Here or Maintenance? Engine quit on final.

[Shepherd]

Flew on Tuesday.
PA-17 C-85 engine.
28 F, high humidity.
Engine started fine after short preheat. (Armstrong starter, not electrical)
Normal run-up, carb heat works fine. Oil temperature at 110 degrees, but it never got much higher than that.
Flew for 40 minutes up to GBR.
On final, carb heat is on, I'm a little high and a little fast, with some power on (1,200 rpm) which is normal for me.
About 1/10th mile out I pull the throttle, and the engine went silent.
Landing was fine, no drama.

Flying back I kept 1,500 rpm until I was over the fence, pulled the throttle and it kept running.
Best landing of the day.

This is just the latest in a line of 65s and 85s that turn into gliders with power off in cold weather.
Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

[tnowak]

Almost certainly carb icing...
I apply carb heat when turning base leg and keep it on after that.
TonyN

[Pacerfgoe]

I think in cold weather those engines do better with a plate in front of the air filter....spaced about 1/2" out from the filter.

[Steve Pierce]

This has helped others with the same issue.

http://www.bowersflybaby.com/tech/Cont_M64_6.pdf

[dgapilot]

Have you checked your idle mixture? With the denser colder air, you may need to richen the idle mixture some.


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[Shepherd]

Carb heat was on for the last few miles because I was flying through snow and haze.
Maybe the idle needs to be tweeked up a few rpm?

[cricko]

Carb heat was on for the last few miles because I was flying through snow and haze.
Maybe the idle needs to be tweeked up a few rpm?

Had the same issue with my Chief. Had the carb adjusted to run a bit richer. Problem solved.

[Subsonic]

I think you need more heat. Oil temp should get above 212 degrees F. The boiling point of water. Cover your oil cooler, if you have one. I don't know about these engines in these planes, but I know you need more heat. Sure, you can run richer, but if you run it rich at low combustion temp you're going to introduce carbon condensation and spark plug fowling next, if you don't have enough combustion heat. You need another 100 degrees more heat. That will fix most of your problem.

[rocket]

There is a " winter kit" for all the small continentals, a wrap like a diaper with snaps for around the oil tank and four snap on wraps for the intake tubes.

The bigger continentals have block off plates for the front of the cawl and an intake reduction plate, screws in front of the air filter, about a three inch hole which I always assumed caused a little more negative pressure in the induction system and caused the carb to draw a little more fuel which compensates for the cold air density.

Ive seen more then a few t-crates up here in AK with about half the cawl blocked off with duct tape, couple of Cubs too but the Lycs just don't need it regardless of the cold, well they do need the oil cooler block off plate.

Just some information that came up reading this thread.


Rocket

[rocket]

This has helped others with the same issue.

http://www.bowersflybaby.com/tech/Cont_M64_6.pdf

Steve,

wish I had seen this about 20 years ago. Had more then a few of these four jug contys come into the shop with bewildered pilots. I just told them to do all the usual winter tricks and not to bugger around at 1900rpm trying to save gas. Almost all of them actually iced up on the ramp going through their checklists etc or trying to "warm up the engine" idling at 700rpm at -10f.


Rocket