N2652W will have a new home!

[hammdo]

Shes back and broke in! Ran strong, had to fix EGT on #4, gear warning needs adjustment but that was it. Flew her back to Mesquite after 3 hours of breakin run. 2 more hours and I’ll change the oil. 
 

2600 RPM, touch of carb heat, cowl flaps closed…

[gwav8or]

26 minutes ago, hammdo said:

Shes back and broke in! Ran strong, had to fix EGT on #4, gear warning needs adjustment but that was it. Flew her back to Mesquite after 3 hours of breakin run. 2 more hours and I’ll change the oil. 
 

2600 RPM, touch of carb heat, cowl flaps closed…

 

Glad to hear she's back in the air Don!  I know it's been more than a month (and probably seemed like 6) but that has to be the quickest "rebuild" of an engine i've ever seen!  Congrats!

[hammdo]

It was fast, having most of the new parts already helped too. Most accessories were either overhauled/IRAN already, did the new mechanical fuel pump (bleed-off is real slow now) while the engine was off. With all the new stuff, she should be in great shape. I’m still scheduled for AutoPilot in April - that will pretty much finish off the avionics. I have 3 other things I want to do, the controls in the aft section of the tail, prop balance, and fuel tanks - once the AutoPilot is done. I’ll put some hours on the engine for a while before launching out or doing anything else…

-Don

[hammdo]

Another break in flight today - almost 2 hours - lost the alternator due to broken connector so cut it short. Found the broken connector and will fix it tomorrow. Gotta figure this will happen since all the removal/installing of the older connectors. 
 

Takeoff, cylinders 1 and 4 were hottest but once I got moving they tamed down well. Had to add a quart of mineral oil and will be monitoring that. Planning on flight tomorrow after fixing the broken connector.

-Don

[hammdo]

Pics…

 

[hammdo]

Alternator fixed! Did another break in flight today - getting closer. It appears the transponder is not squawking (ATC said noting is showing up). I’m guessing the antenna cable popped off or the connector is having issues. Talked to the shop and I’ll be bringing it in for diagnostics.

-Don

 

[LANCECASPER]

20 hours ago, hammdo said:

Alternator fixed! Did another break in flight today - getting closer. It appears the transponder is not squawking (ATC said noting is showing up). I’m guessing the antenna cable popped off or the connector is having issues. Talked to the shop and I’ll be bringing it in for diagnostics.

-Don

They might have just forgot to connect it when the put the belly back on. I've done that once or twice.

[hammdo]

Yep, gonna pull the one piece and check it…

Appreciate the idea to check…

-Don

[hammdo]

Antenna was hooked up. Ran the GDL 8X program on my PC, all settings lost in the GDL 82. Checked with the shop before doing anything. We’re going to see if a factory reset will get it ready to reconfigure but, that appears to be why I lost ADS-B and transponder transmissions.

-Don

[hammdo]

Yep, GDL 82 is bricked, nothing is recognizable.  Gonna bypass the  unit so at least the transponder can be tested. Really curious why it bricked… shop is checking with Garmin, shop hasn't seen this before…

-Don

[hammdo]

Transponder went out again. Not the best of luck for sure but when it rains sometimes it pours…

hoping to get a working 327 while mine is repaired again by garmin… this repair lasted just over 4 years…

-Don

[hammdo]

Got a loaner from the shop - seems this is not unusual for the GTX 327. Mine lasted 4 years since the last Garmin repair. This one totally died…Auto Pilot is gonna have to wait a bit…

Got to fly a couple of hours so more engine break in. In 6 hours total so far, added 1 quart so it’s stabilizing…

-Don

[hammdo]

Just changed the oil after 6 hours of break in (tach time) and oil consumption has slowed for sure. Filter showed magnetic and non magnetic metal flakes — not a lot but obviously break in material. I am doing another 5 hours of break in with Phillips 20w50 mineral oil then I’ll change it and start using Phillips 20w50 X/C with up to 10% of Phillips 20w50 anti-rust additive - per Phillips recommendation. Then the next oil change after that I’ll start oil analysis…

So far, still waiting on transponder…

-Don

[hammdo]

Break-in run today, oil consumption is very stable after another 2 hours (tach). Cylinder temps great. Couple of more hours, change to Phillips 20w50 X/C! Looking good so far!

