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  #1  
Old 09-01-2013, 02:04 PM
N9331v's Avatar
N9331v N9331v is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Hampshire, IL
Posts: 276
Default How long did you store your engine.

Now that my wings, tail, fuse and canopy are pretty much finished excluding all fiberglass, wiring and avionics Im thinking of ordering my engine after the first of the year. I'm concerned with the engine sitting for a extended period of time during the rest of the build.

Guess my question is for you guys that are finished and flying.

When you took delivery of your engine how long did the rest of your build take before first flight.

If it took 6-12-18 months or longer what steps did you take to preserve the engine ?

Once flying have you had any issues due to long term storage during the final build ?

Thanks Ed
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  #2  
Old 09-01-2013, 02:34 PM
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Mel Mel is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Dallas area
Posts: 10,768
Default

It depends on where you have it stored.
If it's in a controlled environment, especially low humidity, it can last for years.
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EAA Flight Advisor/Tech Counselor, Friend of the RV-1
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<rvmel(at)icloud.com>
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  #3  
Old 09-01-2013, 02:53 PM
Bob Axsom Bob Axsom is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 5,685
Default 1999 to 2004

Bought the O-360-A1A through Vans, drop shipped from Lycoming in long term storage condition in 1999. Kept it in the cardboard box it came in from Lycoming then mounted it on the airplane in our garage in Laguna Hills, California with attention at all. Removed the preservative stuff (I don't remember what all was involved anymore), ran the engine for the first time and flew the airplane in 2004. No problems of any kind in 1050 hrs.

Bob Axsom

Last edited by Bob Axsom : 09-02-2013 at 11:03 AM. Reason: expanded information
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  #4  
Old 09-01-2013, 04:12 PM
JAT JAT is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Durango, CO
Posts: 126
Default

I bought a high time 0-320 for a project about three years ago. I asked our FBO expert if I needed to prep it for storage. He told me to mount it on an auto engine stand, so I could rotate the whole engine every time I went to the hangar. I squirted oil into the cylinders and then never rotate the crank...only the whole engine. The engine has about five quarts of regular oil in the crankcase. I got rubber plugs from the hardware store to plug the openings. I live in Colorado, so this may not work in a humid area. Hope this helps.

Jim
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  #5  
Old 09-01-2013, 06:01 PM
jimgreen jimgreen is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Vancouver island, BC Canada
Posts: 385
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My engine was in an unheated garage (My workshop), then a draughty hangar for 3 years before first flight. I occasionally squirted extra preservative oil into the plug holes and kept the dehydrating plugs blue. I was a bit worried, but the engine has been flawless for about 2 years.
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  #6  
Old 09-01-2013, 07:03 PM
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rzbill rzbill is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Asheville, NC
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18 months from receipt of the pickled engine in the box from Lycoming.

Took it out of the bag @ about 3 months. Did not turn the engine until about 12 months where I drained the preservative oil and started turning the engine for the purpose of installing the prop and spinner. First engine start was about 16 mo.

No storage issues
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ME/AE '82
RV-7A: Flying since April 15, 2012. 850 hrs
YIO-360-M1B, mags, CS, GRT EX and WS H1s & A/P, Navworx
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Last edited by rzbill : 09-01-2013 at 07:05 PM.
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  #7  
Old 09-01-2013, 07:06 PM
NYTOM NYTOM is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Raleigh, North Carolina
Posts: 1,128
Thumbs up Vacuum packed it.

Bought a new 0-360 TMX four years ago and fabricated a rotating stand for it. Filled it with two gallons of Shell preservation oil, pluged all ports, installed desiccant plugs in all cylinders and fogged them also. Wrapped the engine in clean sheets & 3M pads with 10 pounds of desiccant bags. Then double sealed it in two large plastic bags and vacuumed all the air out of it. I rotate the entire engine at least once a month and three times a year regenerate the desiccant and re-fog the cylinders. Then re-vacuum pack it. There's not a spot of rust or corrosion anywhere and looks as good as the day I bought it. I have yet to find the desiccant turned pink so I know it's keeping pretty dry. Keep a log on it so I can keep track. A lot of work but then again that thing cost almost as much as my first house many , many years ago.
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  #8  
Old 09-01-2013, 09:22 PM
John F John F is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: River Falls, WI
Posts: 38
Default 17 Years!

I bought a new engine from Van's with the long term storage treatment. I always tried to keep the humidity low and never turned the motor over. fogged it now and then and for awhile I used the moisture absorbing plugs. I gave up on them after a few years and then never did a thing but keep it dry. 17 years later....It has about 130 hours time on it after one year of flying. Runs great. it's not very scientific but that's my story.
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  #9  
Old 09-02-2013, 07:31 AM
brad walton brad walton is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 526
Default storage

3 years storage of XP-IO360. I double bagged it in a matress bag with an aluminum pan full of dessicant that I refreshed every three months. It worked well if not overkill. I used to co- own an L-19 in the 1980s and we bought an engine that had been covered with cosmoline and packed in a continer with a couple psi of nitrogen. It was in good shape after 20 plus years of storage
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  #10  
Old 09-02-2013, 10:03 AM
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N9331v N9331v is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Hampshire, IL
Posts: 276
Thumbs up

Just amazing, these sure weren't the results I was expecting to hear.
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