Gotcha'ed again...this time by the oil pressure elbow installation (VA-128)

ArVeeNiner · #1 04-25-2009, 08:09 PM

Well, I've been gotcha'ed again. I have my engine installed and have been hooking it up and I decided to look a bit ahead at the oil pressure transducer installation when I stumbled upon a disturbing note on drawing OP-27 which reads "For older engines, install VA-128 prior to mounting engine..." My engine is an older engine and sure enough, there is slight interference with the engine mount. I cannot turn the fitting.

Are there any other alternatives out there besides taking several steps back and removing all I've done and pulling the engine? I guess I could pull the fuel pump, carb linkage, carb, oil sump, and the accessory case instead.

There is another port, 3/8" in diameter that is near the prop govenor pad. Can I tap off this?

Mel · #2 04-25-2009, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArVeeNiner

Well, I've been gotcha'ed again. I have my engine installed and have been hooking it up when I decided to look a bit ahead at the oil pressure transducer installation when I stumbled upon a disturbing note on drawing OP-27 which reads "For older engines, install VA-128 prior to mounting engine..." My engine is an older engine and sure enough, there is slight interference with the engine mount. I cannot turn the fitting.

Are there any other alternatives out there besides taking several steps back and removing all I've done and pulling the engine? I guess I could pull the fuel pump, carb linkage, carb, oil sump, and the accessory case instead.

There is another port, 3/8" in diameter that is near the prop governor pad. Can I tap off this?

Nope, Easiest thing is pull the engine out and install it in the correct place. The port you show near the prop governor pad is not pressure.

ArVeeNiner · #3 04-25-2009, 08:37 PM

Thanks Mel.

Yea, I'm kind of thinking pulling the engine is easier than removing the accessory case. I have the engine hoist in the hangar at the airport and it's not a big deal to get it and bring it home.

Does a straight restrictor exist? How about a regular straight fitting to a hose and then have the restrictor on the manifold on the firewall?

frazitl · #4 04-25-2009, 08:52 PM

I think you will have difficulty attaching a straight hose without the motor mount getting in the way. Anyway, the best practice is to have the restrictor in the fitting attached to the engine. That way, a hose failure would result in a small(er) leak...

David-aviator · #5 04-25-2009, 08:55 PM

The fitting can be welded shut and drilled out with a .040 bit. I had that done once.

Seems to me some Lycomings have a pressure port somewhere on the front of the engine near the top of the case....I believe it is used when an engine is pre-oiled (?) but don't quote me on it. I've never done it.

ArVeeNiner · #6 04-25-2009, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazitl

I think you will have difficulty attaching a straight hose without the motor mount getting in the way. Anyway, the best practice is to have the restrictor in the fitting attached to the engine. That way, a hose failure would result in a small(er) leak...

Yep, I just checked out in the garage, a hose on a straight fitting would indeed hit the mount.

Good point about where the restrictor's placement. I guess that's the whole point of the restrictor...to minimize the leak.

Mel · #7 04-26-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David-aviator

Seems to me some Lycomings have a pressure port somewhere on the front of the engine near the top of the case....I believe it is used when an engine is pre-oiled (?) but don't quote me on it. I've never done it.

The forward port will not give the same pressure reading as the standard one on the accessory case.

MNForrest · #8 04-26-2009, 06:38 AM

Pardon my ignorance, but would it not be possible to install first an unrestricted 90 degree fitting with a female outlet, then install the restrictor fitting ? Maybe that's not kosher in the aircraft world. Hot-rod mind here.

ff

T6pilot · #9 04-26-2009, 07:12 AM

Another possibility rather than pulling the engine is to install an AN to 1/8 pipe straight fitting and buy a hose with either a 45 or 90 degree end here:
http://www.anplumbing.com/shop/index.php

Just another idea. There are lots of hose/fittings available to solve this challenge.

Randy

N130WN · #10 04-26-2009, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArVeeNiner

Well, I've been gotcha'ed again. I have my engine installed and have been hooking it up and I decided to look a bit ahead at the oil pressure transducer installation when I stumbled upon a disturbing note on drawing OP-27 which reads "For older engines, install VA-128 prior to mounting engine..."

So how do things differ for a "newer" engine? A straight fitting can be used? Doesn't look like Van's sells a straight one....