Turbo Bullet Owners

[joenut]

Just wanted to check for any other current, or former, Turbo Bullet Owners.

 

I don't have anything specific now, but after coming out of an exhaust nightmare over the summer thought it would be a good idea to find out who else has one so next time I am in a bind maybe they have been there before. lol.

General Flying tips for them also helps.

Just trying to find information on a mod that is still wrapped up in litigation from the former company owners can be a bit challenging...

[KSMooniac]

Good luck with that issue.  I've heard of exhaust bracket cracking with that mod, but have never heard of the entire pipe falling off!  You should get a dynamic prop balance if you haven't already...that might help with part of the problem.  

If it were me, I'd consider removing the system and revert back to standard M20J configuration unless you can get better support from the company that made it.  

[joenut]

If I knew 250 hours ago what I know now I would have had it taken out during the OH.  Had the place less than 10 hours before OH due to prop strike.  Long story, but airport manager baiscally said, "Oops, yeah they did pipe work there a while back..." as he looked at my nosewheel sunk 1/2 way into the turf on a rainy day.

So the prop was OH, balanced, etc just 250 hours ago.  Would it drift that fast?

 

And yeah, the bracket is a constant fix in the plane.  It's be welded so many time I don't know how much original metal is left on it.

[KSMooniac]

I doubt you'd have a prop drift in 250 hours... was it dynamically balanced on the plane, or just statically balanced during the OH?  Big difference.

If you're an AOPA member, there is an active poster on their forum named Bruce Chien that used to own a Turbo Bullet for quite a while and I'm sure he could offer some tales and advice.  I think he posts on Pilots of America and/or purpleboard.net.

If you're otherwise happy with the performance of the conversion, as a last resort you might consider engaging a consulting engineer/DER to look at the installation and possibly come up with a new bracket, or perhaps a modification/additional hardware to keep it from cracking.  That might end up being a better solution in the long run that improves your reliability or reduces the chances of getting stranded.  I've never talked to the inventor of the mod, but perhaps he could offer some "off the record" advice if improvements could be made.

[joenut]

I do browse the AOPA forums now and again, and did find a few posts of his in hte past on Turbo Bullets.

It was statically balanced.  It's in for annual so I called the MSC and asked about having it dynamically balanced, but they no longer do it.  He did, however, let me know they did discover the mag timing was off so that is a good suspect for cause.  The chief mechanic is going to do the run-up weds, maybe fly it, and give a recommendation on a prop balance.

[KSMooniac]

Dynamically balancing will likely make a noticeable difference in smoothness.  Any vibration you get rid of can only help the lifespan of components in the panel and firewall-forward, especially the turbo and exhaust components.  I'm not sure mag timing would have much to do with the cracking.

[joenut]

Def something I'll look into doing after I get her back from Annual.

 

[Clarence]

Quote: joenut

If I knew 250 hours ago what I know now I would have had it taken out during the OH.  Had the place less than 10 hours before OH due to prop strike.  Long story, but airport manager baiscally said, "Oops, yeah they did pipe work there a while back..." as he looked at my nosewheel sunk 1/2 way into the turf on a rainy day.

So the prop was OH, balanced, etc just 250 hours ago.  Would it drift that fast?

 

And yeah, the bracket is a constant fix in the plane.  It's be welded so many time I don't know how much original metal is left on it.

[rbridges]

Quote: Clarence

Joe

I'm confused, was the prop balanced after the prop strike and nothing done to the engine?  If the engine had no prop strike inspection I would be removing it for inspection and AD compliance, something may be damaged in your engine.   If it was given a prop strike inspection I would be starting there with a review of the work completed and the parts installed.  I've  seen mis matched pistons installed on opposite sides of engines causing a vibration.

Clarence

 

[joenut]

Odd.  Well, that was my reply above, but showed as someone else.

[rbridges]

Quote: joenut

Odd.  Well, that was my reply above, but showed as someone else.