Vacuum pump with O-360 conversion?

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N171Q
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Joined: Sun Jun 18, 2006 7:10 am

Vacuum pump with O-360 conversion?

Post by N171Q »

I'm considering switching from the dual venturis to a vacuum pump with the Avcon O-360 conversion I'm working on.

I'll be doing minimal light IFR work once in a while, but we do see occasional light icing up here even in VFR conditions, so I'm worried about the venturis. Are the newer dry vacs considered more reliable?

What do you guys think.

JR
'56 C-172 180hp Tailwheel Converted
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Bruce Fenstermacher
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Joined: Tue Apr 23, 2002 11:24 am

Post by Bruce Fenstermacher »

I'd switch to the vacuum pump only to have the vacuum on the ground to properly spin up the gyros before I took off. I'd also leave at least one venturi as a backup source of vaccum.

However you'll be adding a more complex system that DOES fail in a vacuum pump.

Venturis are simple and will rarily if ever fail. I suppose a load of ice would do it but conder this. Most likely before ice causes the venturi to fail it will probably be causing a lot of other trouble that is more serious. Like excess weight and deteriorating your wings ability to create lift.
CAUTION - My forum posts may be worth what you paid for them!

Bruce Fenstermacher, Past President, TIC170A
Email: brucefenster at gmail.com
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