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.
![DSCN4574.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fhosting.photobucket.com%2Fimages%2Fhh519%2Fsemelton500%2FDSCN4574.jpg&hash=dcefa33ef4c4ce4a9af11feae52b8a96)
![DSCN4581.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fhosting.photobucket.com%2Fimages%2Fhh519%2Fsemelton500%2FDSCN4581.jpg&hash=3900e8574ae01c5e1b23657d67fbbf05)
![DSCN4568.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fhosting.photobucket.com%2Fimages%2Fhh519%2Fsemelton500%2FDSCN4568.jpg&hash=1e3e9d8a8103673f99740647a5d508e1)
![DSCN4560.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fhosting.photobucket.com%2Fimages%2Fhh519%2Fsemelton500%2FDSCN4560.jpg&hash=4d30506141a592e6b77d9df2157ef083)
******
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.
![DSCN4669.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fhosting.photobucket.com%2Fimages%2Fhh519%2Fsemelton500%2FDSCN4669.jpg&hash=766b18ad3a58897d4a3ca07aac32a137)
![DSCN4602.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fhosting.photobucket.com%2Fimages%2Fhh519%2Fsemelton500%2FDSCN4602.jpg&hash=ec9910daaa7ca13842b818ddf82722bd)
![DSCN4621.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fhosting.photobucket.com%2Fimages%2Fhh519%2Fsemelton500%2FDSCN4621.jpg&hash=5aac1cd2bcf4b921d0f0741619463f71)
![DSCN4622.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fhosting.photobucket.com%2Fimages%2Fhh519%2Fsemelton500%2FDSCN4622.jpg&hash=78a2e24eede56b6962a12eb44e07d527)
******
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.
![DSCN4659.jpg](/proxy.php?image=https%3A%2F%2Fhosting.photobucket.com%2Fimages%2Fhh519%2Fsemelton500%2FDSCN4659.jpg&hash=9f01f91065a18266b7066afdb4e85927)
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