JSOliveira
Active Member
I just did my first annual condition inspection at 76 hours. While most went as expected, I did have one issue that was a surprise.
The ring for alternate air that is riveted to the air box on my updraft IO 320 had come loose. The blind rivets that hold the ring that mounts the door in place had all worn through the fiberglass lay up. Most were missing. The door ring was being held on by the sealant and the two solid rivets that hold the nut plate for the hinge.
The fix was to go to number 4 solid rivets, backed up by 1/8 inch inside diameter washers.
If the instructions specified some sort of washer back up, then I missed it. A better solution would be a back up aluminum ring on the inside of the opening.
So when you are looking under the cowl, check it out.
The ring for alternate air that is riveted to the air box on my updraft IO 320 had come loose. The blind rivets that hold the ring that mounts the door in place had all worn through the fiberglass lay up. Most were missing. The door ring was being held on by the sealant and the two solid rivets that hold the nut plate for the hinge.
The fix was to go to number 4 solid rivets, backed up by 1/8 inch inside diameter washers.
If the instructions specified some sort of washer back up, then I missed it. A better solution would be a back up aluminum ring on the inside of the opening.
So when you are looking under the cowl, check it out.