TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL ® AIRCRAFT ENGINE

Category 2
CRITICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CSB08-9A
Technical Portions FAA
COMPLIANCE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN SAFETY Approved(Supersedes
CSB08-9)
SUBJECT: Slick Service Bulletin SB3-08A

PURPOSE: Notification and support of the Mandatory Inspections Called for in SB3-08A

COMPLIANCE: As listed in bulletin, time in service sensitive

MODELS
AFFECTED: Engines equipped with Slick 4300/6300 magnetos and Lasar™ 4700/6700
magnetos as designated in the bulletin

GENERAL

Unison Industries has issued Slick Service Bulletin SB3-08A dated 09-11-2008,
concerning inspections of specific magneto models as listed above. The affected
magnetos may be installed on various TCM model engines.

Inspections are considered Mandatory and must be accomplished as required by the

attached bulletin.
WARNING

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE RECOMMENDED

INSPECTIONS OF SLICK SERVICE BULLETIN SB3-08A
MAY CAUSE INTERRUPTION OF ENGINE OPERATION
DUE TO MAGNETO FAILURE.
Questions?

Contact Unison Piston Products Technical Support Hotline at 904-739-4081

Unison Technical Publications Web-site: www.unisonpubs.com

Teledyne Technical Services 888-826-5465

ISSUED REVISED PAGE NO REVISION

TM

MO DAY YEAR MO DAY YEAR T e le d y n e C o n t in e n t a l M o t o r s, In c . 1 of 2

P.O. BOX 90 MOBILE, AL 36601 251-438-3411
A
06 16 2008 09 30 2008 CSB08-9
© 2008 TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS, INC.
 SLICK SB3-08A
Service Bulletin
UNISON PROPRIETARY INFORMATION

The information contained in this document is Unison proprietary information and is disclosed in confidence.
It is the property of Unison and shall not be used, disclosed to others or reproduced without the express
written consent of Unison. If consent is given for reproduction in whole or in part, this notice and the notice set
forth on each page of this document shall appear in any such reproduction in whole or in part. The information
contained in this document may also be controlled by U.S. export control laws. Unauthorized export or
re-export is prohibited.

TO: Aircraft manufacturers, distributors, dealers, engine overhaul facilities, owners and
operators of Slick Aircraft Products aircraft magnetos.

SUBJECT: Mandatory inspections on all Slick 4200/6200/4300/6300 and LASAR™ 4700/6700

magnetos

MAGNETO MODELS
AFFECTED: • Slick and LASAR™ magnetos with serial numbers beginning with 0409XXXX through
08080453.
• Magnetos which have had carbon brush or distributor block assembly replaced with
components packaged between September 1, 2004 and August 14, 2008.

ENGINE MODELS
AFFECTED: Engines utilizing Slick and LASAR™ magnetos.

AIRFRAME MODELS
AFFECTED: Aircraft utilizing Slick and LASAR™ magnetos.

BACKGROUND
INFORMATION: Field reports indicate operators have experienced premature carbon brush wear. Premature
brush wear can lead to failure of the magneto to provide consistent spark and possible loss
of engine power. This bulletin describes an inspection schedule for specific serial number
ranges and magneto and brush operating times due to observed variations in premature
wear rates.

Bulletin SB3-08A supersedes bulletin SB3-08. The bulletin has been updated to ease the
inspection schedule for low operating time magnetos, to provide an ending serial number
for the affected range of magnetos, and to announce the availability of new design
magnetos and replacement parts.

Inspections that were carried out per the schedule originally recommended in SB3-08
should be considered when determining the need for additional inspections per this revised
bulletin.

For magnetos that require continued special inspections per this bulletin, Unison
recommends replacement of the carbon brush, or distributor assembly, or magneto with
new design parts as described in the Detailed Instructions to prevent the need for additional
special inspections.

ISSUED REVISED
Unison Industries
MO DAY YR MO DAY YR PAGE NO. REVISION
530 Blackhawk Park Avenue
05 13 08 09 11 08 Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A. 61104 1 of 5 A
2008 Unison Industries, LLC
 SLICK Service Bulletin SB3-08A
New Magnetos, manufactured after the ending serial number indicated, and new
replacement Brush Kits, and Distributor Kits, manufactured after August 14, 2008, contain
a new carbon brush material that is less susceptible to accelerated side-wear in the
distributor gear shaft. The new material has successfully completed substantial bench
and flight tests, accumulating extensive service time in both four and six cylinder engine
applications. Design improvements have also been made to the distributor gear assembly,
revising tolerances to reduce gear shaft end-play to help reduce brush side-wear, and to
the distributor bearing support bar, adding ribs to effectively increase the distance across
the insulating material surface.

