Cold starting kit

[peter0]

I spoke to Len yesterday in connection with the difficult starting on cold days on my 430. He has advised that I put in the cold starting kit. Basically it amplifies the initial spark the way I understand it. Costs about R4000.
Has anybody had this kit installed into their aircraft? He mentioned that it's so effective that ones got to be careful because of how easy it is to start. Unintentional prop start for instance.
It would be worth every cents if I was certain that she would always start under all circumstances.

I'm presuming that the link below is the kit that he's talking about.
http://jabiru.no/content/documents/CS01 ... pickup.pdf

Cheers,
Peter.

[checkride]

I cant comment on this specific kit but we installed the unit from Rotec. I'm assuming is the same, or same principle fits on the right side of the engine looking forward from the back of the engine. Uses an electronic module and pickup. Best thing we ever did, motor will start as long as the engine can make 1/2 turn.

[antonvalks]

We had one installed recently but needed a battery replacement as well. All done now and she had her first start with the new kit and battery. As to be expected, she started in a flash. The real proof will be when she has slept outside in some real cold weather though, preferrably with some other Jabbis to get a comparrison. Peter, when last did you do a shock load test on your battery?

[Martin64]

I installed the kit from the factory a month ago. Despite a few very cold days she started within one revolution. I have the 3300 machine. In my opinion worth every cent.

[peter0]

Sounds just like what I need then Will get it installed on my next visit to the factory and give a report back when done.
Anton - the battery has been tested as good.

[scsirob]

I cant comment on this specific kit but we installed the unit from Rotec. I'm assuming is the same, or same principle ...

These kits are very different indeed. They use similar components but their approach is entirely different

The standard Jabiru ignition uses coils that induces an electric pulse when a magnet passes by the poles. When the magnet passes quick enough, the pulse has enough energy to produce a spark. The cold start problem is that several factors can work against the magnet passing quick enough. When cold, the oil is thicker, the battery is usually less powerful. Therefor the starter can't spin the engine fast enough, and no spark occurs.

The Rotec system removes a coil and installs a pickup in its place. It replaced one of the existing ignition circuits. The pickup detects the presence of the magnet, regardless of the speed it passes with. The presence will trigger an ignition module (basically just an amplifier), which pulses a fixed ignition coil which in turn will produce a big spark at any speed.
Pro: Slow spinning starter due to cold weather will still create full power spark and your engine will start.
Con: The system still triggers at ~20 degree BTDC. Spin too slow and you may get kickback. Leave the ignition on, move the prop by hand and you may lose your fingers. One ignition now depends on a working electrical system.

The Jabiru system leaves the original dual coil system intact. It augments the existing system by adding windings around one coil to allow a spark to be created from an ignition module as well as the magnet passing by. The system uses a pickup as well, but the electronic ignition is only active while the starter is engaged (it is powered from the 'starter active' tab on the starter relay). As far as I can tell, the pickup is located near TDC so it will reduce the risk of kickback.
Pro: Maintains dual ignition without dependency on electrical system, no added risk of kickback, and no added risk to the fingers.
Con: The extra winding works as a thermal insulator, making it harder for the coil to cool. Better have a good blast tube in place to keep the coil from overheating.

[ZuluBen]

Interesting post, thanks!

I have not laid my own eyes on this piece of kit but would like to do so soon.

[Shaunus]

Has anyone else installed this? Recently I flew to Lake Naverone, and although I got some semi-decent revolution on cranking, she would not start! It was around 9 degrees at the time of cranking at 9am, but it was down to around 3 degrees that early morn!

Cheers
Shaun

[Rotor kop]

Can i put one on my lycoming??

[Steve]

Okay, so this past week-end our East London aviators did a group flyaway to Prince Albert for the week-end (21 Aircraft). There were four Jabiru's in that bunch.... 2 x 170's.... 1 x 160 and my J430....

Well we landed on Friday and the next morning decided to pop over to Oudtshoorn....around 9am the outside temperature as 4 degrees....

Now my Jabiru has a dual battery installation and I was told about cold starts and oil being thick and so on...but I have never had a starting problem.... Guess what...crank, crank, crank...... nothing !!!!! I eventually had to jump start with a car to give that extra power boost to spin the motor faster.....

The first J170 had the same problem...and then The pilot from the second Jab arrives, hops in, turns his key and his engine roars to life..... SO..... me and the fist J170 pilot needed to know his secret.... He had the Jabiru Cold Start kit fitted....

The next morning on departure, we had to jump start all the Jabiru's except for the one that had the cold start kit....

So, does it work? For sure !!!!

All Jabs should have it fitted !!!! nothing worse than being stuck on a fly away in cold weather - at least I had the jumper jack installed and cable handy....

[Flooi]

First of all... use aeroshell 20w50 muligrade oil. Secondly..... buy a strong
a powerfull hairdryer and stand it on nosewheel blowing hot air up thru
opening under cowling while preflighting...... Also take along extra fully
charged battery when going on trip for emergency jump start. Lastly....
make sure your Jab is fitted with a good quality battery. ....... I never
ever once had a problem.... even in sub zero temps.

[Steve]

buy a strong a powerfull hairdryer and stand it on nosewheel blowing hot air up thru
opening under cowling while preflighting......

There is usually no electricity available in most remote fly away airfields.... Like Prince Albert.....

[Arjan]

First of all... use aeroshell 20w50 muligrade oil. Secondly..... buy a strong
a powerfull hairdryer and stand it on nosewheel blowing hot air up thru
opening under cowling while preflighting...... Also take along extra fully
charged battery when going on trip for emergency jump start. Lastly....
make sure your Jab is fitted with a good quality battery. ....... I never
ever once had a problem.... even in sub zero temps.

OR - get the cold start kit and you don't need carry any of that loose crap around. The weight of the "extra fully charged battery" can be replaced with " 2X extra fully charged liters of good quality Whisky" ... the time spent on getting the hairdryer out, finding a plug and all that can be spent utilizing that good quality Whisky....

Need I say more ?

Never once regretted fitting mine