Bendix Dual magneto reliability

[Vref]

How reliable are these singe drive dual Bendix magnetos. Apart from the issue of the known re-installation issues (packing , nut torque) ...

Did anyone experience serious issues on a M20J due to this..?

Is it worth the  expense to replace the accesory backplate casing capable of holding two magneto's?

This means going from IO360A3B6d and removing the D to a IO360A3B6......?

How much does it cost, given the fact that my 600 Hrs engine is already open for a schockloading inspection .can it be done during a repair or only during an engine overhaul

thanks

Luc

 

 

[blacknchrome]

Has anyone read the June '10 Aviation Consumer?  It has an article titled "The D-Mag's Demise: Not a Crisis -- Yet".  Sure doesn't sound good for availability of the dual mag used on the J's IO-360A3B6D in the near future.  After reading it, I would recommend be switching to Lycoming's A3B6 non D engine at overhaul. 

[Vref]

As usual it looks like everything depends on how good the maintenance is done...on these old dual mag's..

Would be interested to have some more details on the conversion to a non D  A3B6...technically and financially..?

Anybody did the move?

Luc

[N57039]

To be precise there is a 500 hour inspection for the D mag; it isn't a TBO time. OTOH, it is VERY important to do it. I just had mine done a few months ago, and a crack was found in the main block. That could lead to total failure.

I also had an incident a few years ago where both sets of points went to zero gap in a 10 second time span (according to my JPI download). That shut the engine down at 9000' and led to an exciting and unplanned but uneventful landing.

Maintain that mag!