Practical ife limits

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Touchdown! Greaser!
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Dave Taylor
Practical life limits

I am updating my list of consumables' life limits.
Have a look at these and make any comments.
I realize some of these times are not what the mfg says.... I am more interested in your experiences with how long you expect or have seen these items last. or when you feel they should be changed.
Try to do this with the thought that the a/c has average use (cross country, non-training environment).
Thanks!


Central Filter Element 2yrs
Garter Filter 2yrs
Brake Disks 1500hrs
Caliper Seals (o-rings) 5yrs
Brake Linings 3yrs/500hrs
Tubes & Tires - mains 3yrs/500hrs
Tube & Tire - nose 5yrs/800hrs
12V 35A Battery 5yrs
Alternator Belt - 32" 3yrs
Air Filter 1 yr/150hrs
Spark Plugs 500hrs
Gear Strut Seals 5yrs
Shock Strut Main Springs 20yrs
Overcenter Springs 10yrs
Actuator Seals 5yrs
Gear Hardware 20yrs
Hydraulic Gear Hoses 10yrs
fuel cap seals 10yrs
Lord engine mounts 5yrs
Brake hoses L&R 10yrs
Engine compartment flex hoses 5yrs
Tach Drive cable 10yrs
Vac hoses 15yrs
 
Last edited:
Here is a list I put together:



Calendar/ Hourly Life limited Items: Years. Hours.

Airframe

Gyro air filters, central 5 500

Non-Teflon fuel, oil, and hydraulic hoses 15 3000

Teflon fuel, oil, and hydraulic hoses 20 4000

Seat belt / shoulder harness webbing 20

Stabilizer attach bolts 25 6000

Wing bolts 25 6000

Engine

Engine shock mounts 15 TBO

Non-Teflon fuel, oil, and hydraulic hoses 8 TBO

Teflon fuel, oil, and hydraulic hoses 15 TBO

Continental Engines 2000 SL 98-9



Special Inspection Items: Years. Hours.

Airframe

Gyro air pump carbon vanes 6 500

Electric hydraulic pump motor 15 500-1500

Electro mechanical gear actuator 15 3000

Gear actuator motor brushes 2 250

Gear motor internal inspection / lubrication 15 3000

Flight control trim actuator(s) 15 4500

Electrical flap actuators/motors 20 4000

Stabilizer mounting bolts torque inspection 5

Wing attach bolts torque inspection 5

Propeller

Fixed pitch propeller recondition 6 2000

Mounting hardware 20 2000

Constant speed propeller overhaul 6 2400

Prop governor reseal 15 1500

Governor (Woodward) 5 2400

Accumulators 5 1800

Engine

Alternator 500

Gear drive alternator internal inspection 5 300

Belt driven alternator internal inspection 5 500

Internal magneto inspection 5 500

Valve inspection/dry lash clearance 15 TBO

Cam / cam follower inspection (TCM engines) 15 mid life

Bendix fuel injector servo overhaul 20 TBO

Pressure carburetor overhaul 20 TBO

Primer nozzles cleaned and spray pattern 5

Continental unmetered fuel pressure check 2 400

Diaphragm fuel pumps overhaul 20 TBO

Internal starter inspection 5 mid-life

Turbocharger oil inlet check valve(s) 10 1000

Turbocharger oil scavenge check valves(s) 10 1000

Hydraulic wastegate actuator(s) resealing 10 1000

Stache
 
Pretty cool... I was going to post mine for the accessories after I got the consumables updated, I will refer to your list.
 
Poll:

Sounds about right
Too lazy to check right now
Who cares, just wait til it breaks!
So far off, I'm not going to touch that thread with a 10' towbar.
 
Here is my appliance/accessory/prop etc list:

Starter 2000h
Elect Fuel Pump 4000h
Oil Radiator 2000h
Hydraulic Pump 4000h
Power Pac 2000h
Vac Pump 500h
Alternator 1000h
Voltage Regulator 2000h
MagnetoL Bendix 500h
MagnetoR Bendix 500h
Exhaust System L 500h
Exhaust System R 500h
Fuel System TCM 2000h
Eng&Prop Controls eng TBO
Prop Governor 10yrs
Prop 10yrs
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
Here is my appliance/accessory/prop etc list:

Starter 2000h
Elect Fuel Pump 4000h
Oil Radiator 2000h
Hydraulic Pump 4000h
Power Pac 2000h
Vac Pump 500h
Alternator 1000h
Voltage Regulator 2000h
MagnetoL Bendix 500h
MagnetoR Bendix 500h
Exhaust System L 500h
Exhaust System R 500h
Fuel System TCM 2000h
Eng&Prop Controls eng TBO
Prop Governor 10yrs
Prop 10yrs

I'd push some stuff out more, and do some stuff earlier.

A lot of Hartzell props have a 5 or 6 year TBO. So I'd do those sooner. Governor at the same time.

I can get a lot more time out of an exhaust than 500 h, so I'd push that out to at least 1000, or engine TBO, whichever comes first.

Oil radiatior doesn't seem to make the 2000 hrs, I have it done at about 1000 (or when I see higher than normal temps in flight).

Voltage Reg depends on the type. A Zeftronics solid-state will last longer.

Vacuum pump replacement at 500 hours or annual if it's close to the same time. Vacuum filter at same time.

Annual Static checks & transponder checks. I fly a lot of IFR.

Nose gear bushings every couple of years.

Main battery solenoid every 8-10 years.
 
Re: Practical life limits

The battery and alternator belt are relatively inexpensive items, yet can cause problems. At the very least, the engine won't start on a cold day when you're ready to fly. So, I replace the alternator belt at every annual and the battery every 3rd annual. The prop comes off at annual anyway.
 
Thanks Gary I have been getting longer out of the alt belts and carry a spare (no prop pulling required) but I can see why with a front mounted alt you would chg it more. The battery, youre right I don't wait the full 5 yrs. In cold climates we would only get 2 but down in the south I've been getting over 5... the last one I pulled is still good, I keep it as a spare by charging it regularily. I also check the fluid and clean the posts compulsively. If I was just flying locally in that last year I probably wouldn't worry but if going across the country it would get changed early.
Thanks
 
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