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My Dipstick !

Bartman

By Bartman
in General Mooney Talk

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Bartman Mentor

Bartman

Posted
Posted

Now that I have your attention...

After today's flight I noticed upon checking the oil that the dipstick cap came off, but no dipstick. Apparently there is a roll pin that came out and the dipstick dropped to the engine pan. Fortunately it is not that deep and and the dipstick is long, so I pulled it out easily. On inspection of the cap it appears it had been working over the 3 hour flight and probably longer. The hole in the side of the cap is no longer round, and is larger than the corresponding hole in the dipstick.

What is the best way to fix this. Cotter pin ???image.jpeg See pic below 

Yetti Grand Master

Yetti

Posted
Posted

I would be tempted to  cotter pin with some bends on the end that fill the elongated hole, clean with alcohol then Jb weld. File smooth.  YMMV Not a mechanic, just a PP.

MB65E Grand Master

MB65E

Posted
Posted

the roll pin is external and probably fell out of the airplane during flight. It can't be in the pan if the cap was on. I wouldn't worry about it.  Actually, I'm not convinced it's a roll pin. A cotter pin should work, but might get bloody fingers on each use. .040 saftety wire pigtailed nicely? I used scotch weld on mine to pick the slop up, painted the cap real nice yellow again, used black paint for te lettering. I was so proud of it! Then I dropped it on the ramp!!

Or you can buy a new one from Lycoming for probably $800. Lol.

-Matt

Bartman Mentor

Bartman

Posted
  • Author
Posted (edited)

Thanks guys. I think I will go with a cotter pin and put the head of the pin in the elongated hole in the picture. It won't take much of a bend on the other end to lock it in place, and then file that end flat and smooth. 

Edited by Bartman
carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

Also consider filling or sealing the hole...  In other words you may vent moisture or oil vapor around the enlarged hole if something doesn't close it up completely.

PP advice.  I am not a mechanic.

Best regards,

-a-

jetdriven Grand Master

jetdriven

Posted
Posted (edited)

That dipstick encounters a lot of vibration and id be worried about metal shavings getting into the engine.  Mess that up its 20-30k. Not only shavings from a cotter pin, which is designed to hold a nut torqued, not the job of a roll pin holding the dipstick into the cap. But shavings from the dipstick wearing a groove where the bottom of the plastic dipstick tube is, as well. .  JB weld is not a permanent solution either.  It's not an aircraft material and anyone who suggests that will never work on my airplane.  You don't want chunks of that in the engine.  TIG welding the dipstick to the cap may be an option with a good welder 

Edited by jetdriven
Andy95W Grand Master

Andy95W

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

$55 for a new one on EBAY

Ever feel like nobody's listening to you?  I usually only get this type of indifference from my wife...

  • Like 1
Yetti Grand Master

Yetti

Posted
Posted

So I looked at mine yesterday quickly while checking the oil.  Looks like it is a pin with one end expanded like you would a brake rivet.  JB weld is an Epoxy with aluminum added as a filler which gives it strength. If you are afraid of epoxy and aviation, don't fly a Cirrus or an Airbus as the bodies are built entirely of epoxy.  I believe the oil filler tube you are screwing it into is plastic.

A more proper way would be to tig weld the hole and then re drill it and then re pin it.   Or you could over drill the hole on the side that is wallered out then put an oversized sleeve then pin it.  You would need a milling machine to get it right.  Or you could spin out a new one on the lathe.

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