Hello all. Thought I might just post the fact that I've been up to my elbows in engine removal today. About 3 weeks ago I was out flying and doing touch and goes getting ready for the Gathering. Things went pretty good and the plane was running fine. I had a BFR, Medical and Annual to do so I did the first two and was going to finish the annual today. I had already done my oil change and went over all of the control systems previously so all I was supposed to do today was adjust the valves and clean the plane. Well when I heard this scrapping of metal sound when I went to adjust the valves I knew something was up. For those who have newer alternators, this isn't a problem. However, for those of us antiques that still have the old syncro alternators, they fail at some point because the glue used for the magnets doesn't quite have what it takes. Mine failed, probably on the last flight. I could hear scraping sounds and feel it as I pulled it through. So, today I removed the engine from the mount, placed it on the wooden stand I had built previously when I replaced the rear seal and removed lots of stuff from the engine and plane. Now it sits on the stand with the accessory case removed and the cause of the scraping on my bench. The alternator. Tomorrow I will order a new alternator with one day delivery and looks like I'll be up late Wednesday putting it back together. Good news is that with the alternator removed the engine only has compression and no scraping so it sounds real good when I pull it through.
I should get it back together on Wednesday night or Thursday afternoon after driving over with the PA stuff. So I should be there Thursday evening or if all else fails on Friday when I get it to the condition that I like it. I'm a pretty conservative guy so I like it when I like it. Looks like a record breaking Gathering. By the way, I still remember sanding regardless of the fact it was 15 years ago....... And I still hate it..... Jim N891JF Jim Faughn 4323D Laclede Ave. St. Louis, MO 63108 (314)652-7659 Email - sub @ for "at" jfaughn "at" socket.net Web Site http://jfaughn.com
