One-man lower cowl removal & installation jack

[JimK]

For those of you who work on your own airplane but don't always have someone present to help you remove and reinstall the lower cowl, here is a YouTube video which shows how to do it without chipping paint or scratching the spinner.  This jack makes it safe and efficient and it's easy/cheap to build.

 

Edited December 27, 2024 by JimK

[Danb]

Clever Jimmy 

[Echo]

Slick.  "My technique is rated R"...

[Schllc]

That is a clever design, but I would never pull the cowling without three strips of painters tape on the body directly behind the cowling. 
look at 4/5 (long bodies at least), and you will see why. 

[EricJ]

Nicely done!   That looks very handy.   I bet you could sell the padded part and plans for kits.

[0TreeLemur]

Very clever.  I've been thinking about a solution on the J model.   I like this, but on the J there is no drain hole.   I was thinking about something like an engine hoist, but not so heavy.

[FlyingDude]

I love people who are technologically more advanced than me... I used a home depot bucket and 2 pillows...

[Pinecone]

On 12/28/2024 at 1:25 AM, 0TreeLemur said:

Very clever.  I've been thinking about a solution on the J model.   I like this, but on the J there is no drain hole.  

Hmm, do you own a drill and drill bits???? 

I would love plans.

[0TreeLemur]

27 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

Hmm, do you own a drill and drill bits????

And turn my J into a giant shrieking whistle!?!

[FJC]

This is really nice and thought out! Thank you for sharing this. This will go along way toward 450 dollar oil changes...

 

Freddy

 

———————————————

Airplane: 1997 Ovation, 280HP, Garmin GTN750, GI275, factory air

Aviation Reviews: https://www.toointeresting.com/wordpress/?page_id=174

[Tom F]

Jim,

Well done.  Any chance you’d share the length and height of your cowl stand.  Serious pain to do solo without scratching the paint.  Took mine off today and was wishing I had a stand like yours.

Thanks for sharing,

 

 

[Yetti]

looks good.    Smaller casters and one less brick might improve things just a bit.

[RoundTwo]

On 12/28/2024 at 1:25 AM, 0TreeLemur said:

Very clever.  I've been thinking about a solution on the J model.   I like this, but on the J there is no drain hole.   I was thinking about something like an engine hoist, but not so heavy.

My “no scratch solution” for my J is paracord support across the top of the engine and duct tape covering all offending edges and corners, front and rear of the cowl.

I thread a medium zip tie through the third (I think) camloc hole and attach the paracord to both sides with slip knots and hook it behind the lifting loop to keep it in place. Tape over the aluminum flange and nut plates at the front to protect the spinner and also thoroughly cover the aluminum channel and the first camloc at the rear to protect the fuselage. “Pop” the cowl loose from the fuselage and alternate slacking up the left and right sides to lower it to safety. Reverse the procedure to install. Since I started doing this, I haven’t made any new marks.

It takes some practice, but it’s not hard to get the hang of it.

[0TreeLemur]

Next time you do it, take photos plz.  Thx.

[PprophetBirdman]

I use a hydraulic lift table from Harbor freight to raise and lower the cowl. 

[Pinecone]

Any pictures of it in action?

[Fly Boomer]

On 2/8/2025 at 10:20 AM, PprophetBirdman said:

I use a hydraulic lift table from Harbor freight to raise and lower the cowl. 

I have read a large number of reviews saying it doesn't go up or down and/or the little rubber plug that's supposed to keep the hydraulic fluid contained blows out never to be seen again.  What was your experience?

[PprophetBirdman]

I’ve used it for 2 years now, no issues. 3 oil changes in the past 7 months. I’ll post pics next time. 

[Pinecone]

My experience with HF hydraulics (jacks) is you need to bleed them.  As shipped they get air into the cylinder and then won't go up.

[Z W]

On 2/8/2025 at 10:20 AM, PprophetBirdman said:

I use a hydraulic lift table from Harbor freight to raise and lower the cowl. 

Thanks for the tip. I have one on order and will see how it does, with some padding and/or moving blankets.

This is the one I ordered:

https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/lifts-cranes-stands/hydraulic-lifts-carts/500-lb-capacity-hydraulic-table-cart-70726.html

[Jeff_S]

Okay, stupid question, but what is that oval-shaped thing just aft of the cowling on this Ovation?  Mine certainly doesn't have this, and the manufacture date is just a year earlier.  Is that a light that shines out on the wing?  I found this aircraft on Flight Aware and the picture from the right side doesn't show a similar thing.  Just curious...

[Scottknoll]

Ice detect light, shines down the leading edge of the wing. Required for FIKI installations I believe.

[Z W]

Update - Received the Franklin 500lb hydraulic lift from Harbor Freight. Tested it out today. Worked absolutely great. The angle it lifts the cowl at was perfect. Made reinstalling it alone probably easier than with a helper that's never done it before. I used a moving blanket on the table for padding.

Not nearly as elegant or cool as the one @JimK made, but I'm not much of a woodworker. And another rolling table to have around the hangar may come in handy for other jobs.

Link to the lift table:

https://www.harborfreight.com/automotive/lifts-cranes-stands/hydraulic-lifts-carts/500-lb-capacity-hydraulic-table-cart-70726.html

 

[Max Clark]

that's cool

[Fly Boomer]

5 hours ago, Z W said:

Update - Received the Franklin 500lb hydraulic lift from Harbor Freight. Tested it out today. Worked absolutely great.

Did you bleed it?