Engine quitting on landing

[N95334]

Have a little problem fellow T-Crafters. My 1946 65hp metal prop BC12D has developed a nasty little habit of quitting on roll out after landing. I admit I have been using auto gas with that 10% alcohol in it for about 18 months now. Everything seems to been running good until last August it raised it's ugly head and quit for the first time. Now about 10 hours flying time later it is happening about each time I land. Last time I went flying (two week ago), I put 100LL in her and flew for 20 minutes and it still quit on landing. Sometimes it will start right up and sometimes, it take forever to start (think it floods). Tried to pull primer out on roll out a few times and did not make a difference. Got any ideas where to start to check?

[astjp2]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

Do a search, there are probably 5 threads on this topic, Tim

[mike lutz]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

Might find trouble shooting and remedy on this site.Lots of good info for the smaller continentals--bowersflybaby.com/tech/fenton.htm
Mike

[jim cooper]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

Dennis, many many different opinions on CAR GAS. Personally I use 100 AV with occasional 2oz. of MMO. My understanding is that Ethonol attacks seals in engine. (I am not a mechanic) If your lucky , it may only be a carb. issue. A good AI ought to be able to go thru the carb. and see whats up! Good Luck, but if you use car gas you may want to reconsider using it. JC

[Guest]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

Hi Dennis,

Look for brown particles or little wads off gummy stuff in the fuel system. May be easily visible in the gascolator bowl or screen. Do you see any?

Draining the carb bowl into a clean pan/can/jar may reveal it.

Is the varnish still on the fuel guage cork?

If you see brown particles or liitle wads of brown gummy stuff AND the varnish is off the fuel gauge cork then my guess is that the alchohol dissolved the sloshing compound and varnish and it is blocking the small carb ports.

If you don't find those things then my next guess is that your carb has gotten gummed up from evaporated gasoline and needs to be cleaned out.

Dave

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

Does it idle ok on 1st start up of the day, and taxiing out? Sounds like crud in the fuel system???? h

[N95334]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

Start up is good as usual, taxi and take off and flying around all good and normal. Do not have any surging or rough running etc. It is acting like you pulled the mixture on landing.
Thought it might be vapor-lock when it occurred in hot summer but now it is cold and still having issues. (yes it gets cold in north Florida) What gets me is, sitting there on the runway and propping it to restart, sometimes it will start instantly and the next time you get a heart attack trying a restart. Thank goodness it is a little grass airstrip 01J and no body wanting to land.
Thanks guys, I think I will take a look at fuel system and inside the carb first. In addition, yes the cork on fuel sight wire does appear to be compromised.

[Pearson]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

Check for a vacume leak. Tighten up the clamps on your intake tubes. Check the nuts holding the carb and intake spider on.

[astjp2]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

.
Thanks guys, I think I will take a look at fuel system and inside the carb first. In addition, yes the cork on fuel sight wire does appear to be compromised.

If you get a replacement fuel gauge/cap, get the one from Univair for the J-3, its already marked for quantity and it fits perfect. The one from wag is a piece of shit, I went through 4 replacements 2 under warranty, they just kept sinking. Tim

[Buell Powell]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

The alcohol can also cause the rubber inside the fuel hoses to deteriorate and swell(unless you have hoses that are made from material to be used with fuel that has alcohol)which can cut the fuel supply --especially if it makes a bend. When you check the carb --if it has the old style rubber tip needle be sure to replace the needle and seat.

[Guest]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

Check for a vacume leak. Tighten up the clamps on your intake tubes. Check the nuts holding the carb and intake spider on.

excellent point!

[3Dreaming]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

What mags do you have??

[barnstmr]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

Here's a related story from about 20 years ago.

After a dormant period of more than 3 years with auto fuel in the system, Dad and I decided it was time to clean off the cobwebs and bring his 1929 Curtiss Robin back in annual. It was obvious that the carburetor demanded attention, so I pulled it and tore it down for a thorough clean-up. It was my first encounter with severe varnish from "car" gas. I was working as a repairman in the RAM Aircraft Accessory shop at the time and had access to the best in equipment and chemical cleaners, including ultrasonic bath. Completely disassembled it, went by the book checking all orifice sizes, etc. Not complicated at all... 1929 technology. I was certain that I had done the most professional job possible and re-installed it on the airplane.

After completing other annual inspection items and maintenance, engine runups went off as planned and the IA signed the airplane off as good to go. Now came time for the test flight and a lesson learned. The good Lord was watching out for Dad that day... and perhaps Dad's elderly wisdom came into play as well. So... he taxied down to the end of the runway as I and the IA looked on. After the normal runup, Dad aligned with the runway and to my surprize, he decided not to takeoff immediately. Instead, he held the brakes and ran up to full throttle and held it for what must have been more than 2 minutes. Satisfied, Dad then released the brakes, rolled about 100 feet, raised the tail.... then.... just as he was about to rotate, the engine QUIT. Cold...

We were dumbfounded as he taxied back up to the Hangar. Troubleshooting revealed that the rubber fuel hose from the selector valve to the gascolator had swollen internally such that its ID was less than half it's original size. From then on, I have always made it a point to avoid letting airplanes sit for any length of time with "car" gas. I also am constantly aware of the quality of fuel hoses too. A real lesson in the definition of a "critical" part. And have prayed thanks to God for sparing Dad that day.

Lesson for future reference... varnish is not the only culprit with "car" gas. The swollen hose had nothing to do with the varnish... but was the combination of the quality of the hose and the quality of the fuel. Folks... be mindful of these things.

[NY86]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

I don't have a single good thing to say about ethanol in gasoline. I don't even like to use it in a 3 horse lawn mower.

[Marv]

Re: Engine quitting on landing

The only thing i have found ethanol good for is selling carbs, hoses, o rings, gaskets and anything else that it comes into contac with. It does not make any difference if it is a 2 cycle snow blower or older V8 engine. Just my opinion. Maybe it is part of the bailout to keep people working and the consumer broke. Marv