fuel pump & pull start questions

[extra300s]

Hi guys

Would like to know if anyone on the forum ever tried restarting their trike in mid air only using the pull start. If so, did u succeed? Lets say you are 1500ft above ground level, your Mikuni fuel pump fails, engine dies.You quickly switch on your electric fuel pump and give the rope a pull. It this doable? And what usually fails in the mechanical pump? Will the two diaphragms perish allowing fuel to be pumped to your pulse line starving your carbs with the facet pump? Making the facet useless and it actually only serves as a priming pump.

Maybe if it fails only the one will have perished through and not both. And I know it can be used to save u if filter or so is slightly blocked like in Morphs case.

Any comments?

[AndyG]

I have started my trike succesfully in the air. It was during a spotlanding comp and I was far too high so I elected to restart with the pull start. No problem, it started easily.

[extra300s]

Hi Andy.

Thanks for the reply. Did u keep one arm on the control bar? Where was the pull start hanle located? Mine is behind my head at main pylon.

[AndyG]

Used both hands but was easy cause of the airflow. Was between my legs though.

[Biggles]

My pull start is located on the pylon and while i have never had to start in flight I have simulated reaching for the pullstart from the front seat and its do-able. I have tried cranking from the seat (on the ground) and almost pulled something i did not know i had. But in flight the slipstream will be helping the prop to go around.

But remember Aviate, navigate and communicate and only once you have all that sorted try and restart. You will not know that the facet pump has failed and it could be any number of things that have gone wrong. Cranking immediately might give you enough time to safely reach the crash site

In the manual I am sure that there is a facet pump recomended overhaul time. If you are concerned get the kit and replace the rubbers.

[kloot piloot]

Why the question extra300s ? Sounds like a hectic low-level nightmare.

[extra300s]

Hi Kloot.

My previous trike had elec start. This one does not. Allso fitting a electrical pump. So just wondering what kind of failures can exist with the mikuni diaphram pump (mechanical one) not concerned about the Facet Biggles.

[Africa]

Hi Kloot.

My previous trike had elec start. This one does not. Allso fitting a electrical pump. So just wondering what kind of failures can exist with the mikuni diaphram pump (mechanical one) not conserned about the Facet Biggles.

with over 6500 hours on rotax engines i have never had or seen a failure on that fuel pump. I have done alot of in flight starting and its easy with altitude, but like a previous comment, best to choose a good landing place and set up the approach then try a restart