Ted
The pilot formerly known as Twin Engine Ted
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2007
- Messages
- 29,940
- Display Name
Display name:
iFlyNothing
As some of you may remember, last weekend I discovered the starter on the right engine on my Aztec was heading south, and not in the way I'd like to (warm beaches sound very appealing right now). No problem, I got a good deal on a new starter and that's not a big deal to change. I figured that I'd take advantage of the opportunity to do a laundry list of a few things that the Aztec needed to have done on it. Last night, my mechanic and I got started. We had 5 things to accomplish:
1) Change the spark plug in the Janitrol heater. This has been giving me problems since I bought the plane, but since it's only recently gotten cold enough to need the heater again, I had put off getting a new plug. Easy job.
2) Cleaned the injectors on the left engine. I'd done the ones on the right engine a few months ago (they were really bad), and the left ones needed it, too, just not as badly. So I figured this was a good opportunity to get that done.
3) New baffle seals for the left engine. Upon examination, they weren't as bad as I'd thought they were, so I decided to put those off and reevaluate in the spring when it gets warmer out. I had done the ones on the right engine right before Oshkosh, as they were really bad. Changed them and noticed a 5 mph increase in cruise and a 30F drop in oil temp.
4) Cleaned and prepped the de-ice boots. This hadn't been done in at least 3 years, so a lot of scrubbing to get the boots prepped, then washed off, and then applied two coats of sealant. I may go apply a third coat, but the boots are nice and shiny now, looking like they'll do a much better job than they would have previously.
5) Starter. Easy, no brainer.
6) Wait, 6? I had said 5. This can't be good. Found the inner exhaust on the right engine had a nasty crack in it at one of the patches. Taking a closer look, that pipe is all patched up to the point of practically being more patch than pipe. The other parts of the exhaust don't look too bad, but this one definitely needed fixing. We figured I would need to order a new pipe on Monday, but in the mean time I was trying to get flying for an animal rescue today, so we pulled it out and welded it.
Well, the pipe was so screwed up that the weld job only made things worse, not better. About half past midnight last night, we threw in the towel. It's dead, Jim. Time for a new exhaust pipe. Unfortunately, this mean I had to cancel my flight last minute. First time I've done that in the year I've been doing these flights, so I suppose it's not too bad of a record considering the number of flights I've done. Also, in the 200 hours I've put on the Aztec this year, this is the first time I've had to cancel a flight due to mechanical issues (excluding while the thing was in annual). Not bad for a 40 year old plane with 9000 hours on it, especially considering the amount of use that I've been putting on it.
Now the question: Do I just order the pipe to replace it, or order the whole system? There's an STC'd exhaust system that's a better design, and has larger diameter pipes that ought to make a bit of a power boost. I'm going to give the folks a call and see what the cost points are, and go from there. Probably call on Monday. Gotta get this thing back together for next weekend's trip!
Maybe sometime in there I can even get the autopilot fixed. Got the altitude computer back and yellow-tagged, and got the new bridle cable for the roll servo. Now just got to get those installed.
If it's not one thing...
1) Change the spark plug in the Janitrol heater. This has been giving me problems since I bought the plane, but since it's only recently gotten cold enough to need the heater again, I had put off getting a new plug. Easy job.
2) Cleaned the injectors on the left engine. I'd done the ones on the right engine a few months ago (they were really bad), and the left ones needed it, too, just not as badly. So I figured this was a good opportunity to get that done.
3) New baffle seals for the left engine. Upon examination, they weren't as bad as I'd thought they were, so I decided to put those off and reevaluate in the spring when it gets warmer out. I had done the ones on the right engine right before Oshkosh, as they were really bad. Changed them and noticed a 5 mph increase in cruise and a 30F drop in oil temp.
4) Cleaned and prepped the de-ice boots. This hadn't been done in at least 3 years, so a lot of scrubbing to get the boots prepped, then washed off, and then applied two coats of sealant. I may go apply a third coat, but the boots are nice and shiny now, looking like they'll do a much better job than they would have previously.
5) Starter. Easy, no brainer.
6) Wait, 6? I had said 5. This can't be good. Found the inner exhaust on the right engine had a nasty crack in it at one of the patches. Taking a closer look, that pipe is all patched up to the point of practically being more patch than pipe. The other parts of the exhaust don't look too bad, but this one definitely needed fixing. We figured I would need to order a new pipe on Monday, but in the mean time I was trying to get flying for an animal rescue today, so we pulled it out and welded it.
Well, the pipe was so screwed up that the weld job only made things worse, not better. About half past midnight last night, we threw in the towel. It's dead, Jim. Time for a new exhaust pipe. Unfortunately, this mean I had to cancel my flight last minute. First time I've done that in the year I've been doing these flights, so I suppose it's not too bad of a record considering the number of flights I've done. Also, in the 200 hours I've put on the Aztec this year, this is the first time I've had to cancel a flight due to mechanical issues (excluding while the thing was in annual). Not bad for a 40 year old plane with 9000 hours on it, especially considering the amount of use that I've been putting on it.
Now the question: Do I just order the pipe to replace it, or order the whole system? There's an STC'd exhaust system that's a better design, and has larger diameter pipes that ought to make a bit of a power boost. I'm going to give the folks a call and see what the cost points are, and go from there. Probably call on Monday. Gotta get this thing back together for next weekend's trip!
Maybe sometime in there I can even get the autopilot fixed. Got the altitude computer back and yellow-tagged, and got the new bridle cable for the roll servo. Now just got to get those installed.
If it's not one thing...