I just received
my PSRU
back from Tracy. If I understand his explanation correctly my prop shaft bearing at the end near the prop (pusher) bound up somehow
. He machined it, made other needed adjustments (?) and sent it back to me very promptly...bout a week turn around (of course I dropped a bit on overnight shipping
to make sure he got it before he was off again <g>).
The problem may have been due to a couple of factors....not really sure, but I discovered it after my plane was sitting out of the hangar due to roof repairs for about 6 or 7 weeks. When I went up to start it to taxi back to the hangar, I pulled the prop through a few times by hand and all seemed fine. I started it up, started, was tickled, but it it
stalled. Did I mention it was REALLY cold for Houston...about 27 degrees. I started it again and is sounded "labored" and was running poorly. It was about 1:00 am (I had just gotten off duty), so I figured I call it a night. I got out and turned the prop through again and could barely turn the prop. Damn. I thought I toasted another engine. Damn.
A couple of days later a friend and I pushed the plane back to the hangar and I walked away from the issue for a couple of weeks. Went so far as to even looking at financing a Lyc
<shudder>. I distracted myself by doing some interior work and wiring...actually got my radios far enough along to listen to ATIS
for a few minutes...on the bench.
Finally, two days after my recent loss, I forced myself to the hangar and pulled the PSRU
. I had already looked inside the exhaust ports and the chambers looked clean and smooth. I had also drained the oil, with a magnet (I know, some is aluminum) in the drain filter and found it all to be perfectly clean. Well, without the PSRU
the engine turned perfectly making that sweet churning sound through the open spark plug holes.
I turned to the PSRU
. I took
out each section slooooowly
. No signs of binding, chipping or any other damage in each part....until I got to the last section, the sealed section by the prop. The prop hub would not turn. I could barely turn it with the prop on. Without the prop is was a no go. So, I sent it to Tracy.
ANYWAY, now that I have it back mounted on the bird I am curious as to the oil going into the system. Even though I went through this long explanation, I only have a questions about the oil entering the PSRU
. There is no reason to suspect any oiling issues caused the previous problem...I just like to share on occasion. However, last night when I was hooking up everything
I decided to pour some oil directly
into the in oil hole on top of the PSRU
. My curiosity is that it just kinda
set there and very slowly seemed to seep into the PSRU
. Does oil pressure forced it into the PSRU
, thus getting more oil in. I would think with everything
spinning etc under power the oil flow etc would be much more dynamic, thus providing a more significant lubricating event. I don't really know what I was expecting. my oil flow seems good. It just got me thinking and wanting to have a better understanding. TIA
All the best,
Chris