DCarlton Posted August 27, 2021 Report Share Posted August 27, 2021 Could use a recommendation for a quality starter contractor. Tried to fly today. No luck. Mechanic chased the problem to the relay. Haven't looked in the parts manual yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted August 27, 2021 Report Share Posted August 27, 2021 Try SkyTec 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCarlton Posted August 27, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2021 13 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said: Try SkyTec Just ordered the Sky Tec STS-S12. Thanks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janat83 Posted August 28, 2021 Report Share Posted August 28, 2021 SkyTec lasted under 2 year and 200 hrs, I'm not aware if there's any better quality, I'm not totally satisfied with their starters solenoids however their starters are the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCarlton Posted August 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2021 11 minutes ago, Janat83 said: SkyTec lasted under 2 year and 200 hrs, I'm not aware if there's any better quality, I'm not totally satisfied with their starters solenoids however their starters are the best Interesting. I didn't seen an approved alternative. And yes, my SkyTec starter is probably 15 years old. So far so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtVandelay Posted August 28, 2021 Report Share Posted August 28, 2021 SkyTec lasted under 2 year and 200 hrs, I'm not aware if there's any better quality, I'm not totally satisfied with their starters solenoids however their starters are the best I just had to replace my Skytec starter that I installed in 2016…I figured it had only 500 starts…my 2020 car starter probably has more starts.If their the best then we’re getting screwed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetti Posted August 28, 2021 Report Share Posted August 28, 2021 14 hours ago, Janat83 said: SkyTec lasted under 2 year and 200 hrs, I'm not aware if there's any better quality, I'm not totally satisfied with their starters solenoids however their starters are the best This is typical of metal can solenoid for reliability. At one point I was able to find the Potter Bunsfield relay at McMaster Car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apriav Posted August 29, 2021 Report Share Posted August 29, 2021 Spruce has a Lamar starter relay that I have good service from. Be sure you get a starter relay, not a continuous duty relay. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCarlton Posted August 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2021 2 hours ago, apriav said: Spruce has a Lamar starter relay that I have good service from. Be sure you get a starter relay, not a continuous duty relay. I ordered what I thought was a Skytec STS-S12 starter relay. I received a Lamar relay marked STS-S12 with a Lamar business card. I'm wondering if Skytec is now buying their Relays from Lamar. It came with the required PMA paperwork; it's made in Mexico; looks solid. I'm hoping for good service life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted August 30, 2021 Report Share Posted August 30, 2021 Interesting… Skytec doesn’t seem to have relays listed as a product… https://skytec.aero/product/lycoming-aircraft-starters/ I would think they would rebrand somebody else’s to make sure their users could easily purchase a proper relay… for the application… Lamar knows relays… https://lamartech.com/contactors-non-pmad/ PP thoughts only, not a mechanic… Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCarlton Posted August 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2021 16 hours ago, carusoam said: Interesting… Skytec doesn’t seem to have relays listed as a product… https://skytec.aero/product/lycoming-aircraft-starters/ I would think they would rebrand somebody else’s to make sure their users could easily purchase a proper relay… for the application… Lamar knows relays… https://lamartech.com/contactors-non-pmad/ PP thoughts only, not a mechanic… Best regards, -a- The "Skytec" relay I received from Spruce was badged as a LAMAR STS-S12. It's PMA'ed. Check out results of the failure analysis on the old relay. Looks like the black plastic spring guide washer broke and got wedged preventing the contact washer from closing. That thing could have lasted another 50 years if it weren't for the plastic piece. Little corrosion inside and the contacts were clean. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted August 31, 2021 Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 Great pic DC! I’ve never seen the inside of one of these things, good or bad… Bummer that the plastic piece was the failure… Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCarlton Posted August 31, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2021 (edited) 1 minute ago, DCarlton said: What's interesting, is that it looks like it's designed to be mounted with the axis of the moving contactor and spring vertical. Mine was mounted using the original '67F holes but it was rotated 90 degrees to a horizontal position. Just for grins, I'm going to check with Lamar to make sure they're intended to be mounted in any orientation. I'm guessing it might last longer mounted vertically. The one that failed appears to be an early '90s unit; about 30 years old. No idea what the original unit looked like. Edited August 31, 2021 by DCarlton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captd Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 I'm wondering if anyone has some input on this. We're 99% sure we've narrowed down the starting issues I've been having to the Kissling starter solenoid, PN 26.57.01. The problem is, I can't find anyone who has one of these in stock. I was thinking that a LAMAR STS-S24 Starter Solenoid would work, however it doesn't look like it's PMA'd for the M20R. I'm waiting to hear back from Maxwell for some guidance on this. In the meantime, the airplane's stuck on the ground. Are you aware of any alternatives? