Tom Martin
Well Known Member
This is an update to an old thread. http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=87254&highlight=eci+ring+delaminationHistory
2006 ECI cylinders installed on rocket, nickel carbide, 10:1 pistons
2010 Cylinders removed for ECI recall, oil consumption also high, compression rings delaminated, 400 hours 4 jugs replaced by ECI, two rebuilt. Jugs sent to Lycon for port and polish work. 10:1 teflon pistons installed
2014 High oil consumption, black oil, removed jugs, compression rings delaminated again. 450 hours. Sent to overhaul shop, all jugs checked,guides, lapped etc, honed, new rings. Cam, lifter faces inspected and were in good shape, consistent with 900 hour engine.
April 2015, 1st flight, noted no hot temperatures typical with ring break-in procedures. All summer tried different oils, different break-in. Wrong rings were installed! During upheaval at ECI company I was given cast rings instead of the problematic CN203 rings. Three oil changes were done in the fifty hours with each change showing a small but increasing metal content.
November 2015, Off came jug #1 and a visual inspection showed the cylinders to be ok but cam lobes and lifter faces badly scuffed. Engine removed from airplane and sent to overhaul shop.
No one can explain the cam/lifter damage in the 50 hours but I believe the excessive blow by caused a swirl of particles in the crankcase that started the wear in the upper end.
I have decided to install six new Lycoming cylinders on my rocket. I will be going with stock pistons this time as I have not raced for the last three seasons. It will be interesting to see how my cross country performance will be impacted by the Lycoming cylinders and stock pistons vs the ECI cylinders with 10:1 pistons and Lycon ported cylinders.
In all these threads on ECI cylinders, there are many users who have had excellent service with these jugs. I have six ECI cylinders, in good shape, with new, (correct rings) 10:1 pistons and lycon work, for sale. They have a total of about 500 hours since being at the ECI factory for AD replacement/repair, four new at the time and two rebuilt.
10 years ago I went with ECI for the corrosion resistance and also because Lycoming had done such a terrible job on the previous brand new cylinders I had purchased from them in 2001. The flashings around the fins were so bad that during the clean up I removed tablespoons of casting sand still in place!
Reports are that the Lycoming quality has greatly improved with competition and I at least have ECI to thank for that.
__________________
Tom Martin RV1 pilot 4.6hours!
CPL & IFR rated
EVO F1 Rocket 850 hours,
2010 SARL Rocket 100 race, average speed of 238.6 knots/274.6mph
RV4, RV7, RV10, two HRIIs and five F1s
RV14 Tail dragger under construction #153
Fairlea Field
St.Thomas, Ontario Canada, CYQS
[email protected]
2006 ECI cylinders installed on rocket, nickel carbide, 10:1 pistons
2010 Cylinders removed for ECI recall, oil consumption also high, compression rings delaminated, 400 hours 4 jugs replaced by ECI, two rebuilt. Jugs sent to Lycon for port and polish work. 10:1 teflon pistons installed
2014 High oil consumption, black oil, removed jugs, compression rings delaminated again. 450 hours. Sent to overhaul shop, all jugs checked,guides, lapped etc, honed, new rings. Cam, lifter faces inspected and were in good shape, consistent with 900 hour engine.
April 2015, 1st flight, noted no hot temperatures typical with ring break-in procedures. All summer tried different oils, different break-in. Wrong rings were installed! During upheaval at ECI company I was given cast rings instead of the problematic CN203 rings. Three oil changes were done in the fifty hours with each change showing a small but increasing metal content.
November 2015, Off came jug #1 and a visual inspection showed the cylinders to be ok but cam lobes and lifter faces badly scuffed. Engine removed from airplane and sent to overhaul shop.
No one can explain the cam/lifter damage in the 50 hours but I believe the excessive blow by caused a swirl of particles in the crankcase that started the wear in the upper end.
I have decided to install six new Lycoming cylinders on my rocket. I will be going with stock pistons this time as I have not raced for the last three seasons. It will be interesting to see how my cross country performance will be impacted by the Lycoming cylinders and stock pistons vs the ECI cylinders with 10:1 pistons and Lycon ported cylinders.
In all these threads on ECI cylinders, there are many users who have had excellent service with these jugs. I have six ECI cylinders, in good shape, with new, (correct rings) 10:1 pistons and lycon work, for sale. They have a total of about 500 hours since being at the ECI factory for AD replacement/repair, four new at the time and two rebuilt.
10 years ago I went with ECI for the corrosion resistance and also because Lycoming had done such a terrible job on the previous brand new cylinders I had purchased from them in 2001. The flashings around the fins were so bad that during the clean up I removed tablespoons of casting sand still in place!
Reports are that the Lycoming quality has greatly improved with competition and I at least have ECI to thank for that.
__________________
Tom Martin RV1 pilot 4.6hours!
CPL & IFR rated
EVO F1 Rocket 850 hours,
2010 SARL Rocket 100 race, average speed of 238.6 knots/274.6mph
RV4, RV7, RV10, two HRIIs and five F1s
RV14 Tail dragger under construction #153
Fairlea Field
St.Thomas, Ontario Canada, CYQS
[email protected]