R
Rutus
After the big 25 state trip, it was time to wash all the bugs off and - coincidentally - it was time for an oil change. So, while everyone at Bremerton was flying yesterday, I was in the hangar with a cold one, getting the maintenance done.
When I went to remove the oil filter, I noticed a lightly stained/dirty spot, about the size of a nickel, on top of the filter case. It was right where the discharge from the vacuum pump points to; the discharge fitting is a couple inches above the filter case. I was able to easily wipe off this light coating of debris/dirt, or whatever it was.
Question: is it logical to assume this came from the vacuum pump? And, if so, does it signify pump vanes that are getting ready to fail, or are failing? The pump has 271 hours on it. Vacuum readings on the cockpit gauge remain steady at all times. And, although my DG seems to precess more than it should (or at least I have noticed this over the last several months), I would think that is a DG issue, rather than anything to do with the pump itself.
When I went to remove the oil filter, I noticed a lightly stained/dirty spot, about the size of a nickel, on top of the filter case. It was right where the discharge from the vacuum pump points to; the discharge fitting is a couple inches above the filter case. I was able to easily wipe off this light coating of debris/dirt, or whatever it was.
Question: is it logical to assume this came from the vacuum pump? And, if so, does it signify pump vanes that are getting ready to fail, or are failing? The pump has 271 hours on it. Vacuum readings on the cockpit gauge remain steady at all times. And, although my DG seems to precess more than it should (or at least I have noticed this over the last several months), I would think that is a DG issue, rather than anything to do with the pump itself.