Did you pull the engine once installed?

RScott · #1 03-03-2008, 07:36 PM

A friend building a GlaStar says he pulled his engine several times once initially installed so he could get easier access behind the engine and to route stuff.

Is that needed on an RV-9A? I am only asking because HF will have a 1 ton engine hoist on sale this weekend for $97 and if I will need to pull the engine a few times, it would be a good time to buy it.

RV8N · #2 03-03-2008, 07:39 PM

I know I pulled it off at least once, to paint the fuselage. Left the mount on the engine and took the mount loose from the firewall. I would never remove the Dynafocal bolts if I didn't have to.

Karl

alpinelakespilot2000 · #3 03-03-2008, 08:38 PM

That's my plan. Once the initial engine fitting is complete, I'll pull the whole engine and mount off so that I can put the fuselage on a rotisserie and paint it.

Kyle Boatright · #4 03-03-2008, 08:52 PM

I mounted my engine once, never removed it, and painted the fuse with the engine attached (and bagged). All I had to do was prop up the tail and crawl up under the belly to paint it. Funny enough, the paint on the belly is probably some of the best on the airplane.

I can't see how removing the engine, using a rotisserie, etc. will reduce the time or effort involved in painting or systems installation.

L.Adamson · #5 03-03-2008, 08:53 PM

Once on, it stayed on. Had a good plastic covering for paint.

L.Adamson -- RV6A

newtech · #6 03-03-2008, 09:12 PM

Same here. Mounted it once and don't have any plans of removing it. Getting ready for paint and will just bag the engine in plastic and mask everything firewall forward.

Steve Eberhart
RV-7A, finishing up, wow, didn't think this time would ever get here.

N941WR · #7 03-04-2008, 05:00 AM

Richard,

Some plans don't give you the location for all the firewall penetrations, thus you need to put the engine on, figure out where things need to go, remove it, do some work and put it back on, only to find you need to remove it again.

I talked to one early -6 builder and he said he had the engine on and off a number of time.

With my -9, once it went on, it never came off, the plans are that good.

Jamie · #8 03-04-2008, 05:39 AM

I never saw a need to remove it and did all of my FWF penetrations (except for heat) after the engine was hung. There's absolutely no need to remove it to drill holes in the firewall. I marked where I wanted holes, used an angle drill and punched a center hole, then used a unibit or greenlee punch to make the final hole. It's no big deal to drill those holes from the inside.

Don't waste your time pulling the engine if you don't have to. Get 'er done!

andrew phillips · #9 03-04-2008, 05:44 AM

realized that the governor was rotated the wrong way and the screws were not safetied so I pulled the engine from the firewall to fix. Very easy actually.

flyboykelly · #10 03-04-2008, 06:18 AM

We pulled the engine on my dads RV-8 after it decided it didn't like the oil that we gave it (spit it all out of the prop seal). One overhaul later it runs great. All I can say is when building your aircraft, look at it like a mechanic more than an engineer. Easy maintenance all depends on how you route and place things on the firewall.