“popping noise” at idle on 0-200

[varadero]

recently purchased 2008 sport cub, love it…

and just completed a very extensive annual…

has 1100 total time, engine has never been topped or overhauled…

noticed when I test flew it that the engine made a popping noise, sort of like a backfire, several times a minute while taxiing…

ask the seller about it (an FAA certified repair station in California), they had maintained that airplane since new, and the owners response was “it has always done that…”

so my questions are:

do they all do that?

if not, is there something that needs to be looked at or adjusted on my engine?

thanks

[jalexbell]

I saw you post and was waiting for one of our experts to answer. I am certainly not an expert nor do I play one on TV. I did have a 2008 Sport Cub and I did not experience "popping noise" while taxing so I would say it is not normal. I have seen (or heard as it may be) similar symptoms ranging from ignition issues such as spark plugs, ignition cables, magnetos, and fuel issues such as too lean of a mixture and a leak in the intake or exhaust. system. Thats a shotgun of probable causes but it is definitely not normal.