Annual time- tools needed list

[bmcconnaha]

Hello, 

I have a 1990 J.  I usually do service center annuals, but after my last one, the pickup was kind of a disaster.  So, I’ve decided to do an owner assist with my local IA.  He knows the airplane well, he helped me hang the 390 On it last year.  I’m going to get my tools and consumables ordered now.  
so far here is what I have (I have a pretty complete tool set in my cabinet, so assume I have all the usual wrenches and torque wrenches etc), and pretty well stocked with the needed greases and lubricants. 

need a new tail weight ( will use the combination of tail weight and engine hoise for safety with the jacks.  
ordering gear tools (do I need the mains and nose?) 

oil filter 

oil 

Spark plug copper gaskets 

gasket for the oil screen

gascolator service kit 

anything else I should have? 

[N201MKTurbo]

I’ve been doing annuals on my planes for almost 40 years. I still don’t have enough tools.

[RobertGary1]

Jacks with adaptor. Timing box. Gear rigging tools. I bring 6 boxes of tools and stuff with me to annual.  Otherwise common tools. A 90 degree screw driver is good. 

[Marauder]

I’m guessing your mechanic has all of the basic tools you’ll need like compression tester, safety wire tool, brake pad riveting tool, etc.

I’m not sure how many screws you’ll have on your 90 J but my F is literally a hundred screws. I use one of these gyro drivers. I use snack size ziplock bags to keep the screws in. Just stick them into the inspection hole after you bag them.



I would also pick up some spare Phillips screw tips for it. I think they are all #2 size. Lowe’s and some of the other big box stores will have better prices on the driver.

You should look your plane over for definite worn items like tires and brake pads. Most shops make some money on mark ups on these kind of things, so make sure your IA is okay with you supplying the stuff.

Doing an owner assisted annual is rewarding but you also get to appreciate the amount of work that a mechanic has to do to complete one.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[carusoam]

Ziplock bags and a marker… post it notes to label and place inside the bag…

a kit of all the usual screws, and speed nuts…

Replacement nibs if you are using an electric driver… Toss the moment you goof up and cam out a screw… only torque by hand…

Cleaners that can wash away leaked fluids…

-a-

[EricJ]

46 minutes ago, bmcconnaha said:

Hello, 

I have a 1990 J.  I usually do service center annuals, but after my last one, the pickup was kind of a disaster.  So, I’ve decided to do an owner assist with my local IA.  He knows the airplane well, he helped me hang the 390 On it last year.  I’m going to get my tools and consumables ordered now.  
so far here is what I have (I have a pretty complete tool set in my cabinet, so assume I have all the usual wrenches and torque wrenches etc), and pretty well stocked with the needed greases and lubricants. 

need a new tail weight ( will use the combination of tail weight and engine hoise for safety with the jacks.  
ordering gear tools (do I need the mains and nose?) 

For a J model you do not need the nose gear tool, just the main gear tool.

46 minutes ago, bmcconnaha said:

oil filter 

oil 

Spark plug copper gaskets 

gasket for the oil screen

gascolator service kit 

anything else I should have? 

Coordinate with your IA to figure out what he'll bring and what else he thinks he'll need.   e.g., if he expects to bring his own portable compressor to run the compression tester or whether he needs you to have one, whether he transports his jacks or needs you to have them, etc.  He'll probably have an idea of what would be good to have or what he prefers to bring.    My previous IA brought essentially everything he needed and I was always just taking stuff apart, like the belly, inspection plates, or putting it back together.   I barely needed tools beyond a screwdriver.   WIth my current IA I'm doing a lot more of it myself, which I prefer.   So what you'll need or not need will depend a lot on how your IA wants to operate.

[bmcconnaha]

1 hour ago, Marauder said:

I’m guessing your mechanic has all of the basic tools you’ll need like compression tester, safety wire tool, brake pad riveting tool, etc.

I’m not sure how many screws you’ll have on your 90 J but my F is literally a hundred screws. I use one of these gyro drivers. I use snack size ziplock bags to keep the screws in. Just stick them into the inspection hole after you bag them.



