Oil suction screen inspection on Lyc TIO-540-AF1B - AD-24-21-02

[IvanP]

While doing an oil change on the Bravo, I was looking for the oil suction screen to inspect per AD-24-21-02. The Lycoming parts catalog shows this screen on right rear of the case, but I could not see the plug that is depicted in the drawing there. Have you inspected this scree on your engines and if so, where is it and how did you get to it? The right rear of the engine bay is very cramped.

Thank you in advance for any words (or pictures) of wisdom. 

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, IvanP said:

While doing an oil change on the Bravo, I was looking for the oil suction screen to inspect per AD-24-21-02. The Lycoming parts catalog shows this screen on right rear of the case, but I could not see the plug that is depicted in the drawing there. Have you inspected this scree on your engines and if so, where is it and how did you get to it? The right rear of the engine bay is very cramped.

Thank you in advance for any words (or pictures) of wisdom. 

I remember pictures on here from a long time ago. A good start would be a search on "SUCTION SCREEN"

https://mooneyspace.com/search/?&q="SUCTION SCREEN"&page=1&quick=1&search_and_or=or&sortby=relevancy

[IvanP]

5 minutes ago, LANCECASPER said:

I remember pictures on here from a long time ago. A good start would be a search on "SUCTION SCREEN"

https://mooneyspace.com/search/?&q="SUCTION SCREEN"&page=1&quick=1&search_and_or=or&sortby=relevancy

I did that, but could not find anything specific to this engine. Could not find any actual pictures of the rear of this engine that would give me any clue either. 

[philiplane]

It is buried below the oil filter and the fuel pump drive. At the lowest point of the back of the engine, and oil sump. 

You will need a mirror to find it.

[IvanP]

1 hour ago, philiplane said:

It is buried below the oil filter and the fuel pump drive. At the lowest point of the back of the engine, and oil sump. 

You will need a mirror to find it.

I found this plug, but it is on the LEFT side of the engine. Is this what I am looking for? Lycoming drawings show the screen on RIGHT side. Confused  

Any special trick to get to the screen for inspection without disassembling the mess of hoses behind the engine?

Thanks,

 

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, IvanP said:

I found this plug, but it is on the LEFT side of the engine. Is this what I am looking for? Lycoming drawings show the screen on RIGHT side. Confused  

Any special trick to get to the screen for inspection without disassembling the mess of hoses behind the engine?

Thanks,

 

I don't think that's it - since the picture actually shows a clear path. The one you're looking for is nearly impossible to reach - you'll have to feel for it,  and in addition to that is safety-wired. There is no way I would ever attempt to get this out and then back in and safety-wired. This is one of those things that I would gladly pay someone who has done many of these to do.

[IvanP]

Well this will certainly make compliance with this AD interesting as the screen should be inspected at each oil change according to the AD, unless I am reading it wrong.  With Bravo requiring oil change every 25 hours, it will be a PITA. 

[LANCECASPER]

4 hours ago, IvanP said:

Well this will certainly make compliance with this AD interesting as the screen should be inspected at each oil change according to the AD, unless I am reading it wrong.  With Bravo requiring oil change every 25 hours, it will be a PITA. 

The screen was always supposed to have been inspected at every oil change according to the Service Instructions - I would guess it was inspected on 1% of the oil changes.

Making it an AD doesn't make it any easier, but definitely makes owner maintenance less desirable.

If you do get it out and can't get it back in and safety-wired, do you have someone that has done it before successfully that's willing to come to your hangar to do it? If not, take it somewhere where they have experience or you will be AOG.

[Fritz1]

Right side as everybody said, extremely difficult to get out, have to take off hoses, a lot of shops never inspect it, coarse screen catches pieces larger than 1/16", good idea to take it out if you have never inspected it, mentally prepare yourself for what you might find

[IvanP]

This engine has only about 130 hours since factory overhaul so I would hope that the screen is not full of crud. I like to tinker with things, but not to the point of disassembling stuff that I cannot put back together. I think that Lance is right that only very few screens on this engine are actually inspected at every oil change. Will leave it be for now and see what can be done at annual in December. The filter was clean, waiting for oil results from Blackstone lab.  

[Rick Junkin]

On 6/30/2025 at 10:56 AM, IvanP said:

While doing an oil change on the Bravo, I was looking for the oil suction screen to inspect per AD-24-21-02. The Lycoming parts catalog shows this screen on right rear of the case, but I could not see the plug that is depicted in the drawing there. Have you inspected this scree on your engines and if so, where is it and how did you get to it? The right rear of the engine bay is very cramped.

Thank you in advance for any words (or pictures) of wisdom. 

@IvanP Here's a picture of mine. This gives you a sense of where it is in proximity to the lower right engine mount and the multitude of hoses in that area.

It takes a ratchet universal and a wobble extension to get to the plug, and getting the screen in and out is also a bear. I won't even talk about the safety wire  This is one I gladly leave to the professionals. Oh, and make sure you have the crush washer replacement before you get going on this project.

For reference as to importance, I don't think mine had been inspected for quite some time, if ever, until the annual in 2020. The engine was overhauled in 2006, and had a top overhaul about 300 hours prior to this annual. There was a significant amount of material in the screen but not to the level described in SB480F. Slightly less than 1/4 teaspoon and no chunks or chips. So we decided to let it go to the next oil change and pull the screen again. It was clean. I've had it pulled each annual since and it has been clean. Still, I want to look at it at least once a year (I fly 100-150 hours per year).

Cheers,
Junkman

[IvanP]

@Rick Junkin Thank you! That is super helpful. I decided to let it be for now, but will take a crack at it at annual that is due in December.  I am willing to bet that it has not been inspected since the overhaul. 

[N201MKTurbo]

4 hours ago, Rick Junkin said:

@IvanP Here's a picture of mine. This gives you a sense of where it is in proximity to the lower right engine mount and the multitude of hoses in that area.

It takes a ratchet universal and a wobble extension to get to the plug, and getting the screen in and out is also a bear. I won't even talk about the safety wire  This is one I gladly leave to the professionals. Oh, and make sure you have the crush washer replacement before you get going on this project.

For reference as to importance, I don't think mine had been inspected for quite some time, if ever, until the annual in 2020. The engine was overhauled in 2006, and had a top overhaul about 300 hours prior to this annual. There was a significant amount of material in the screen but not to the level described in SB480F. Slightly less than 1/4 teaspoon and no chunks or chips. So we decided to let it go to the next oil change and pull the screen again. It was clean. I've had it pulled each annual since and it has been clean. Still, I want to look at it at least once a year (I fly 100-150 hours per year).

Cheers,
Junkman

Wow, I have an engine heater plug with the wires cut off too.