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 27 minutes ago, captd said: I'm wondering if anyone has some input on this. We're 99% sure we've narrowed down the starting issues I've been having to the Kissling starter solenoid, PN 26.57.01. The problem is, I can't find anyone who has one of these in stock. I was thinking that a LAMAR STS-S24 Starter Solenoid would work, however it doesn't look like it's PMA'd for the M20R. I'm waiting to hear back from Maxwell for some guidance on this. In the meantime, the airplane's stuck on the ground. Are you aware of any alternatives? Looks like you have two choices for Lamar…. 12V and 24V… the S24 is probably the hint… that Os are 24V… Seems to be a pretty standard Aviation part available through spruce and others… PP thoughts only, not a mechanic… Best regards, -a- https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pnpages/07-03563.php?gclid=CjwKCAjw8KmLBhB8EiwAQbqNoIUyytvkNKz60_gkXnAJov_WXxo8fB1bUxPb1HVYtuxTV4tBCsVcnRoCz0kQAvD_BwE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Peace Posted October 16, 2021 Report Share Posted October 16, 2021 My skytec contactor is on 6 ish years and 600 hours....it must have 600 starts on it... I have a new battery contactor in my fly away kit....mine looks original but still going strong....I figured it is light enough and cheap enough to carry with me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCarlton Posted October 17, 2021 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 (edited) Since this thread is open again, I did check with Lamar and they confirmed that the contactors can be mounted in any orientation without affecting the service life. If you use the original mounting holes, you may find the contactor rotated 90 degrees. I'm not a mechanic or expert either; just a M20F owner. Edited October 17, 2021 by DCarlton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LANCECASPER Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 On 8/28/2021 at 11:07 PM, DCarlton said: I ordered what I thought was a Skytec STS-S12 starter relay. I received a Lamar relay marked STS-S12 with a Lamar business card. I'm wondering if Skytec is now buying their Relays from Lamar. It came with the required PMA paperwork; it's made in Mexico; looks solid. I'm hoping for good service life. SkyTec is now owned by Hartzell, so is Lamar. They are using the Skytec name on a lot of their starters and relays that used to carry other brand names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetti Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 https://www.mcmaster.com/relays/input-voltage~12v-dc/switching-current~200a/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetti Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 for the 24 volt crowd https://www.ebay.com/itm/284476285606?hash=item423c1ba2a6:g:5ooAAOSwd7RfsQtg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetti Posted October 17, 2021 Report Share Posted October 17, 2021 https://pilotshq.com/products/eaton-dc-aircraft-contactor-6041h105?currency=USD&variant=32558923284616&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=CjwKCAjwk6-LBhBZEiwAOUUDpwj4IC-Tdz0ICtiyN8l_6h9vCJ_eArylVcp7yu3kI4CLsvd591l4dhoCWgAQAvD_BwE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kortopates Posted November 17, 2021 Report Share Posted November 17, 2021 Just wanted to give an update to the thread. I appreciate all the input so far. After calling six different shops to price out a starter adapter, Greg from Niagara called me back. He asked a couple questions. "Has the slipping been happening when the engine's hot or when it's cold?" Hot. "What oil are you running?" Aeroshell 15W-50. "Are there any additives?" Yes, Cam Guard. He explained that issues with the starter adapter are common on mid-life Continental 550s, but those issues usually present themselves when the engine's cold, not hot. By running the Aeroshell 15W-50 in it, as well as the Cam Guard, he said that it's a "double whammy" and might what's causing be the slipping issue. Essentially, there's too much lubrication. Apparently it's an issue that Shell and TCM know about. Niagara gets a phone call every few weeks from mechanics and pilots describing this exact problem. He suggested I change to Phillips, don't add any Cam Guard, then fly it for a few hours. He believes this may solve the issue and get me to TBO. I changed the oil last week, but haven't had a chance to do much flying. Hopefully this solves the problem. For context, back in September, I took the family on a cross country trip from Idaho to Massachusetts. Just before leaving, I changed the oil and added Cam Guard. The airplane was going be sitting for nearly a month in Provincetown (PVC) surrounded by ocean, so figured adding some Cam Guard wouldn't hurt. It was on the return trip back from MA when we stopped in Minnesota for fuel that the slipping starter became a real issue. The engine has 1600 since new. I purchased the airplane in April, so don't have much experience with the Continental. Here's a video showing both a cold start and a hot start. It'll slip a little every now and then on a cold start. You can hear it briefly on the cold start. Mooney Starts.MOV think you posted your update in the wrong thread.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captd Posted November 17, 2021 Report Share Posted November 17, 2021 Oops! Thanks, Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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