I may have to go to another airport to do a prop balance. I hate the idea of removing the full cowl at a remote location. Can a prop balance be done by removing only the top cowl, and is it safe to run the engine with only the bottom cowl installed(fully)?
On some planes the bottom cowl can be a little floppy in the spinner area when the top cowl is removed. In those cases safety wire can be run from the cowl screw holes back to the engine to stiffen up things a bit.
Doing ground idle and runups with the top cowl off is one thing. Going flying with it that way it something else entirely.I do it after every oil change to ck for a possible leak at the filter. No issues rubbing against the spinner or flopping around.
Doing ground idle and runups with the top cowl off is one thing. Going flying with it that way it something else entirely...
I didnt get the impression the OP or subsequent replies were discussing flying the airplane with any part of the cowl removed.
True, but while balancing a prop you will go to full throttle to get a complete vibration profile.I didnt get the impression the OP or subsequent replies were discussing flying the airplane with any part of the cowl removed.
I do it after every oil change to ck for a possible leak at the filter. No issues rubbing against the spinner or flopping around.
I don't pull the bottom cowl/sump screen for a routine oil change,just at CI time. I can fish a drain hose to my quick drain from the cowl exit so that is why the bottom cowl is still on. I know that may be heresy to some to only pull the sump screen every other oil change!
That sounds to me like you are only doing a visual inspection of the lower engine area once a year.
The few minutes extra to remove the lower cowl every oil change for a good "look-see" down there would seem to be a wise thing to do.
PS - per Lycoming, the oil suction screen is a 100 hr item -
Oil Suction and Oil Pressure Screens ? At each 100-hour inspection remove suction screen. Inspect
for metal particles; clean and reinstall.
That sounds to me like you are only doing a visual inspection of the lower engine area once a year.
The few minutes extra to remove the lower cowl every oil change for a good "look-see" down there would seem to be a wise thing to do.
PS - per Lycoming, the oil suction screen is a 100 hr item -
Oil Suction and Oil Pressure Screens ? At each 100-hour inspection remove suction screen. Inspect
for metal particles; clean and reinstall.
That sounds to me like you are only doing a visual inspection of the lower engine area once a year.
The few minutes extra to remove the lower cowl every oil change for a good "look-see" down there would seem to be a wise thing to do.
PS - per Lycoming, the oil suction screen is a 100 hr item -
Oil Suction and Oil Pressure Screens ? At each 100-hour inspection remove suction screen. Inspect
for metal particles; clean and reinstall.
I am hesitant to post this as two people that criticized doing a quick oil change without pulling the bottom cowl are very respected posters here and I rarely post. I always have a look see in the engine compartment anytime any part of the engine is uncowled. I can't speak to the two place RV's,but on a RV10 there is a large amount of room between the engine and cowl sides. I can see all the exhaust,control cables,hoses & lines,EGT & CHT probes and all their wiring,as well as all the nose gear and it's suspension. About the only parts not readily visible are the starter and alternator and those are easily inspected with my flexible borescope camera. I would never do an oil change and ignore what things look like in the engine compartment. If you don't have a helper the RV10 lower cowl is a bear to reinstall by yourself. If I said I didn't believe in safety wiring the oil filter,I could see the need for criticism,but this seems a bit excessive. Rant off. Apologies if I offended anyone.
I will never apologize for promoting safety based on my many years of experience, and the experience of others maintaining and operating these airplanes.
Experience shows that things can happen in just the 50 hour intervals that are typical between oil changes, that can quickly become major safety issues if not detected.
Issues with the exhaust system are a good example.
I agree that the exhaust system on the RV-10 is slightly more inspect-able than on the other RV's but much of it still can not be.
This is only one example of many things that should be looked at regularly.
If people want to take a shortcut doing an oil change that is their choice, but I hope others will consider the trade-off. Removing the bottom cowl doesn't take all that much extra time. I can't see how the small amount of time saved is worth risking the consequences of things that can be missed because they weren't seen.