I also eliminated the sprag clutch on my key start O-200, but went with the SkyTek starter.  I suspect the B&C starter is better, but the SkyTek didn't require any changes.  Unbolt the old and bolt on the new.  I've got less than 50 hours on it, but so far I'm very happy with it.

I have replaced the sprag clutch multiple times in the last 30+ years.  It would fail "open", so the starter wouldn't turn the engine, it would just slip.  The last time it failed, it failed "closed" such that the starter would continue to spin with the engine running.  That seemed like a failure waiting to happen!  So I got rid of it all together.  I'm much more comfortable with the SkyTek C12ST2.

Paul Fisher

Q-200 N17PF

On Fri, Apr 8, 2022, 23:05 Bruce Crain <jcrain2@...> wrote:

B and C in Newton, KS makes a light weight starter that eliminates the old Sprag Clutch.  It turns over a lot faster than the old starter.  You will need to modify the firewall cut out a small bit but the starter is a solid player!

Bruce Crain

On Apr 8, 2022, at 3:54 PM, Jay Scheevel <jay@...> wrote:



Thanks for the update, Mike. This is all good stuff to know. Again, sorry about your airplane, but glad you are doing well, and willing to share the results of what you find.

 

Cheers,

Jay

 

From: main@Q-List.groups.io <main@Q-List.groups.io> On Behalf Of Mike Dwyer
Sent: Friday, April 8, 2022 2:02 PM
To: main@q-list.groups.io
Subject: Re: [Q-List] Report of a Q-200 crash today

 

So an update on my engine failure.  

I got a bit further into the engine tear down and when I pulled the starter, there was the smoking gun.  The starter motor turns a large gear that goes through a sprag clutch into a small gear that drives the crankshaft.  I have a pull starter on mine so this whole mess disengages from the crankshaft gear when you release the pull handle.  My small gear had disintegrated.  I only found about half of it.  The rest is rattling around in the accessory case somewhere, which happens to be located where the oil pump is driven.  Or possibly a piece of hardened steel got into the oil pump and damaged it.  More to follow, but it looks like the root cause was a starter gear failure.  The part was the almost new Niagara Airparts upgraded Sprag Clutch and it had about 100 hours on it!   On the day of the accident, the plane started perfectly.

Mike Dwyer xQ200

 

YouTube Videos:  https://www.youtube.com/user/FlyMeAirplane/videos

Q200 Website: http://goo.gl/V8IrJF

 

 

On Sun, Mar 20, 2022 at 6:39 AM Adam hied <hiedadam@...> wrote:

Hey mike,

Glad you’re okay. I was really sad about the accident. Was really hoping to get in touch with you and do some formation once I finish the install of the new engine in the dragonfly since I’m over on the east coast and my family lives near brooksville.