Subject: [FlyRotary] Dipstick options?


    I'm piecing together a custom oil pan for a 20B engine, and am trying to
    figure out where to put a dipstick.

    The stock dipstick lands toward the "shallow" (forward) end of the
    pan, and
    won't do the trick on a sloping bottom intended for a nose up
    (tail-dragger)
    attitude.  anybody put in a dipstick near the back ("front" cover)
    end of
    the engine?  Probably applies to both 12B and 20B engines, though in the
    longer 20Bs the problem is aggravated.

    Tom Kendall

    Tom;
         I have a similar situation.  If I can get the dipstick to go down
    about another inch it will reach to the bottom of the shallow part
    of the oil pan.  I'm going to heat it, and try to slide the hard
    rubber seal support a littel further up the rod, or add an extension.
         Still, it will only measure the first 2 quarts or so of the 8 qt
    capacity that I have.  I have a warning level switch when there is
    about 2 1/2 quarts left. Maybe this is adequate - I haven't decided yet.
         Two possible options are to install a sight glass on the side of the
    pan at the deep part of the sump, and make some provision to see
    it.  The other is the install a tube on the bottom of the pan into
    which an extended dip stick will go, and the tube connects to the
    deep part of the sump.  Either would work; both involve added
    potential leak points.
         Al Gietzen