Arcus M engine problem - now solved with excellent service

[Mark B]

A couple of weeks ago, one of my Ilec panel units failed. It showed incorrect messages, would not control the engine in response to the buttons, and even raised the propeller and operated the starter with the ignition switch in the off position.

 

I discovered that if I switched the Priority switch to the rear seat Ilec, that one still worked correctly. I was told that the two units were identical and therefore I swapped them over, and expected to be able to go on operating ok for the rest of the season using only the Ilec which was now in the front panel.

 

I was told that I should be able to operate with only one of the Ilec panel units installed, but this was not the case due to the ground problem referred to below.

 

After another couple of flights, when I tried to start the engine (luckily this was on the ground) the engine would not start. Eventually, we believe that the reason the engine would not start was due to a loose connection on the power supply to the fuel pumps, located in the circuit breaker panel in front of the control stick. We have now tightened many connections around the glider.

 

However, we first suspected that the reason the engine was not starting would be due to an issue with the Ilecs. This was during the Schempp-Hirth factory holidays. We therefore contacted Ilec direct, and Rudolf Deinlein at Ilec has been enormously helpful. He correctly suspected earthing issues in the glider, and in many emails and Skype telephone calls made suggestions of areas to check. However, he also agreed that one Ilect panel unit was faulty and that there was also an issue with the ground in the Ilec fuselage unit which is located under the rear seat. I therefore sent all three Ilec units back to him via UPS, and he repaired the two faulty units, upgraded them to the latest software, and sent them back by UPS overnight delivery on the same day on which he had received them - exceptional service, and this was all during the holiday period.

 

Everything now seems to be working ok.

 

Mark Burton, London Gliding Club, Dunstable, UK, Arcus M s/no 24

[rogd...@bigpond.com]

Dear Mark

Thanks for your very helpfull post.  It suggests to me that we add an Ilec control unit to our spares holding here for coverage of a number of Arcus M gliders here in Australia.  It also suggests one or two things for us to check now that we are coming up to annual inspection time with two of them here at Bacchus Marsh.  I take advantage of your useful information in trade for the pointer I gave you re the likelihood of exhaust manifold cracking with your Arcus.  So lets keep up the information exchange.

Regards, Roger Druce (S/N 28)

[James Kellerman]

Hi Arcus owners

We had an interesting Arcus T engine failure last week. Engine erected and ran fine. Putting away was the problem. The engine went down put hung up on the doors tripping the circuit breaker. The exact analysis of the problem was not obvious in the air so we had a field landing. 

We think that a gust hit the doors from the side and pushed them in preventing the engine from stowing. On landing the doors were found to be jammed under the propeller hub.  I think it is freak occurrence but useful to know.  It has worked fine since then without any changes being made.

If it happens to you then I suppose that the manual override should be used to re erect the engine before resetting the the circuit breaker. 

James Kellerman

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A James Kellerman

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