N941WR
Legacy Member
Oil cooler and baffle update
It has been almost 600 hours and seven years (I know, I need to fly more!) since I repaired the cracked baffle on cylinder #4 caused by the weight of the oil cooler.
I'm happy to report no more cracks of any kind.
If you are going to hang your oil cooler on the baffle, you should seriously consider adding the angle aluminum stiffener to prevent cracking. I may have over done it with the thick AA but it hasn't cracked since.
Probably the biggest issue with using AA is that you have to file down the sharp edge on the AA so it will nest with the radius of the baffle. Other than that, it is a straightforward and easy change. Notice in the pictures I posted above how I left the AA long so as to support the plug wires. Still that is a lot easier than mounting the oil cooler on the firewall.
It has been almost 600 hours and seven years (I know, I need to fly more!) since I repaired the cracked baffle on cylinder #4 caused by the weight of the oil cooler.
I'm happy to report no more cracks of any kind.
If you are going to hang your oil cooler on the baffle, you should seriously consider adding the angle aluminum stiffener to prevent cracking. I may have over done it with the thick AA but it hasn't cracked since.
Probably the biggest issue with using AA is that you have to file down the sharp edge on the AA so it will nest with the radius of the baffle. Other than that, it is a straightforward and easy change. Notice in the pictures I posted above how I left the AA long so as to support the plug wires. Still that is a lot easier than mounting the oil cooler on the firewall.