COMPLIANCE: • For all magnetos with serial numbers 0409XXXX through 0611XXXX, and all magnetos
that have had a carbon brush or distributor block replaced with components packaged
between September 1, 2004 and November 30, 2006 perform Compliance Step 2 only.
See Detailed Instructions for Service Bulletin ending compliance information.

• For all magnetos with serial numbers between 0612XXXX and 08080453, and all
magnetos that have had a carbon brush or distributor block replaced with components
packaged between December 1, 2006 and August 14, 2008, perform Compliance Steps
1 or 2 as applicable based on magneto operating time. See Detailed Instructions for
Service Bulletin ending compliance information.

COMPLIANCE STEPS

* Total magneto operating time is defined as magneto engine operating time since
new or since carbon brush replacement, whichever is less.

1. For magnetos with some operating time but less than 250 hours of engine operating
time, if not previously inspected per SB3-08 initial issue, inspect within the next
25 hours of operation. Inspect again within the next 250 hours or at the 500 hour
magneto service interval, whichever comes first. Subsequently follow the
recommended inspection schedule in the applicable Unison or engine/airframe
manufacturer’s Maintenance and Overhaul publications.

2. For magnetos with greater than 250 hours of engine operating time that have not
yet been inspected pursuant to this service bulletin, inspect the magneto within
the next 50 hours or at next annual inspection, whichever occurs first. Subsequently,
follow the recommended inspection schedule in the applicable Unison, or engine
or airframe manufacturer's Maintenance and Overhaul publication(s). No further
special inspections per this bulletin are required unless brush or distributor assembly
is replaced.

NOTE: If the distributor block assembly or carbon brush are replaced with
parts packaged between September 1, 2004 and August 14, 2008,
perform Service Bulletin requirements as applicable.

PROOF OF
COMPLIANCE: Appropriate logbook entries.

UNISON PROPRIETARY INFORMATION – Subject to the restrictions on the cover or first page

ISSUED REVISED
Unison Industries
MO DAY YR MO DAY YR PAGE NO. REVISION
530 Blackhawk Park Avenue
05 13 08 09 11 08 Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A. 61104 2 of 5 A
©2008 Unison Industries, LLC
 SLICK Service Bulletin SB3-08A
PARTS REQUIRED
PER BULLETIN: As required by inspections described in this Service Bulletin, do one or more of the
following: replace magneto, or distributor block (4-cylinder distributor Kit P/N K3822 or
6-cylinder distributor Kit P/N K3823), or carbon brush (Kit P/N K3215), or coil (Kit P/N
K3975 or K5275) specified in Maintenance and Overhaul Manuals L-1037, L-1363, or
L-1503 as applicable.

TOOLS REQUIRED
PER BULLETIN: Slick T-100 Tool Kit, magneto timing light, T-300 SynchroLASAR™ and standard shop
tools as applicable.

WEIGHT CHANGE: None.

REQUIRED
SERVICE
LITERATURE: Refer to the following literature when performing the instructions listed below:

Slick 4200/6200 Magneto Maintenance and Overhaul Manual L-1037

Slick 4300/6300 Magneto Maintenance and Overhaul Manual L-1363

LASAR™ 4700/6700 Magneto Maintenance and Overhaul Manual L-1503

Slick Service Bulletin SB2-08 - Magneto Breaker Cam Inspection

WARRANTY
INFORMATION: If damage or premature wear listed in this Service Bulletin is discovered during inspection,
and the magneto is within Unison's 1-year warranty period, the magneto may be returned
through your point of sale for warranty replacement. For magnetos outside the 1-year
warranty period in which components listed in this bulletin have failed, those components
may be returned under warranty through your point of sale.

