Cracked Sky-Tec Starter

[bullojm1]

Yesterday when I attempted to start my engine for an evening flight, I experienced a kickback. I do occasionally get a kickback, so I thought nothing of it until I tried to start the airplane again, where I was greeted with just a noise coming from forward of the firewall without any movement in the propeller. I said a few choice words and pulled the RV back into the hangar to decowl.

Upon removal of the cowl it was pretty obvious what the issue was. The cast casing on the front of the starter surrounding the bendix cracked when the engine kicked back.




I know I am not the first one to experience this, but it sure did suck! However, it couldn't of happened at a better time or location. I am going to take this "opportunity" to upgrade my starter. I have never been thrilled with the starting power. Many times it couldn't even spin the propeller around a full rotation. I always assumed it was due to the awesomely high compression my kick-butt engine had. Perhaps it's just always been a normal engine with a sub-par starter.

So here's my list of options:

1) Stick with the same Sky-Tec 149-12LS starter (Warranty Repair?)
2) Switch to the Sky-Tec 149-NL ($429)
3) Switch to the B&C BCS206 Starter($550)
4) Switch to the Hartzel X-Drive Starter ($430)

I think I am leaning to go with either the SkyTec 149-NL or the B&C starter. The Hartzel's design is just too close to my current starter, so I have some concerns over the casting breaking again.

[kennyw]

...

So here's my list of options:

1) Stick with the same Sky-Tec 149-12LS starter (Warranty Repair?)
2) Switch to the Sky-Tec 149-NL ($429)
3) Switch to the B&C BCS206 Starter($550)
4) Switch to the Hartzel X-Drive Starter ($430)

I think I am leaning to go with either the SkyTec 149-NL or the B&C starter. The Hartzel's design is just too close to my current starter, so I have some concerns over the casting breaking again.

How about the SkyTec 149-XLT series? Will it fit your application? They claim its casting has been "modified" and "reinforced to resist kickback". And the price is right at $400.

[captain_john]

Mikey,

I seem to recall someone telling me that the b and c starter was somehow too large for the rv? Either it interfered with the intake, cowling or both?

CJ

[painless]

CJ

Not true. The B&C fits just fine on my 0320, standard updraft carb. Doesn't come close to interfering with anything. It's actually a pretty light and compact unit.

Even though it's a bit more expensive, I highly recommend it.

[captain_john]

Cool, if I didn't already have my starter that came with the engine I would have purchased a B&C. I have the B&C alternator. They say they make a fine product! I look forward to having no problems with it.

CJ

[painless]

I have both the B&C alternator and starter. Neither of them have missed a beat. Good stuff.

[bullojm1]

Someone gave me a *free* B&C starter the other day with the caveat that it didn't seem to produce all that much power. As most of you know, I have a hard time refusing something for free (hence my callsign "Halfprice"). I cracked her open last night and discovered there was a TON of oil in it, especially on the brushes. I cleaned up everything and it looks brand new. I am off to the hangar now to install it and hopefully be back in the air.

[painless]

Makes me feel better that you're trying one for free. Would be my luck to recommend one and then have it go TU on you!

[bullojm1]

Holy cow, the B&C starter is a BEAST!



It turns the engine over WAY faster than the sky-tec could ever do. I think the propeller could spin fast enough to taxi with! It's quieter to boot! I had no interference issues when I reinstalled my lower cowling. Spend the money on the B&C starters. It's totally worth it.

[painless]

I'm not one to say I told you so, but......

[kennyw]

... Spend the money on the B&C starters. It's totally worth it.

Roger that! Saved for future reference.

[bullojm1]

I decided to send in my Sky-Tec starter to see what the repair estimate will be. If the repair estimate is reasonable (it should be free since it never worked right), I will get it fixed so there is an extra spare starter on the field for anyone who needs it. The gentleman on the phone seemed to think there was always an issue with the starter since it never spun the propeller all that fast. My argument was the factory faulty starter caused kick back, since I have checked my impulse coupling is working on my Slick magneto, and both mags are times properly.

I will report back when I get the word back from Sky-Tec.

[paulie]

Good luck with them. I had a brand new one that did the same thing. No kickback but they wanted to argue. I finally won and they sent a new one.
The new one had a smooth nose while the broken ones nose was rather lumpy.
Makes me think the early design was defective and they changed it on the down low.

[bullojm1]

Good luck with them. I had a brand new one that did the same thing. No kickback but they wanted to argue. I finally won and they sent a new one.
The new one had a smooth nose while the broken ones nose was rather lumpy.
Makes me think the early design was defective and they changed it on the down low.

I just received a call from Sky-Tec and they agreed to fully replace the starter for free. They indicated it was an older starter, and the new ones fix a lot of the issues I had been having. I am torn on what to do now - keep the B&C on, or toss the fixed Sky-Tec back on?!?! Nevertheless, great and quick customer service from B&C. They called me the day they received it, and let me know it would ship out tomorrow! A great stand-up company!

[paulie]

I would ebay the skytec

[Vlad]

I would sell the Sky Tec and burn the money


[/img]

[bullojm1]

I've thought about selling it, but in good conscious I can't. Since I received the B&C starter for free from a fellow RV'er at the airport, I am going to keep the Sky-Tec as an extra in my hangar for the next person who might need it at the airport. I am going to conduct an experiment and toss the new Sky Tec back on the RV to see how it performs with the updated design.

[BSwayze]

Mike, it's been a while since your last post in this thread. So I got to wondering, did you check out the new Sky-Tec after all? How did it work? I'm curious.

[ptrotter]

There are cases where the B&C starter will not fit. It would not work on my engine, If I remember correctly there was some interference with the linkage for my fuel injection on the forward facing sump. I couldn't use the Skytec inline starter either so I had to go with the basic Skytec starter, I forget the number at this point. When Mattituck built the engine they didn't use the Van's linkage when they tested the engine so I didn't realize the B&C wouldn't work until I mounted the engine and installed the linkage so I have a brand new B&C starter sitting on a shelf.

[bullojm1]

Mike, it's been a while since your last post in this thread. So I got to wondering, did you check out the new Sky-Tec after all? How did it work? I'm curious.

Bruce,

To be quite honest I haven't had a chance to swap back in the Sky-Tec starter. While it is on my list, it isn't all that high up on it since the B&C starter I have keeps on working!