Matronics Email Lists :: View topic - Airmaster constant speed unit issue

Matronics Email Lists
Web Forum Interface to the Matronics Email Lists

Get Email Distribution Too! FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register

Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in

Airmaster constant speed unit issue

Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Europa-List

View previous topic :: View next topic

Author Message

Rick Moss

Joined: 21 Sep 2014
Posts: 96

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 11:01 am Post subject: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

My 912S has an airmaster VP prop with warp drive blades and the airmaster constant speed control unit. Both have around 100 hours on them.



Today upon takeoff fly flydat alerted me to an engine over speed (moderate; never exceeded 5900rpm). I slowed down a little and reduced power to keep the engine within limits, and climbed to altitude to consider the issue. The CS unit was non-responsive, however switching to manual enabled me to alter the pitch. Has anybody experienced this? I assume that if all connections appear good, I simply need to replace the CS unit?



Rick

stranfaer(at)btinternet.c
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 11:11 am Post subject: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

Had same issue Rick!

 













     

   From: Rick Moss <Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com>

 To:  europa-list(at)matronics.com 

 Sent: Monday, 29 December 2014, 19:01

 Subject: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

  

 

--> Europa-List message posted by: "Rick Moss" <Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com (Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com)>



My 912S has an airmaster VP prop with warp drive blades and the airmaster constant speed control unit. Both have around 100 hours on them.



Today upon takeoff fly flydat alerted me to an engine over speed (moderate; never exceeded 5900rpm). I slowed down a little and reduced power to keep the engine within limits, and climbed to altitude to consider the issue. The CS unit was non-responsive, however switching to manual enabled me to alter the pitch. Has anybody experienced this? I assume that if all connections appear  good, I simply need to replace the CS unit?



Rick





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics-=   --> http://forums.matronics==================

 

 

  

 [quote][b]

ken carp

Joined: 31 Oct 2008
Posts: 29
Location: Knoxville, TN

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 11:59 am Post subject: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

Had same experience and vaguely recall that the CS unit was reprogramed and returned.  Was done here in states.  Have also had wire break going to the prop motor and it stayed at same rpm ..no problem to finish flight. 

Ken carpenter. XS mono 914 



Sent from my iPad

Ken Carpenter



 	  Quote: 	
		   On Dec 29, 2014, at 2:01 PM, Rick Moss <Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 My 912S has an airmaster VP prop with warp drive blades and the airmaster constant speed control unit. Both have around 100 hours on them.

 

 Today upon takeoff fly flydat alerted me to an engine over speed (moderate; never exceeded 5900rpm). I slowed down a little and reduced power to keep the engine within limits, and climbed to altitude to consider the issue. The CS unit was non-responsive, however switching to manual enabled me to alter the pitch. Has anybody experienced this? I assume that if all connections appear good, I simply need to replace the CS unit?

 

 Rick

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=436408#436408

_________________
ken carpenter

Rick Moss

Joined: 21 Sep 2014
Posts: 96

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 12:05 pm Post subject: Re: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

Thanks guys; what was your fix David?

anthonyhiggins596(at)btin
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 12:14 pm Post subject: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

Have had this problem a few times.

In the first instance make sure the slip ring is clean and free of oil or grease deposits. A quick wipe with brake cleaner will sort this. Then clean the slip ring tracks with a green plastic pan scourer. Ground run to check function. If this does not work check your brushes as per the prop manual. This cure is as per Airmaster.

Hope it works for you.

Tony Higgins G-CHAH 



Sent from my iPad



 	  Quote: 	
		   On 29 Dec 2014, at 19:01, Rick Moss <Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com> wrote:

 

 

 

 My 912S has an airmaster VP prop with warp drive blades and the airmaster constant speed control unit. Both have around 100 hours on them.

 

 Today upon takeoff fly flydat alerted me to an engine over speed (moderate; never exceeded 5900rpm). I slowed down a little and reduced power to keep the engine within limits, and climbed to altitude to consider the issue. The CS unit was non-responsive, however switching to manual enabled me to alter the pitch. Has anybody experienced this? I assume that if all connections appear good, I simply need to replace the CS unit?

 

 Rick

 

 

 

 

 Read this topic online here:

 

 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=436408#436408

keithhickling(at)clear.ne
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 1:16 pm Post subject: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

Hi Rick,

I too have had this issue on 2 occasions at about 35 hours and 140 hours - 

worked OK on manual so no problem continuing to fly. On both occasions 

Martin at Airmaster replaced the controller for me free of charge.  After 

the second failure I asked him whether there should be a switch in the prop 

controller circuit to prevent any voltage surge during starting and he said 

this is not considered necessary, but in view of the 2 failures it might be 

a good idea in case there was some unusual issue with my installation. So I 

put a switch in the circuit and keep it switched off during engine start and 

stopping, and since then (now 380 hours) I have not had the problem again.



Regards,

Keith Hickling,

New Zealand.

--

budyerly(at)msn.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 6:01 pm Post subject: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

Rick,

9 times out of 10 the brushes have oil on the slip ring or have worn until 

barely contacting ( typically the outer ring brush wears first).  In Manual, 

you get direct battery current, so it will give you more juice to burn 

through any corrosion/oil.  Clean up the slip ring and check your brushes. 

