It's starting to feel like a plane again

[helitim]

My recent firewall forward and interior project is starting to show some significant progress.  This evening I was able to complete the engine install and connections to the point of a test run on my next day off, which will be Friday.  Plane Plastics seriously screwed up on my interior pieces and I have had no less than 6 or 8 phone conversations trying to get the correct panels.  Today showed a glimmer of hope as I finally contacted someone who stopped what they were doing and actually went and figured out the problem.  She finally sent me photos of the correct panels and promised they would make them for me tomorrow.  Time will tell.

The following photos shows the engine overhaul progress and install as of this evening.

 

Edited January 19, 2016 by helitim
Typos

[HRM]

Sooooo nice!

[Mcstealth]

What panels are you referring?

[helitim]

The interior plastic panels.  I had ordered almost all new panels and not one of them fit correctly.  After quite a bit of cutting and fitting, I was able to make two of them work but the rest will not fit.  Some of the panels were stamped M20C/E or E/F. No mention of J model. The ones that were stamped J must be from a completely different year model even though I gave my serial number with the order. 

It wasn't just the fact that they sent the original parts incorrectly but they sent two more replacement pieces incorrectly.  The customer service rep would apologize profusely every time we spoke and would promise to get me the correct parts and then.....nothing happened.  No call back, email or anything.  Very frustrating.  It's hard to believe I am AOG because of plastic panels.  After this fiasco with Plane Plastics, I will be hard pressed to order from them again.  

Bright side is that once all this is complete she will be in pretty good shape for a long time to come.  

Tim

[carusoam]

Great cam photo!

best regards,

-a-

[PMcClure]

Cool. I never knew the front main journal was so loooong. 

[helitim]

Going to the engine shop during the reassembly process was quite educational.  Given the chance, I highly recommend it.

tim

[Guest]

Be sure to pressure lubricate your engine before starting it.  I just saw the inside of a 540 which was cranked with the starter until oil pressure was established.  The thrust face of the case was scored and is shedding aluminum.

Clarence

[carl]

3 hours ago, M20Doc said:

pressure lubricate your engine

Clarence, 

can you give me a little instruction here , I don't know what this means

 

carl

[Guest]

8 minutes ago, carl said:

Clarence, 

can you give me a little instruction here , I don't know what this means

 

carl

I have a one gallon pressure pot which I connect to the front right oil gallery plug.  Fill the pressure pot with oil, pressurize the pot with shop air, open the valve and pre-fill and pressurize the engine oil system.  

Clarence

[carl]

ok ,super explanation thanks 

[HRM]

1 hour ago, carl said:

ok ,super explanation thanks 

Does not look like an E to me.

[helitim]

Clarence,

The engine shop ran the engine for break in on the test stand.  Would you still suggest the pressure lubrication?

Tim

[Guest]

6 hours ago, helitim said:

Clarence,

The engine shop ran the engine for break in on the test stand.  Would you still suggest the pressure lubrication?

Tim

Tim,

I use a pressure pot every time, it assures that the engine has oil pressure immediately on start up.  It does not take long to connect it and it can do its work while other things are done.  The last thing I want it to harm my customers newly overhauled or repaired engine.

Clarence

[N601RX]

I used a pressure pot also.  My engine wasn't run on a test stand, so it was even more important to me.  The pressure pot will push oil all the way out to the rocker arms.  It also insures the oil pump is fully primed and don't just suck air.

[N601RX]

Courious as to why they put one of the silk threads on each side of the bolt holes in the case.  They should both go around the inside of the holes.

[Guest]

I wondered that as well, I also could not see if they milled the groove above the centre cam bearing to minimize backbone leaking.

Clarence

[helitim]

The test run today went well.  A couple of small issues but nothing that caused any problems.  No leaks noted so far.  If my IA will sign off tomorrow, I would like to get up for the first flight since this is the first forecasted decent weather we've had in a few weeks.  I'm really looking forward to seeing of there is any significant performance changes.  

Tim

[Steve Dawson]

On 1/19/2016 at 0:44 AM, helitim said:

The interior plastic panels.  I had ordered almost all new panels and not one of them fit correctly.  After quite a bit of cutting and fitting, I was able to make two of them work but the rest will not fit.  Some of the panels were stamped M20C/E or E/F. No mention of J model. The ones that were stamped J must be from a completely different year model even though I gave my serial number with the order. 

It wasn't just the fact that they sent the original parts incorrectly but they sent two more replacement pieces incorrectly.  The customer service rep would apologize profusely every time we spoke and would promise to get me the correct parts and then.....nothing happened.  No call back, email or anything.  Very frustrating.  It's hard to believe I am AOG because of plastic panels.  After this fiasco with Plane Plastics, I will be hard pressed to order from them again.  

Bright side is that once all this is complete she will be in pretty good shape for a long time to come.  

Tim

Same thing happened to me Tim. As well as over charging me $200 for shipping. The door skin as well as front top cieling piece had to be re-orderd twice.

[helitim]

Guess all that hard work is paying off.  Flew an hour today for the break in running between 65-75% power.  Temps were better than they ever were.  The new baffles must be working well.  I am very happy with the results so far.

Tim

[Mcstealth]

18 hours ago, helitim said:

Guess all that hard work is paying off.  Flew an hour today for the break in running between 65-75% power.  Temps were better than they ever were.  The new baffles must be working well.  I am very happy with the results so far.

Tim

What break in procedures are they recommending ?

[helitim]

http://www.lycoming.com/Portals/0/techpublications/serviceinstructions/SI%201427C%20(12-29-2010)/Lycoming%20Reciprocating%20engine%20Break-In%20and%20Oil%20Consumption.pdf

This is what they recommend.