Singed off my annual in the logs last night to be legal to fly out for pancakes this morning. My startup includes checking the backup battery and fuel pumps. One of the fuel pumps wasn't making pressure and sounded weak. The second pump worked fine. Bad fuel pump? No it worked fine off the main battery. Backup battery looked a bit weak on the meter but no problem, I'll charge it up on the flight. Then on startup the starter hesitated on the first compression stroke. Hummm, that's not quite right either. During run up I wasn't getting good reads on the volt meter or amp meter so back to the hangar. Check out indicates no alternator output but the problem is probably the regulator. The alternator is a B&C 12 amp and the regulator is incased so no way to check it out. Digital meter on the battery at engine start indicates zero charging. I called B&C hoping they might be open but no answer. To my surprise I got a call back about 30 minutes later. He happened to stop by the office and saw the missed phone call and called me back. We discussed the situation for 30 minutes or more and at this point I will order a regulator Tuesday AM and have it over nighted to install Wednesday AM. If all goes well I will head for the Gathering Thursday AM as planned. If not I will make the trek via Toyota.
Looking back, I think I've been flying on borrowed time the last flight or two. I've noticed my small back up battery didn't look right on the volt meter but everything was working o.k. My main battery is so hefty that I've been starting the engine and running the pumps and the radio on it without recharging for at least an hour or two now. The lesson here is a gradual failure will give you hints if you bother to pay attention. If something doesn't seem quite right it probably isn't. Happy holiday............ See you at the Gathering.......... Larry Flesner
