the "not worthy of it's own thread" thread

My engine is about to pass the 1800 hour mark. My wallet is starting to take notice. Oil has been clean so far so we'll see how long we go.

 

Do you have an engine overhaul fund?

 

This is thread worthy. The crab/slip thang

 

If it's not using gross amounts of oil, compressions are fair, and not making metal ... I'd fly it.

For me, a rebuilt motor gives more reason for caution than one that has run faithfully for 1800 hours ...

 

You don't. Slips (forward or side) are "wing low" ball not centered.

 

agreed

 

Yes. My annual company bonus.

 

As if you needed to be plane less again.

 

The only roulette is lead times on engines. The plan is to swap this with a non-dual mag engine instead of overhauling this one. So do you get to 2000 and order one since it'll be another 9 months until it arrives? Or do you fly until failure (it talks to you) and be down 9 months?

I will certainly go to 2000 and keep watching for signs. It eats a quart every 4 to 5 hours. One cylinder compression was lower last year (in the 50s). Annual starts in 2 weeks. We'll see where it's at this year.

 

Yeah, tell me about it.

 

Fly less to delay the inevitable? Least you still have a plane in one piece.

 

Worst thing I've ever seen you say.

For those not familiar with my flying habits, 200 hours is about 14 months of flying for me (when the plane is working). It's not far off from TBO.

 

Nice bonus!!! Well done !

 

Terrible joke. Buy another plane and I'll build you a lift. That better?

 

Way better.

 

This is what I'd do if I had the cash and storage space.

 

Just had this conversation with my IA though I’m years out. Get a nice core from a prop strike, send everything out that needs sending. Get it all back, parts verified, assembled with a few pieces left in boxes. When you are ready for the swap, complete final assembly with 0 SMOH and current date, put that on, sell the old boy as working and run-out for more than the core you bought.

 

So rebuilding a low hour prop strike is cheaper than rebuilding your high hour current engine?

 

If time=money, then yes. Think 10+ month down time vs 1 month down time.

 

Could always go with the electro-air as their dual mag is approved. Get a push button start too. Wonder if that'd be cheaper if you went with @masloki suggestion of a prop strike dual mag. But then at the mercy of something not passing and being upside down.

 

Is it cheaper to overhaul a low hour prop strike or a high hour runout?

 

Annual done. New prop and some verrry special turbo hoses, plus a lot of time fitting those gosh darned hoses (8 hours plus), made this a super spicy annual. It’s done. Time to get current again on everything.

 

is that a beer fridge in the back?

 

You could find water in there but it will take some digging.

 

In 10 days it will be a year since I flew my plane. I’ve now got the RAM STC which includes 4 new cylinders and pistons and a new carb. Also new is a Power Flow exhaust (short stack) and EI engine monitor. I also installed a new set of engine baffles.

The sad thing is that my BFR is overdue and I’m not current. I can’t do maneuvers for a BFR until the cylinders are broken in.

This whole process started because I just wanted to paint a $28 push rod tube. Long version of story to be told over an adult beverage.

 

A push rod tube lead to a year long engine overhaul. This is indeed a worthy story! Maybe do weekly installments. “Stay tuned for next weeks episode - “Tales of while you’re in there woes”.

 

The engine monitor and the exhaust were planned upgrades.

The rest wasn’t exactly “while you’re in there” but rather, “because you did that.”

I’m not upset about it. It’s an improvement albeit costly. I just hope to be back in the air soon.

 

Take the opportunity to combine the flight review with flying something you ain't never flew before. I did one in a Taylorcraft, and one in a 172 so that I would no longer be the only pilot on the planet that had never flown a 172.

 

tell the story at rough river.

I just had a lengthy annual and had to get my FR during that time. did it in a 172 and feel pretty dirty about it.

 

Heh, I have access to a 172 but it too has an issue. We need to remove the accessory case to install a helicoil for the oil filter adapter before it can fly again. I’ve flown one before. It took a while but I managed to get the icky off me.

 

I don’t think there are any required maneuvers for a BFR. If I’m right ya just gotta find a CFI who knows that and doesn’t feel compelled to do things that are bad for your engine. Maybe this is thread worthy. I’m gonna do it.

 

Check carefully. It looks like they put the tail on backwards.

 

When I did a BFR on a fresh engine, we did chandelles at 75% power. However, the engine had already done time on the test stand and a little over an hour doing laps over the field already.

 

why does epsom salt have an expiration date?

It's SALT... since when does SALT go bad?

 

supposed to fly allegiant today to FLL. delayed an hour. delayed another hour. pushed up a half hour. cancelled. pretty effing sweet.

 

They moved you over to the AA flight, right?

 

nope. refund or reschedule on a different flight. next flight isn't until friday, when I was supposed to come home. it's the only airline at this airport besides eman airlines. hey wait a minute, that gives me an idea.....

 

I didn’t cancel today.