Back in the saddle

[Cubonaut875]

About 6 weeks or so ago I did an igniton check and lo and behold the Left ignition was dead. Back to the hangar to sort out the issue - bad coil to cylinders 3 and 4 and to top it off when I took the cowl off there was a fuel dye stain below the aux fuel pump. On the phone ordering parts, coil arrived in a week, fuel pump back order 6 weeks. Then I went on a trip to Eastern Europe for three weeks. Mechanic switched out the coil while I was gone but that pesky fuel pump is a two or three person job to get it off. When I came back we took the pump off tightens some hex screw on the pump and no leak. Put it back together and it seemly runs and starts better than ever. That was a couple weeks ago and I finally got back to editing a video of a great sunrise. It was a busy summer without a lot of time for sitting at a computer.

P.S. as they told me at Tac Aero, but I got out of the habit of doing, an ignition check on landing- not a full run up- is a great idea. It would have saved a week with parts order as I would have found the problem sooner

 

[Neal]

Glad you're back @Cubonaut875 - I'm going through a bad coil pack myself right now. Tried to order from CubCrafters yesterday and they told me 4-6 weeks which is shocking, seems a pretty common item people would need and I have a BFR due soon so now what? I called Lightspeed and shyeeuh! They have them and they are $125 direct from Lightspeed and $190 from CubCrafters so you know where to get them now. Lightspeed was shocked CubCrafters didn't ask to have them expedited. I will carry a spare coil pack from now on in the plane, if what happened to me while at a fly-in I'd be stuck. Not the easiest to change depending on which one but it's doable and can save you from leaving the plane in a far off location awaiting parts.

Glad you're flying again and thanks for sharing the lesson and tips so we can all learn from each other. I'll detail my case soon as trying to use CubCrafters' "OFFICIAL" support group on Facebook has proven unsatisfactory, my post from this past Saturday evening asking for help with an engine running rough is still pending moderation for some reason - absolutely unacceptable it's even moderated for a customer much less still not approved. This is why we have Flightinfo.com. I've never seen a company use Facebook as their official support channel.

 

[Cubonaut875]

I ordered a back up coil too, cheap enough and easy enough. Seems odd for the coil to fail after only 145 hours on the coil in my case. I also ordered a back up aux fuel pump kinda pricey at $900.00 but they said they can be hard to come by and I can't be sure my leak is fully fixed. Those 4 fuel pump screws/nuts that hold the pump to the firewall are about the hardest nuts to get ahold of.

 

[Neal]

76 hours until failure on mine.

 

[Neal]

Good thing about having spare parts whether fuel pump, coil pack, I even keep a spare fuel cap in my plane is while you may not need it someone else may. Last night I texted a few people trying to get a coil pack and could have, glad I was able to source one but we help one another.

 

[Cubonaut875]

for sure - I would have sent you mine, I think it should be delivered this week.

 

[spusmc]

Looks like we are identifying a trend here with the aux fuel pump and the hard line connections. I removed my cowling after my battery issues and decided to go thru the engine sine I was down anyway. Found traces of leaks around the aux fuel pump on both sides of the aluminum pipe connecting it. Was able to snug it down fairly easily and hoping that was the issue.

 

[Neal]

I know another FX-3 owner just had the same thing found on his condition inspection. Good catch!

 

[spusmc]

Further inspection led to this on the upstream side of the fuel pump. Sent all this info to Pete at CubCrafters support- they have been very helpful in the past- will shoot an update once I hear back.

 

[Cubonaut875]

I definitely had that issue also. Shortly after the plane was delivered my fuel pump quit, Neal actually caught it sounding funny in one of my videos. We replaced it, factory sent a new one. I think however, that it is not the easiest thing to change. The nuts on the screws are almost impossible to get to and I think that if the pump is not securely tightened to the firewall the fittings will eventually leak. It is definitely a two person job to change or even tighten. Buy some long screwdrivers for the job. It think anytime I have the lower cowl off I will definitly check the aux fuel pump. Also, the aux fuel pump is a hard to get item and frequently goes on back order. I have a spare that I purchased, $900.00 so if anyone needs one and they are on back order, let me know.