There are just about as many people making things to sell, as there are pilots to buy them!
Some things work pretty well, but most of them do nothing, or may even be worse than if you didn’t have them at all.
Case in point, this aircraft has “wear guard” applied to the propeller. Upon closer inspection, we can see that the “tape” is chipped and peeling loose.
Obviously, you’re on your own with this one. Take reasonable precautions, and don’t call us if you burn the plane, deal?
Everyone always tells you to inspect the baffles and cooling fins of your engine for foreign objects. Anything that restricts air flow will cause over heating, and heat kills engines.
So, what do you do when you find that birds have filled your entire cowling with freshly cut hay?
First, you pull out as much as you can. Then you burn out the rest, and let the ash fall out the bottom. Or you’ll be there for days with tweezers trying to get to it, and there just isn’t room.
A few really good tips in this video clip, relating to the oil filter.
Using “Spaghetti” to protect the oil filter from the safety wire chaffing against the can. The oil pump causes oil pressure pulsations, which flex the oil filter.
Also, if you have clearance, use the biggest oil filter that you can fit, they typically cost about the same price.
Some of the muffler support kits work better than others. Often the problem is they are too ridged, and do not allow expansion as parts come up to temperature. By putting a rubber grommet into the support bracket, it acts as a vibration dampener.
Screws tend to work them selves loose over time. While inspecting the aircraft, just quickly check the screws as you go, and give them a little snug up. On the rocker covers, especially if they’ve been worked on, the screws will loosen as the gaskets settle in. Do NOT over tighten them!
An ounce of prevention, is worth 10 pounds of cure.
Put is the master of creating a system to prevent mishaps. Its so easy to get distracted, and forget what exactly you were doing. So leave little clues, like in this instance, when you drain the oil from the engine, pull the dip stick, and leave it sticking up. That way, if all else fails, you’ll notice it before you start then engine.
