Starting issues

[gliderman]

Recently I have been having difficulty in getting the starter on my C170A, to turn the engine (C145) over fast enough, although the engine will start eventually. The battery (Gill 25) is new about 2 months ago and fully charged on the bench, the wiring looks OK, the adjustment on the starter and pull cable looks about right from what I have read elsewhere on these forums, but it is almost like the strater has grown weak and tired.

Could this be a sign that there is a starter overhaul in my immediate future? Any suggestions as to how to proceed? Is there something else that I am missing?

Thanks in advance

Mike Maskell
C-FCVW
Winnipeg, MB Canada

[bagarre]

This thread has some good troubleshooting ideas
http://www.cessna170.org/forums/viewtop ... it=starter


If the battery checks out OK, verify all the connections from the batter to the starter and the path back to the battery's ground.
The cables themselves may be corroded or in poor condition...depending on type and age.
You could also try (safely and carefully with mags and fuel off) to put jumper cables directly to the starter and see if you get the same performance.

Its possible the starter is going bad and needs overhauled but I'd verify everything else first.

Hope this helps some.

[gliderman]

I know that the battery is good, and when we applied a boost to the battery and then tried to start I had the same results......slow and sluggish starter operation. I did check over the wiring and it all appears in good order, so I still suspect the starter as being the culprit. Has anyone any experience in overhaul of these starters?

[canav8]

CHeck the load on the starter lug with a meter when the starter is engaged! IT will tell you what you want to know about the starter.

[GAHorn]

.... Has anyone any experience in overhaul of these starters?

I have overhaul ed several of these.
b sides bushings and brushes and checking for internal shorts...
there is very little else to do
however you should be aware that the clutch may slip internally
so if the starter motor spins fast ..... any slippage will be in the clutch
but it sounds as if your starter motor itself is spinning slow
and that can be bushings or a dead armature coil or shorted field
winding
starters do not last forever
they typically require service every 750-1000 hours
I recommend aero tech of louisville, unless you already have someone in mind