|
Hi Ed,
This has been quite an education for me. Looks like my Hurley apex seals are going to up for sale on Ebay. I WILL be measuring the apex seal slots on all 4 rotors in my shop. (Yeah, I'm yet another who missed this critical measurement!)
Ken Powell Bryant, Arkansas 501-847-4721
-------------- Original message --------------
> Right, John > > This past Saturday was two weeks from the incident, mainly waiting for > parts. I tore down and rebuilt the engine over 3 days, but actually time > was probably around 10 hours. Total cost was closer to $2500 what with > both new rotor, housings gaskets, seals, etc. However, I believe a complete > rebuild of a Lycoming with all new cylinders and pistons, etc, would have > run a bit more {:>) Not infrequently a catastrophic failure of a Lycoming > means replacement of the crank and even the case, if a rod let go. So all > things considered I'm sure glad I fly behind a rotor. > > The more I think about my incident and having talked to two other folks who > used the Hurley seals and later took their engine apart, that what may have > been the dominant factors were soft seals and sloppy apex slots. My friend > in Az just took apart one of this two engines that he had flow with (not > related to a apex seal problem), he reported that he was surprised at how > worn his Hurley seals were. Very similar to mind with a considerable amount > of material removed the length of the seal where it rubbed against the edge > of the slot. I think Rusty also reported the same. > A second person who had his engine apart due to an oil leak reported the > seals from Tracy Crook/Bruce T looked like new. > > If the seals were soft either by design for failure in the manufacturing > process, then the wear and lost of material in a critical area of the seal > combined with side forces due to the worn slot were probably not a > combination due for long life. > > Going out this AM to install the engine in the aircraft, hopefully will have > it ready to by tomorrow. > > Best Regards > > Ed A > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John Slade" > To: "Rotary motors in aircraft" > Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2005 11:35 PM > Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: EWP Installation Update > > > >> Well, Bob, I did finish the engine rebuild tonight and loaded it > >> in the Van. > > What's that, Ed - 2 weeks waiting, maybe 4 days work, and about $1500 in > > parts? > > This whole story makes a very interesting comparison to the Lycoming > > powered > > Cozy that recently threw an exhaust valve at 6000' over Long Island. He > > barely made it into Farmingdale where it is now parked behind an FBO while > > the owner figures out how to either come up with $15k .... or....??? > > > > John (new wood floor all done....next?) > > > > > > > >>> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/ > >>> Archive: http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html > > > > > > >> Homepage: http://www.flyrotary.com/ > >> Archive: http://lancaironline.net/lists/flyrotary/List.html
|