Normally you get red flashing lights with an open circuit, but not always, 

because if there is some current, but not enough to move the prop, the red 

lights don't flash and the prop doesn't work in Auto.  (As I tell my 

clients, Red lights are bad, don't takeoff, if in-flight, go to manual and 

adjust the prop manually or by throttle to keep the RPM in limits and land 

as soon as conditions permit and investigate.)



I have had three calls or comments since the weather turned cold.  The oil 

layer thickens up and coats the brushes.  As brushes wear they also 

distribute carbon to the inside of the brush block.

Oil helps hold the carbon as a current drawing sludge which acts like a high 

resistance wire.  Current can then jump between brushes and stop the prop. 

It's basically shorting.  Not good for the AC200 either.



Every oil change, check your brushes and slip rings, as any leak of oil will 

often times go forward through the large hole you made in the front of the 

cowl.  It only takes a thin film of oil.  Clean with acetone on a clean rag. 

Clean the slip rings with scotch bright to remove corrosion.  Wipe clean 

again.  Use air to blow off the brush area in the brush block.  I pull the 

brush block off and check the brush length on my annual or at 100 hours, 

whichever occurs first, not just when the prop stops working.



Technique:

To help seal the prop from this nuisance oil film, use some fiberglass to 

try to seal up the hole.    To seal the hole, I have had success with using 

silicone cowl seal (in sheet form with a fiber reinforcing to keep it stiff) 

on the lower cowl.  This silicone rubber gives me some flexibility when 

getting the cowl off of a trigear.  On the upper cowl, just make a 3 ply 

sheet and allow to cure, then trim and fit to the shape and glass on the 

upper inside...  Go Fly!



If the pickup for the speed sensor goes bad, that freezes the controller. 

The fine orange light should flash.  If the speed sensor is bad, the brush 

block usually needs to be changed.



If the controller dies completely,  the internal fuse (a PTC that resets 

itself) may have opened (at about 2.5 amps) killing power to the controller 

until it resets itself by going manual, cooling, and then back to auto.  If 

you are using thick grease (Aeroshell 22) that can stiffen up as it gets 

colder and cause a power drain, but that's unlikely.  Cycle the prop in 

manual and listen to the motor.  If it is dragging, it may be too tightly 

torqued or the grease is really thick.  If the motor sounds good and free, 

the AC200 is not getting power or internally dead.  Check power to the unit 

(CBs do go bad), if OK, check the circuit breaker on the side of the 

controller.  If that is OK, and cycling manual to auto doesn't reset it, 

it's probably a dead AC200.



We often say the controller was reprogrammed, but often times the circuit 

card is replaced.



Check the above and have a beer and dive into the manual.  It's on line 

also.



It's winter, in the northern latitudes, so stay healthy and let me know what 

happens after troubleshooting the above...  We're enjoying 75 degree weather 

here in Florida.



Best Regards,

Bud Yerly

Custom Flight Creations, Inc.

US Airmaster and Europa Dealer



--------------------------------------------------

From: "Rick Moss" <Rkwmoss(at)gmail.com>

Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 2:01 PM

To: <europa-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject: Airmaster constant speed unit issue



 	  Quote: 	
		   



 My 912S has an airmaster VP prop with warp drive blades and the airmaster 

 constant speed control unit. Both have around 100 hours on them.



 Today upon takeoff fly flydat alerted me to an engine over speed 

 (moderate; never exceeded 5900rpm). I slowed down a little and reduced 

 power to keep the engine within limits, and climbed to altitude to 

 consider the issue. The CS unit was non-responsive, however switching to 

 manual enabled me to alter the pitch. Has anybody experienced this? I 

 assume that if all connections appear good, I simply need to replace the 

 CS unit?



 Rick





 Read this topic online here:



 http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=436408#436408

Rick Moss

Joined: 21 Sep 2014
Posts: 96

Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 2:29 am Post subject: Re: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

Thanks all; I will go and check all that this week.



Happy New Year

Rick Moss

Joined: 21 Sep 2014
Posts: 96

Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 6:31 am Post subject: Re: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

I was passing the airfield yesterday, but with limited time available, so I called in with the intention of cleaning the slip rings and checking the brushes, plus pressing reset on FS1 on the back of the control unit. I turned on the master switch before doing any of this.... and all was working perfectly. 



I'll still check all the above when time permits and before next flight.

SeanCarron

Joined: 24 Nov 2021
Posts: 5

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2024 1:58 am Post subject: Re: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

Delving into the treacherous world of Division 2 alongside Boosthive's elite boosting services was an exhilarating adventure. Their team's skill and expertise were evident from the moment I enlisted their help, and together, we tackled each challenge with precision and finesse. With Boosthive by my side, victory was not just a possibility—it was inevitable. For agents seeking to dominate the Division and rise to the top, there's no better choice. Click here to embark on your journey to greatness: https://boosthive.eu/division-2

SPURPURA

Joined: 04 Apr 2015
Posts: 67
Location: KAPV

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2024 4:06 am Post subject: Re: Airmaster constant speed unit issue

The only problem I’ve had in 800+ hours with the Airmaster occurres when carbon accumulates on the slip ring obscures the rpm sensor trigger. That’s the little round brass insert. Cleaning it off will fix it.

_________________
N951EU - Tri-gear & 912ULS, N77EU- Mono & 914
I'D RATHER HAVE A BOTTLE IN FRONT OF ME THAN A FRONTAL LABOTAMY.

Display posts from previous:

	Matronics Email Lists Forum Index -> Europa-List	All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

Jump to:

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
You cannot attach files in this forum
You can download files in this forum