DETAILED
INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Use lighted magnification (4X minimum) to inspect carbon brush for rough surface and
possible tapering. REPLACE CARBON BRUSH THAT SHOWS ANY OF THE
UNACCEPTABLE CONDITIONS SHOWN IN FIGURE 1 PER THE APPLICABLE
MAINTENANCE AND OVERHAUL MANUAL.
Undercut or nailhead Undercut or nailhead

Smooth, semi-glossy surface Rough surface Tapering Rough surface Tapering

Acceptable Unacceptable Unacceptable

Carbon Brush
Figure 1
UNISON PROPRIETARY INFORMATION – Subject to the restrictions on the cover or first page

ISSUED REVISED
Unison Industries
MO DAY YR MO DAY YR PAGE NO. REVISION
530 Blackhawk Park Avenue
05 13 08 09 11 08 Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A. 61104 3 of 5 A
©2008 Unison Industries, LLC
 SLICK Service Bulletin SB3-08A
2. Inspect coil tab for carbon residue coating left by carbon brush. See Figure 2.
REPLACE CARBON BRUSH PER THE APPLICABLE MAINTENANCE AND
OVERHAUL MANUAL IF SUBSTANTIAL RESIDUE IS FOUND ON COIL TAB. Use
a cotton swab and alcohol to remove residue from coil tab, or replace coil if tab cannot
be cleaned. Also inspect high tension coil tab for wear caused by carbon brush. Wear
is indicated by a visible depression in the tab. If tab is worn, replace coil.

Acceptable Unacceptable

Evidence of Improper Wear of Carbon Brush

Figure 2

3. Inspect bearing bar for evidence of brush residue contamination, burning, or arcing.
See Figure 3. REPLACE DISTRIBUTOR BLOCK ASSEMBLY PER THE
APPLICABLE MAINTENANCE AND OVERHAUL MANUAL IF THERE IS ANY
EVIDENCE OF ELECTRICAL ARCING OR BURNING. The new bearing bar can be
identified by either the manufacturer-dated packaging, or visually by noting the dams.

Unacceptable
(Developing bearing bar failure)

Bearing Bar
Figure 3
UNISON PROPRIETARY INFORMATION – Subject to the restrictions on the cover or first page

ISSUED REVISED
Unison Industries
MO DAY YR MO DAY YR PAGE NO. REVISION
530 Blackhawk Park Avenue
05 13 08 09 11 08 Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A. 61104 4 of 5 A
©2008 Unison Industries, LLC
 SLICK Service Bulletin SB3-08A
4. If bearing bar does not show evidence of burning or arcing, clean and remove any normal
residue per the applicable Maintenance and Overhaul Manual and reassemble into the
magneto.

CAUTION: IF THE COIL TAB PROTRUDES ABOVE THE MAGNETO FRAME, IT

CAN MAKE DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE DISTRIBUTOR GEAR AXLE
AND CAUSE THE MAGNETO TO MALFUNCTION.

5. Prior to installing distributor block, make sure coil tab is parallel to and flush with frame
mating surface to within 1/32 inch. See Figure 4.

Parallel and Spring Loaded Parting Surface

Flush To 1/32 Carbon Brush Of Frame
Below Frame

Coil
Coil Tab

Coil Tab Positioning

Figure 4

6. Service Bulletin ending compliance can be documented if existing magneto is

replaced by new magneto with serial number 08080454 or later, or if the carbon brush
and/or distributor block has been replaced by one manufactured after August 14, 2008,
or if the magneto has accumulated 500 hours of engine operating time and has passed
the Service Bulletin inspection requirements. Make an appropriate logbook entry.

NOTE: Special provisions have been made with Unison Distributors for replacement
kits. Visit www.unisonindustries.com/ourproducts/distributors.html for a list
of Unison’s authorized distributors.

Unison Piston Products Technical Support Hotline: 904-739-4081

Unison Technical Publications Web-site: www.unisonpubs.com

UNISON PROPRIETARY INFORMATION – Subject to the restrictions on the cover or first page

ISSUED REVISED
Unison Industries
MO DAY YR MO DAY YR PAGE NO. REVISION
530 Blackhawk Park Avenue
05 13 08 09 11 08 Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A. 61104 5 of 5 A
©2008 Unison Industries, LLC
 Warranty

If your TCM engine is within the original full coverage warranty period as stated in your
written warranty, contact TCM Technical Services at 1-888-826-5465, option 2

Beyond the full warranty coverage period, contact Unison Hotline for assistance.

ISSUED REVISED PAGE NO REVISION

TM

MO DAY YEAR MO DAY YEAR CONTINENTAL MOTORS

A Teledyne Technologies Company 2 of 2 A
P.O. BOX 90 MOBILE ALABAMA 36601 • 251-438-3411
06 16 2008 09 30 2008 CSB08-9
© 2008 TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL MOTORS, INC.