How do you separate the case on a widedeck O360

jscottpilot · #1 03-25-2009, 05:16 PM

I bought an o-360-A1G6D for rebuild. I am disassembling the engine so that I can send the crank and case to be inspected. The seller said he guaranteed they would make overhaul. I have two months to get them inspected. I have disassembled every thing but the crankcase is not going to separate easily as indicated by the overhaul manual. Could you give me your personal experience on how to separate this thing.

I removed all perimeter bolts and nuts and two throught bolts in forward section and the nut just above the camshaft. All cylinders removed etc. Am I missing something? Someone said the through bolts have to be driven out. I find that hard to believe. That seems like alot of pounding on a delicate aluminum block. According to the overhaul manual you just remove all the bolts and lift one side of the case from the other.

FlyingArcher · #2 03-25-2009, 05:41 PM

The manual says to use a soft hammer for that.

jscottpilot · #3 03-25-2009, 06:43 PM

I guess I am just going to have to ship it to a shop that can do it. I just cant bring my self to hammer on something that I just paid thousands of dollars for. Hammering a rivet is one thing but an engine case is another, for me at least.

jrs14855 · #4 03-25-2009, 06:44 PM

There are short dowels around the main bearing bores that are a very tight fit. You need to borrow or make a case splitting tool. A homemade one can be very simple-some pieces of cold roll flat bar stock welded or brazed together. Drilled to fit over at least two studs, preferably four on both cylinder pads on one side. Two long screws to tighten against the crank. Two radiused aluminum blocks to protect the crank. Tighten the screws against the blocks evenly until the dowels disengage. The overhaul manual should have pictures of the fancy tool the factory sells. This should give you an idea haw a simple homemade tool can be made.

jscottpilot · #5 03-25-2009, 06:44 PM

I did tap on them with a rubber mallet but no movement. Any other ideas.

jscottpilot · #6 03-25-2009, 06:47 PM

I did not see that tool in the O-360 overhaul manual but did see it in the O-540 overhaul manual. It is part number ST-122. an O-540 is just an O-360 with two more cylinders. Do you think that is the same tool you are describing? I can rent that tool from Lycoming for 50 bucks.

rvman008 · #7 03-25-2009, 06:52 PM

There is a case splitting tooling that you can use. I borrowed one from a friend to split mine. It consists of two plates with bolts attached. You bolt it to the sides of the case and tighten them together. Eventually, it splits the case. This tool is available to purchase from lycoming. I am sure it is very expensive. Most reputable engines shops probably have them.. My recommendations is to do it right with the right tool..

Patrick

jscottpilot · #8 03-25-2009, 07:03 PM

The right tool will save me from damaging the case. I don't want to pay 50 dollars and rent the wrong tool. Do you think the ST-122 lycoing part number tool they use to split the O-540 will work on the O-360? The description sounds the same. If anyone has a tool they know will work I would love to rent it and pay you handsomely.

Lionclaw · #9 03-25-2009, 08:21 PM

Just a thought, when I split my case I had all the hardware removed and couldn't get it apart. It turned out the rubber nose seal near the crank flange was the last thing still holding it together.

SteinAir · #10 03-25-2009, 09:09 PM

If you have no access to a splitter - which works best.... some pieces of handy dandy lumber (2x4's) have been rumored to work pretty well when combined with the appropriately sized persuading device.

Cheers,
Stein