I don't like unscheduled maintenance but I don't mind scheduled maintenance. Especially if you have nice weather and we have had a very nice cool Spring in Ohio. I schedule my condition inspection in May each year. If I thought I was going to have some issues I would probably schedule it earlier in the year.
Compression check:
1) 74 (last year 70)
2) 75 (last year 70)
3) 75 (last year 78)
4) 76 (last year 78)
the only thing I did differently this year was to use cowl inlet air dams all through the Winter to get my engine temps up. I don't know if this helped even the compressions or if it was something else.
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this year I focused on locating any wear issues because I'm at 900 hrs. I was pleasantly surprised to find essentially no wear on some of the areas that are prone to wear so I thought I would post some photos. the three areas I looked at in detail were the rudder cable lever attachments, the carb heat area, exhaust hangers.
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rudder cable attachments. hole measured .190 inch in both the x and y planes. I believe if you keep these lubed (however you do it) you can keep these holes in really good shape.
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carb heat arrangement. no wear in 900 hrs. no adjustment ever made since new. set it and forget it. carb heat is important. it can save your life. do I use it much, nope. have I really needed it in the past, yes.
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exhaust hangers. never touched since new. I keep the exhaust balls (flex joint) lubed with mouse milk when I have the cowls off and make sure they are free and float around. double clamped with a slight flare on the tube ends. I think I got this slight flare idea from Sam. It works.
Compression check:
1) 74 (last year 70)
2) 75 (last year 70)
3) 75 (last year 78)
4) 76 (last year 78)
the only thing I did differently this year was to use cowl inlet air dams all through the Winter to get my engine temps up. I don't know if this helped even the compressions or if it was something else.
**********
this year I focused on locating any wear issues because I'm at 900 hrs. I was pleasantly surprised to find essentially no wear on some of the areas that are prone to wear so I thought I would post some photos. the three areas I looked at in detail were the rudder cable lever attachments, the carb heat area, exhaust hangers.
********
rudder cable attachments. hole measured .190 inch in both the x and y planes. I believe if you keep these lubed (however you do it) you can keep these holes in really good shape.
******
carb heat arrangement. no wear in 900 hrs. no adjustment ever made since new. set it and forget it. carb heat is important. it can save your life. do I use it much, nope. have I really needed it in the past, yes.
******
exhaust hangers. never touched since new. I keep the exhaust balls (flex joint) lubed with mouse milk when I have the cowls off and make sure they are free and float around. double clamped with a slight flare on the tube ends. I think I got this slight flare idea from Sam. It works.
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