Rotordog gets the cigar!!!!
Although technically a 206A would have an Allison C-18 in it and CECO (
AFAIK) was never fitted to this engine.
CECO MC40 units are pretty rare these days and have a higher TBO over the Bendix. Problem is they rarely make it and cost a fortune to overhaul if you can find someone who can do it. In service the Bendix will pass small rocks through it figuritively speaking as compared to the CECO. Contamination was common in a CECO and it even had an extra HP filter fitted to it compared to the Bendix and it would seem that even wear in the fuel pump could contaminate it, we're talking 5 microns here, less than smoke particles.
The CECO is hydromechanical and the Bendix is mainly pneumatic. The CECO had the potential to be better as a governor but it was "de-tuned" and was all over the place when installed on the H500C. It came to the point in the early days in animal capture in NZ that guys would not fly CECO equipped aircraft. Self preservation and personal preference etc. The fix was to ring an Aussie operator and ask "Hey mate want to do a straight swap?" Suckered them every time - I know who got the better deal. For some reason the Aussies liked the CECO for it's modulated start and the Aussie Kiowa had it so there was some support for it.
CECO now appears to be part of Goodrich. They also make the HMU and ECU for the Allison C40 & 47 and I think ECU for the Arrius 2 where it is used. Brings back memories of the FADEC logic in the 407. Lets not go there.
BTW - never really understood how a "muscles valve" worked anyway.
diethelm. "Modulating" the start on a Bendix equipped C18, 20, 20B, 20J, 20F, 20W etc. probably just makes you feel better, see Rotordogs post.