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I thought I would pass along a problem I have found
in my engine so that someone else might benefit.
I will give the quick version since the detailed
version would go on for pages. While getting ready to go to Alaska in my
IVP, I did a last oil change before leaving. It had only 11 hours on the
oil change but I wanted a fresh change before the trip. When examining the
oil filter, I found a piece of safety wire about 1/2 inch long. It was
still round and looked in good condition. Again, the short version of the
story is I found broken safety wire on the back end of the crankshaft and one
bolt was broken and the head was missing.
The engine has a total of 650 hours on it, is a
TSIO550E and has got to be removed rebuilt / replaced.
I had absolutely no indication anything was wrong
other than finding the safety wire. Therefore I would recommend to cut the
oil filter open and inspect it every time. Any time you have the starter
drive adapter off look at the camshaft gear bolts that are lockwired. They
are easily seen.
If you have an occasion to have the fuel pump off
be sure to look at the crankshaft bolts and lockwire. They are easily seen
through the hole left by the fuel pump. If you are really curious, then
without really removing too much you can use a boroscope and see the crankshaft
bolts from a cover plate on the top left of the accessory case.
If anyone is interested, there are many, many more
details. It goes without saying that being between mountains in
Alaska at less than 1000 ft. agl is not where I would want to be with this
engine. There were several things that had to happen to have me find the
problem when I did. Someone was looking out after me.
Dan Reagan
IVP 650 hours -soon to have a zero time
engine
Cincinnati
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