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A fix for a hard-starting engine

By General Aviation News Staff · August 18, 2006 ·

Paul, I just read your response to Joe Ragon in the July 7 issue (Why is my engine so hard to start?). I too experienced the hard-starting problem when I purchased my Comanche 250 with an O-540 Lycoming. The seller stated that it had always been a hard starter. I found that all five of the fuel prime injector nozzles were totally clogged. After cleaning them in a good solvent (MEK), the engine then started every time after three blade passes. Neither the Piper maintenance manual nor the Lycoming manual calls for cleaning of these nozzles. I have cleaned them at every annual inspection and have never had a hard starting time since.

Bill Stein

Las Cruces, N.M.

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