Enjoying the single key life

[RobertGary1]

Rekeying complete. I now have a single key. I kept the mag key. I was able to remove the cylinder from the door and have a locksmith replace the wafers. The baggage door was the challenge. It has very tight clearances. The original cylinder and throw is riveted to the lock to save space vs a screw. So I bought a new cam lock and had it keyed. I then fabricated the throw and customize a screw to fit. I cut the screw to precise length and then ground most of the head off. You don't need much torque so you don't need a lot of screw slot. 

Now it's all working well, keys slide nicely and the cam locks are adjusted to provide the correct travel. 

-Robert

[M20F]

Anyone replace their ignition key with magneto switches and a start button?  I have nice Medco locks on the door/baggage and would really like to ditch the ignition key. 

[LANCECASPER]

Hard to do a mag check with a button

[Andy95W]

Hard to do a mag check with a button

He would use toggle switches for the magnetos, and a pushbutton to engage the starter relay.

[Andy95W]

Anyone replace their ignition key with magneto switches and a start button?  I have nice Medco locks on the door/baggage and would really like to ditch the ignition key. 

The start button would probably have to be a 4-pole toggle switch.

1- ground the right magneto

2- ground the left primary magneto winding

3- power the shower of sparks and supply to the secondary left magneto winding

4- engage the starter relay

Still, it would be a very interesting way of getting rid of the magneto key.  

Some states, after 9/11, required at least 2 locks to prevent aircraft theft and terrorist use (I know, stupid idea, ineffective knee-jerk reaction).  So in a state like that, you would still need another locking device for the throttle or something.

[Seth]

He would use toggle switches for the magnetos, and a pushbutton to engage the starter relay.

It's how many twins operate.  My biggest surprise when flying a twin for the first time is that there was no key for running the plane, just door locks.

 

The key was only introduced as marketing to make people feel similar to driving their automobiles.  Many aircraft could easily just have switches and push buttons for starting.

 

Wasn't it old Cessna 150s that had the T-Handle as the starter?  

 

-Seth

[Seth]

The start button would probably have to be a 4-pole toggle switch.

1- ground the right magneto

2- ground the left primary magneto winding

3- power the shower of sparks and supply to the secondary left magneto winding

4- engage the starter relay

Still, it would be a very interesting way of getting rid of the magneto key.  

Some states, after 9/11, required at least 2 locks to prevent aircraft theft and terrorist use (I know, stupid idea, ineffective knee-jerk reaction).  So in a state like that, you would still need another locking device for the throttle or something.

Prop locks are required at at least one of the DC 3 airports - maybe all three, I'm not sure, so if you park your aircraft in the FRZ, the double standard is there.  I wonder what they do for twins - or larger passenger jets that are never really locked - like a 747.

 

-Seth

[RobertGary1]

I learned to fly in a Cessna 140. It just had toggles for each mag. No key other than the door. Not sure what type of FAA impact it could have to use such a mechanism in a Mooney though.

 

-Robert

[Bob_Belville]

My favorite mechanic, and many experienced linemen, like to see that ignition key lying up on the glareshield before approaching the business end of the fan.

[RobertGary1]

 

Wasn't it old Cessna 150s that had the T-Handle as the starter?  

 

-Seth

The Aeronca I used to have had a ratcheting Armstrong starter. It was a level in the cockpit you could pull that would pull the prop through a blade. It assumed you already hand primed the engine. I never used it and just hand prop'ed it. I couldn't phantom trying to hand start a 200HP Mooney though. 

 

-Robert

[Bob_Belville]

My favorite mechanic, and many experienced linemen, like to see that ignition key lying up on the glareshield before approaching the business end of the fan.

And I wonder how many of you have pushed your plane back into your hanger and then discovered that the mags were hot while you had your precious fingers on the prop. Cold sweat moment.

ISTM we need more habits that add redundancies to safe practices.

 

[gsxrpilot]

Rekeying complete. I now have a single key. I kept the mag key. I was able to remove the cylinder from the door and have a locksmith replace the wafers. The baggage door was the challenge. It has very tight clearances.

I need to do this. My mag and baggage door are the same key already. Only the cockpit door is different.

[RobertGary1]

I need to do this. My mag and baggage door are the same key already. Only the cockpit door is different.

That will be easy. Just unscrew the latch behind the lock and the cylinder will drop out of the assembly. Just don't spill the wafers everywhere. 

 

-Robert

[StinkBug]

The Archer I trained in had switches for the mags and starter in the overhead panel. No key.

[bonal]

Wasn't it old Cessna 150s that had the T-Handle as the starter?  I love the T handle starter

 

 

C150PNL1.pdf