Continental TSIO-360-MB1 rotation

[goncaloareia]

Dear all,

My A&P today phoned me to tell that he finds weird that the propeller on the TSIO-360-MB1 rotates normally (like any other aircraft) when pushed/rotated by hand in the normal prop way, but rotating opposite to the normal prop rotation is, according to him, strangely different, like if some accessories (starter, magnetos, alternator?) where connected/engaged and would difficult that opposite rotation of the prop/engine.

The starter light goes out normally after start of the engine so I don't think it is the starter.

Does anyone got the same feedback/feeling on these continental engines? I'll go to the airport tomorrow to check it but if someone with a 252 has some input about this, I'll appreciate.

Thank you all and kind regards,

Goncalo

[jackn]

I have the -SB2 which is almost identical to the -MB1. Opposite rotation is no problem on mine. I would suspect the starter may be developing a problem. That's where I would start.

[kortopates]

Very strange, and I 'd have to agree with Jack, the only real possibility is the starter adapter, not the actual starter. The starter adapter has some gearing and springs designed to grab and turn over the crankshaft but its suppose to ordinarily slip and when they wear out, it won't engage at all, so I have never seen or heard of this. The starter is directly geared to the starter adapter - it has no bendix like a lycoming. In fact the starter adapter serves the role of the bendix used in lycomings. The fact that your starter light goes out as expected is meaningless, that just means it no longer is getting electricity. Let us know what they find out.

[Dale Logsdon]

Not a problem. Some do it and some don't. It depends on how tight the tolerances are in the starter adapter.

[goncaloareia]

Hi again,

I got to the plane today and was able to check this situation.

Rotating the prop on the normal direction is totally ok, with no resistance noises or vibration apart from the normal compression and the strokes of the engine.

Rotating it opposite is a little (not much though) harder, and some noise and vibration from what looks like a gear is attached to the engine is clearly perceptible. The noise is clearly coming from the starter or the starter adapter.

So I guess that the clutch mechanism in the starter adapter is still on?

This engine is only 15h since factory new, even though it was preserved in storage for 6 years. Could this be the tolerances on the starter adapter too tight?

Should we worry or do anything now?

From the Continental maintenance manual there seems to be no action/inspection of the starter in the 50/annual inspections apart from seeing if everything is connected, which looks like it's a trouble free mechanism (not like the lyc starters I'm more used to, that keep having bendix problems).

Thanks for all your help and kind regards to all.

Goncalo

[carusoam]

G,

I think the thing with reverse rotation is the vacuum pumps don't like it too much. true or not?

It has been a general training issue more than a Mooney specific one.

I have not rotated an engine backwards before, intentionally or otherwise...

Best regards,

-a-