-Don

[hammdo]

Break-in run today — almost 10 hours tach time. I’ll have another flight tomorrow and will change oil to Phillips 20w50 X/C AD. Only 1 quart in 10 hours so far, stable oil consumption…temps are doing great. I expect even better temps once I go AD oil too. #4 is the hottest cylinder but still well in line once a little carb heat and throttle adjustment is done to improve mixture.

I’ll cut open the filter after the change tomorrow, do a sanity check then fly it as I normally would…

still waiting on the transponder from Garmin. Then, later the autopilot…. Fingers crossed…

-Don

 

[hammdo]

Oil change today to X/C, cut filter and much lower amounts of magnetic and non magnetic flakes! Took her for a normal flight to start learning the new normal. With 10.5 hours on her, gonna be a minute until she normalizes. 
 

-Don

[hammdo]

My Garmin 327 is in - will be getting that tomorrow, thankfully. Now gonna save up for the autopilot and get some hours on this engine.

Aircraft ownership does have its ups and downs but, I sure do enjoy flying…

-Don

[hammdo]

Whole again finally! Garmin had to replace the whole board in the 327. Everything checked out and working again… Autopilot scheduled for the first week of September. Did IFR flight today to confirm everything… IFR training on Saturday, and, need more hours on the engine ;o)

-Don

[hammdo]

20 flight hours, 14 tach hours on the engine, doing well so far. #1 and #4 hottest on climb full power - figured things still tight so start cruise climb earlier and drop RPM to 2500. No oil usage at all since oil change so that is showing stability in oil consumption. Lots of power and cruise is great on temps and fuel consumption so far. Flew yesterday and will tomorrow. Monitoring everything and removing cheek panels to inspect.

@ 35 tach hours since IRAN or 3 months, I’ll change oil and restart oil analysis again…

-Don

[hammdo]

IFR practice today with CFI, engine doing very well, I have to work earlier to slow her down ;o)

CFI noticed the power. Practiced a no flap takeoff, she did fine. So far, oil has remained very stable and so are temps.

would have like the AP installed to practice…

VOR check good, did the VOR 17 into KGVT and it was right on.

-Don

[hammdo]

Quick update, engine is doing great, oil very stable, #1 and #4 still hottest on takeoff, have ~16 tach hrs on her, but oil pressure and oil temps doing very well. Took the cheek panels off and inspected everything. I’ll be planning a cross country trip just to give her a go - probably San Marcus. That will be good as lots of airports along the way and ways to get home if need be.

Did pattern work today and liked how everything performed….

-Don

[hammdo]

Went to San Marcus and back today, 6k and 7k on the altitude. #1 and #4 needed heat management but did ok. Can’t lean this engine like I did before IRAN - almost 20 tach hrs on her now. Flight was great. Need to work on my VFR Visual approaches- don’t do many as I like to do the full approach. Fun flight and building engine time…

-Don

[hammdo]

Engine doing fine!  Running great, oil consumption is super.  I had to tweak my tow bar as it tends to slip off when wet or having to push to the right.

I simply tapped the pipe with a M22x1.5 tap, then purchased a M22x1.5x50mm bolt and washer - now it doesn't slip at all.

I also added a 45 valve stem to make it easier to fill the tire.

My only suggested to improve this would be -- add 3" to the length of the pipe that goes into the nose wheel area, move the tire 1" to the pilots side so it rests in the middle of the nose wheel, add a 'pin' to the end of the nose wheel pipe extension to keep it from slipping out, and then extend the handle 3" and add 3 adjustment holes so the handle does not hit the spinner when putting on the tow bar.

Really like this bar, think these will make a good change and adjustable (  @bcg )

Pic of the bolt and washer -- and value stem attached.

-Don

 

[hammdo]

Just a quick update:

Engine is doing great, just changed the oil, checked filter and now the filter hardly has any metal or flakes. 28 tach hours since IRAN. 4 magnet slivers and 5 non magnetic flakes. Sending oil sample out this time.

AeroCruze is scheduled for September! Right now, just flying weekly and doing trips…

-Don

[Andy95W]

Don, you would love Oshkosh.  Hopefully next year.