Jump to content

Cowl vibration / chaffing particles or exhaust soot?


George

Recommended Posts

Flew through some rain showers for the first time  the other day. Tying the plane down I noticed the cowling was streaking with some sort of substance as you can see in the pics below. Anyone experienced this before?  Exhaust soot? Cowling vibration / chaffing between where the fiberglass cowling and aluminum meet?

Thanks

Hank

cowl 1.jpg

cowl 2.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is basically metal dust washing out of the fasteners.  Also, the cowl will chaff the aluminum edge to which it is fastened.  Usually there is anti friction tape to guard against that - but is can be difficult to eliminate all of it.   Easier to clean off before it dries completely.    Rain is hard on paint, too.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No corrosion X and I removed the cowling 35 hours ago...clean cowling and not a lot of leaking oil. I have only owned the aircraft since late December. Headed to maintenance this weekend for tire change and new tailpipe. I will show pics to maintenance and ask about friction tape.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

+1 for fine metal dust that gets oxidized and loves to show up later... aluminum on aluminum rubbing is a dust factory...

For a finer more annoying example... look up smoking rivets.

+1 for CorrosionX being able to adsorb the same fine dust and bring it to the surface.... CX makes the rivets appear like smoking rivets... smoking rivets are more of a real problem... they are in the initial stages of becoming loose rivets...

The fine dust is pretty close to the molecular scale...

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic...

Finding a way to eliminate the rubbing is a good idea... chafe tape?

Best regards,

-a-

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

I had the same rubbing problem, I used the Teflon tape from aircraft spruce:

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/chafetape05-11196.php

Fixed the problem on the upper cowl on the seam with the firewall.  I haven't applied it to the lower cowl seam because I keep forgetting, and the problem is less noticeable there anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/17/2019 at 12:13 PM, GEE-BEE said:

I have silicone seal

.032 thickness 

1” wide and 1-1/2 wide

This will act as a bumper and remove chafing

Advise your required length 

i will include clear cement 

 

GB

Not sure what your solution looks like . Silicon seal in the cowl overlap ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2/17/2019 at 12:13 PM, GEE-BEE said:

I have silicone seal

.032 thickness 

1” wide and 1-1/2 wide

This will act as a bumper and remove chafing

Advise your required length 

i will include clear cement 

 

GB

Photos, website, prices, how to order?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.