my switch!! Three hours later, and N782P is all back together with functioning flaps.

Moral of the story.......Don't jump the gun. Start with the basics first when trouble shooting. Could save you a BUNCH of time.

weezbad · Post by **weezbad** » Sun May 25, 2008 8:07 pm

glad you got it worked out...and roger that on jumping the gun. i have had people take tranmissions apart ot find out the ECM 3 fuse was blown due to a shorted compressor clutch coil.then have to reassemble the trans for FREE.