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Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 4:04 am
by Lee
Hi ... first, I appreciate the help I have been getting regarding our '54B back in the air! Further question: I have an STCd Airborne vacuum pump installation. I may have to overhaul/replace the pump. Any ideas on who has a replacement or can overhaul or provide overhaul parts? The pump was fine the last time the bird flew 9 years ago but, the IA I have been working under thinks it might be a good idea to go ahead and update the pump ... an "amusing" project if the engine is buttoned up. Note that as near as I can tell, the 212CW-6 is a bit odd as the shaft uses a woodruff keyed shaft instead of a splined shaft. Thanks! Regards, Lee (N1967C)

Re: Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:00 pm
by Bruce Fenstermacher
Lee, let us know what you find to replace it. I believe the popular opinion is those pumps are no longer available new at any price.

Re: Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:09 pm
by Lee
Will do ...I have yet too see a problem that could not be solved and there is bound to be a work-around on this one!

Re: Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 1:44 am
by flyboy122
Lee wrote:Will do ...I have yet too see a problem that could not be solved and there is bound to be a work-around on this one!

Lee, absolutely. In this case you solve it by chucking the vacuum pump and replacing the gyros with the STC'd Garmin or Dynon units. It's an order of magnitude more cost, but something worth considering if you actually fly IFR. Vacuum pumps fail with frightening regularity, and something like 30% of failures in IMC are fatal. (And if you don't fly in IMC, why have it in the first place.)

Yes, my plane has vacuum gyros. Yes, they scare the heck out of me. Yes, when it craps out I won't replace it. No, I'm not comfortable flying IMC in it. And yes, millions of pilots have flown millions of hours behind vacuum pumps. Lots of people used buggy whips too.

DEM

Re: Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 2:10 am
by Dennis
Hi Lee, Tempest will make you a brand new 212CW-6 vacuum pump. Look them up on the internet for contact info. Let us know this adventure works out. Regards, Dennis

Re: Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2017 4:00 am
by mit
I have one and would be very interested what you find out! The crashes are not due to vacuum pump failure. They are due the inability of the pilot to deal with the failure. Risk management.

Re: Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:10 am
by flyboy122
mit wrote: The crashes are not due to vacuum pump failure. They are due the inability of the pilot to deal with the failure.
Correct. Sit in a room full of pilots and ask "raise your hand if you consider yourself an above average pilot?" Just about all of them will. Yet 1 out of 3 won't be able to handle a vacuum pump failure when it counts.

I'm not trying to be a chicken little here. Just providing a different perspective.

DEM

Re: Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2017 3:13 am
by mit
flyboy122 wrote:
mit wrote: The crashes are not due to vacuum pump failure. They are due the inability of the pilot to deal with the failure.
Correct. Sit in a room full of pilots and ask "raise your hand if you consider yourself an above average pilot?" Just about all of them will. Yet 1 out of 3 won't be able to handle a vacuum pump failure when it counts.

I'm not trying to be a chicken little here. Just providing a different perspective.

DEM
Ok here is the other one, they should not have been there in the first place, if they where not ready for the possibility of a failure, again pilot problem not pump problem..................

Re: Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Sat Apr 22, 2017 1:12 am
by flyboy122
mit wrote:

Ok here is the other one, they should not have been there in the first place, if they where not ready for the possibility of a failure, again pilot problem not pump problem..................
Yes, and since we've failed to fix the pilot problem for 75 years let's fix the pump problem!

DEM

at we

Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:48 pm
by Lee
Hi ... first, I will check out Tempest and what they charge. Second, a couple of comments about SE IFR. I have done it in the past flying charter (C-206) and did a lot of night flying while instructing on the T-34C. We used to debate the merits of a night jump or riding the bird down into a previously noted farmer's field. That said, our -170 came IFR equipped and certified and my desire is to maintain that capability for one reason. Millington (NQA), late afternoons in the summer, when it is very hazy, can be hard to see. Looking for traffic can be problematic ... we lie under Memphis Class B and there is a lot of traffic in the area. Essentially, I want the capability to go from known VFR into a localized IFR situation using personal minimums that are higher than published. Departure is the same ... localized IFR into known VFR conditions. The idea of running around single engine IFR and shooting an approach to published minimums has zero appeal to me in my advancing age! I will let you all know what I come up with. I considered going all electric with auto battery backup and may yet do so but, cost is a consideration. I am installing a number of STCs/modifications and at what point do we say "enough" ... at least for this year! Thanks for all of the help, advice and comments ... I consider every one! Regards, Lee (N1967C)

Re: Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Mon Apr 24, 2017 5:34 pm
by rydfly
I'll be interested to hear what you find out as well. I still have one of those old vacuum pumps spinning on the front of my 170 also. Please keep us posted!

Re: at we

Posted: Tue Apr 25, 2017 8:48 pm
by cessna170bdriver
Lee wrote:Hi ... first, I will check out Tempest and what they charge. Second, a couple of comments about SE IFR. I have done it in the past flying charter (C-206) and did a lot of night flying while instructing on the T-34C. We used to debate the merits of a night jump or riding the bird down into a previously noted farmer's field. That said, our -170 came IFR equipped and certified and my desire is to maintain that capability for one reason. Millington (NQA), late afternoons in the summer, when it is very hazy, can be hard to see. Looking for traffic can be problematic ... we lie under Memphis Class B and there is a lot of traffic in the area. Essentially, I want the capability to go from known VFR into a localized IFR situation using personal minimums that are higher than published. Departure is the same ... localized IFR into known VFR conditions. The idea of running around single engine IFR and shooting an approach to published minimums has zero appeal to me in my advancing age! I will let you all know what I come up with. I considered going all electric with auto battery backup and may yet do so but, cost is a consideration. I am installing a number of STCs/modifications and at what point do we say "enough" ... at least for this year! Thanks for all of the help, advice and comments ... I consider every one! Regards, Lee (N1967C)
I feel comfortable flying that kind of IFR with my venturi/manifold vacuum system combination. The majority of it was getting out of Picayune Mississippi to go somewhere on those clear-and-one mornings we often had.

Re: Airborne 212CW-6 vacuum pump

Posted: Sun May 28, 2017 7:14 am
by GAHorn
flyboy122 wrote:
mit wrote:

Ok here is the other one, they should not have been there in the first place, if they where not ready for the possibility of a failure, again pilot problem not pump problem..................
Yes, and since we've failed to fix the pilot problem for 75 years let's fix the pump problem!

DEM
You are correct, DEM...the PUMP is the problem. They never should have introduced it and kept the VENTURIIS...!! (No one needs to consider zero-zero takeoffs in a single-engine airplane anyway!)