I would also pick up some spare Phillips screw tips for it. I think they are all #2 size. Lowe’s and some of the other big box stores will have better prices on the driver.

You should look your plane over for definite worn items like tires and brake pads. Most shops make some money on mark ups on these kind of things, so make sure your IA is okay with you supplying the stuff.

Doing an owner assisted annual is rewarding but you also get to appreciate the amount of work that a mechanic has to do to complete one.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Yes, he has all the “usual tools” for an annual, such a timing box, compression gauge etc.  mainly just looking for tools that I will buy specific to my plane.  Like the MLG rigging tool.  I will pick up one of those electric screw drivers.  
thank you 

[carusoam]

Be on the look out for the electric screw drivers that have twist torque adjustment on the nose…. Set it very low…. Try not to use it as the final tightening step…

Use a regular screw driver to loosen the first twist… and tighten the final twist…

The power driver is great for the ten twists over a thousand screws….

Their momentum usually makes them un-usable for the first and last twist… 

PP thoughts only, not a mechanic…

Best regards,

-a-

[Pinecone]

Does he have a bore scope?

I go this one, mentioned my Mike Busch in his books.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQPC6U1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[bmcconnaha]

21 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

Does he have a bore scope?

I go this one, mentioned my Mike Busch in his books.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQPC6U1?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

He does, but I should probably buy one for myself.  Thank you

[Will.iam]

Magnet stick for times when a screw falls down somewhere. Boroscope is good for location said screw when magnet doesn’t find it right away. Some 3M dum dum tape to keep said screw on the tip of screwdriver or (finger tip when replacing by feel) so it doesn’t fall down again. Crow foot sockets so you can torque in tight places like oil filter. 

[Mooneymite]

Ibuprofen.....

For pain associated with bodily contortions.  

[EricJ]

10 hours ago, bmcconnaha said:

He does, but I should probably buy one for myself.  Thank you

Be careful buying the Vividia borescopes!   They have different versions with vastly different sensor resolutions all under the same model number, which is seriously annoying.    The older ones, which are still sold on Amazon under the same model number, are 640x480 resolution.    There are newer ones, for the same or similar price, with the same model number, that are updated to 1280x720 resolution.    Like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GY7C9ZW

If it doesn't specifically say it has the higher resolution, I'd pass, as it may be one of the older units.

I think this is a big marketing fail on Vividia's part.

Edit:  even on this one it says 1280x720 on the initial description in the banner and 640x480 in the descriptive marketing text.

 

[201Mooniac]

I bought the Vividia 400 from McFarlane for a few dollars less than from Amazon.  They advertise it as the upgraded unit and I verified it has the high resolution sensor.

[M20F-1968]

On 7/28/2022 at 10:35 PM, N201MKTurbo said:

I’ve been doing annuals on my planes for almost 40 years. I still don’t have enough tools.

Start with the known basic list, which will get expanded every time you find a new need, a bolt in a tight place, or a special tool that you will use once every few years.  Get to know the Snap-On section of e-bay.

John Breda

[N201MKTurbo]

16 minutes ago, M20F-1968 said:

Start with the known basic list, which will get expanded every time you find a new need, a bolt in a tight place, or a special tool that you will use once every few years.  Get to know the Snap-On section of e-bay.

John Breda

I think the last tool I bought was a non-spinning rivet driller. I hope you don’t need that for your annual.

[M20F]

Bring a 12 pack, if the annual lasts longer than that oh boy. 

[OR75]

Not tool but parts … 

I would be ready to replace the machine screws in the belly panels 

most shops during annuals force them in . 
 

it will be a pain the first year but removing / reinstalling the belly panels will be a breeze the following years 

[M20F-1968]

20 minutes ago, OR75 said:

Not tool but parts … 

I would be ready to replace the machine screws in the belly panels 

most shops during annuals force them in . 
 

it will be a pain the first year but removing / reinstalling the belly panels will be a breeze the following years 

Buy a high quality rechargeable pistol-grip type screwdriver.  There are are also rechargeable gyro screwdrivers that give you a better feel for the screw.

John Breda