Spring Maintenance
 

Hey Everybody,

Got a G62, magneto version with spring start. Never had one of these before, and I've been advised that I should grease the spring at least a few time a season. I'm just wondering if anyone knows of a video or link for a tutorial, guide, something that will walk me through maintenance of the spring starter. I know many people have a preference for Electronic Ignition (I'm one of them), but the plane has this engine on it, and I have no intention of replacing it with another engine. Really I'm just

wondering if there is any specific grease I should use?

Are there are any quirks or anything to look out for when prepping for greasing the spring?

I'm not sure grease helps. I've had many, some I've greased, some not. Doesn't seem to make a difference. They all break eventually. You can email B & B Specialties and ask them, they sell the spring kits. BTW, I actually prefer the mag engines. Very easy maintenance. No second battery or IE module. They just run.

About once a year or whenever the engine was off I would wipe some grease onto the spring, just sort of squish it into the spring. I don't know if it really dose anything or not. It's suppose to keep the spring steel from rubbing/friction when you wind it. The spring starter works great though. I too like mag systems, my old Zinoah engines were all mag but any of my newer engines have electronic. Other then a bit smoother idle I don't see a lot of difference. Weight used to be an argument but the ignition, battery and switch make them close enough in weight to not make a big difference.

+1 on mag engines and +1 on Gray Beard's recommendations. I will add though, while you are at it, put a drop of oil into the one-way clutch mechanism.

Bedford

I have ben flying Zenoahs since the early 80s and have never greased the spring but I do grease the sprag clutch (one way bearing). Never had a spring break but have seen the dry bearings seize up on other peoples engines. I watch people overwind the spring when starting their engines, the original instructions listed 1/2 turn of the prop. Maybe the broken springs are from over winding.