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