Vanguard No4 Engine Troubles

[hecrowell]

First of all, I hope I have this post in the right part of the forum.

I have downloaded Pack1 from Rick Piper's site wich includes his Vicers Vanguard VC9 as well as Fraser's panel. All installed per directions including changes to the aircraft.cfg file.
When engines are started, all spool up correctly and no problems taxiing. The trouble starts when takeoff power is selected. No4 engine will not develop power, the gauges for No4 very erratic as well as the throttle lever. Aircraft veers right. The engine sounds like it is trying to go into start mode....very strange.

I have tried a couple of other panels - one for the P3 Orion and a 747-400 panel both of which work fine.

Any help appreciated

[DaveB]

Hi Hecrowell and welcome to the forum

First thing.. I'm really not sure that the one on Ricks site is the most up to date. His site was hacked some years ago and it's remained pretty static since. Pop down to the Members Only forum and download the Vanguard VA Pack1 from there. This includes the most up to date panel, sounds and models ;-)

Off the top of my head, I'd kinda guess you're trying to takeoff with the control locks in place but nip downstairs and download the latest packs first ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[Chris558]

I first thought that title was referring to Dave's beloved 'EP! :roll:

[Techy111]

Nahhhhh......Dave's got a huge supply of very big hammers at Brookers.....

Tony

[DaveB]

He certainly wouldn't get no.4 started on the real EP as I took the starter off the engine on Wednesday Spooky coincidence though innit :o

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[hecrowell]

Thanx for the quick reply, Dave
Now that I think about it, I am not sure exactly where I got the VAPack1 download from - RIck's Site or here at the forum. I did see some other posts in the members only area where the downloads are available. one of particular interest concerning returning the starter switches to Norm after all engines are lit. I wonder in my haste to get airborne that I may have forgotten the #4 switch in the start position. I will have to re-investigate that. In the meantime, I have cheated a bit - well maybe a lot because I took out the old VC9 panel and replaced it with a VC10 panel....hopefully no one will rake me too bad for that slight mod to a great vintage aircraft...after all, it did enable me to have a great flight in a great aircraft.

Will let you know how it goes with re-installation of the VC9 panel and snapping all switches to the proper positions. I have reason to believe now it is finger trouble and not a trouble with the panel because I seem to be all alone here - - - - suspicious! :doho:

Harold

[DaveB]

Fear not Harold.. we're here to help and this is not by any means the strangest question we've had ;-) I've read your post again and yes.. I'd agree that not putting engine 4's start/norm switch to norm after starting would definately stop it winding up as that engine would remain in low beta. On the real aircraft, interlocks physically prevent that from happening so the throttle concerned would remain in the locked position. Frasers panel does it's best to simulate this though as you've found.. it doesn't remain fully locked, it jitters instead. ;-)

Any probs with the new version.. just fire em away here ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[hecrowell]

Well, The fresh install made no difference. I did a bit of an experiment, though...when all engines were running at idle, I snapped each engine's start switch to the start position in turn and that engine will then duplicate exactly the problem which continues on #4...jittery throttle lever and no power in that engine . #4 does not ever seem to come out of the start mode no matter what I do. I see the bar go from ground to flight when the throttles are advanced so I cannot begin to imagine what is going wrong or why #4 seems to be stuck or locked in ground beta mode or start mode - whichever.

Am I the only person that has to fly a plane called a VC9/VC10?
:flying:

[DaveB]

:think: :think: :think:

Okey doh. In low ground beta (with all switches in start).. you shouldn't try and open the throttles. As I said above, on the real aircraft.. you can't.. plain and simple. The switch being at start locks the throttle on that switches engine. As engines 1,2 and 3 are all running up correctly, I can't see any reason why no.4 isn't. Have you fiddled with any of the fuel panel switches at all?? Have you removed the control lock (the odd looking lever at the extreme RH of the panel)?? Are you using the model in FS9 or FSX?? Are you using a joystick or a throttle quad?? Are all the files in the correct place (eg.. the folder FM Sounds in the Main FS aircraft folder and not in the Vanguard folder)?? Which version of FSUIPC are you using??

The pack 'as is' down in the members forum is ready to go and as such doesn't require any of the tweaks listed with older panels. The packs are used by all of our VA pilots here (including me) and this is a problem not reported before? Don't think you're being fobbed off because that couldn't be further from the truth ;-) The aircraft should fly perfectly straight out of the box with the minimum of fiddling (none really unless you're a VA pilot flying online and this is caused by the way our VA client fuels the aircraft)!

EDIT..
I've just read what folk had to say down in the Members forum about the Vanguard pack releases and one chap commented that he had an issue with engine no.4 not starting/running with the OLD panel and this disappeared with the v5 release (the one included in the pack). Can you make sure you have none of the old bits lurking Harold ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[hecrowell]

Ok - Here I go

Answering a few qustions:
1. I did not fiddle or otherwise mess with any fuel settings - I always assume that settings are configured as default to work properly.
2. My FS version is FS9 (AKA FS2004)
3. No (and here is the really important part) - I did not move the gust lock - whoever would have guessed that a lil ol gust lock ould cause havoc to No4 engine!

Well, when I finally smartened up and pulled the gust lock, all started working properly.... I now no longer have to reside in a lonely world as a "pilot" who flies a Vanguard VC9 with a Vanguard VC10 panel

Thanks to all the replies that finally got me on the right track and hopefully my stupidity (or ignorance) both caused by a lack of reading of the manual will help someone somewhere that runs across the same problem.

Somewhat embarassed
Harold