Vaccum pumps RAPCO vs. TEMPEST ?

[papagei]

Hi everybody,

 

first of all, please excuse my bad english. I want to ask you from Germany for an advice concerning the two mentioned vacuum pumps. I want to replace my current Airborne 211 CC vacuum pump and don't know which manufacturer to chose.

I don't have in my M20J a standby vacuum system or a standby artificial horizon. So reliability is very important for me flying IFR.

Wich manufacturer would you recommend ?

Tempest or Rapco ( both model 215 CC ) ?

 

Thanks a lot

Best regards

[PTK]

My feeling is that it depends. If you are replacing it on a condition based schedule, say q 500 hours, I don't think it matters which one you get. You don't have backup vacuum so you probably should be on condition.

If you are replacing it when it fails you probably want Tempest. They do have better design features that should make it more dependable, at least in theory.

No matter which you should have the Clearview inline filter to protect your gyro instruments from carbon dust. 

http://aerotechcomponents.com/products/

 

[papagei]

Thanks a lot for your answer allsmiles.

What do you think in general about overhauled vacuum pumps ? Is it worth to buy a new one ?

A new rapco would be 75 $ cheaper than a new tempest and I'm really unable to say, which manufacturer will deliver the better quality.

 

Thanks a lot

[danb35]

Quote: allsmiles

My feeling is that it depends. If you are replacing it on a condition based schedule, say q 500 hours, I don't think it matters which one you get. You don't have backup vacuum so you probably should be on condition.

[jetdriven]

The new Rapco pumps have a port and a measuring stick.  You can measure vane wear, and if you log it, can extrapolate when the vane reaches "no go" thickness.   This does not account for breakage or any other mode of failure. 

[kortopates]

I went with the Tempest pump some years ago because of what I felt were superior features. They introduced a wear indication port on the rear of the port that you can monitor, as Byron suggested above on the new Rapco. But with the tempest you don't need to open a port to measure with a pin/gauge - just look at the port windows (perhaps with a mirror). They have some other nice features including the LRT gasket you can read about in their owners/install manual http://www.aeroaccessories.com/manualsandserviceletters/NewDAPUserManual011508.pdf That said, it appears that Rapco pumps are catching up with Tempest.

Also highly recommend installing an air cooling shroud on your vacuum pump to improve pump longevity, regardless of which manufacturer you choose. Their inexpensive, but both makes have their own STC's which require some paperwork.