Sender: "Marvin Kaye" <marv@lancaironline.net>
To: lml@lancaironline.net
Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2005 10:56:33 -0500
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From: "Gary Casey" <glcasey@adelphia.net>
Subject: Starting the IO-550
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<<But over-priming is so commonplace that TCM has required us to install a
drainage system specifically to handle this problem. Am I the only one
who finds it crazy to install sniffle valves in our 21st century
airplanes? SNIFFLE VALVES! We have somehow been conditioned to accept
that it is normal for our engines to dump raw fuel on the ramp during
startup!>>

I have a friend that just bought a Mooney with the IO-550 engine.  He has
considerable trouble starting and Continental says "that's because that
model engine has no priming valve."  Problem is that the fuel drain is
directly below the injector, which is pointed straight down.  Most of the
priming fuel is simply dumped straight out the drain and onto the ramp.  He
always seems to end up with a large puddle of fuel before he gets it
started.  Apparently there is an option of a priming valve that squirts fuel
into the throttle body - I would think that this would be very effective.
Anyone know if this is a readily-available fix?  Easy to do?  Effective?

Gary Casey