A place where restoration project-type threads can go to avoid falling off the main page in the WIX hangar. Feel free to start threads on Restoration projects and/or warbird maintenance here. Named in memoriam for Gary Austin, a good friend of the site and known as RetroAviation here. He will be sorely missed.
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Thu May 15, 2008 11:35 am

Great update Jason, Thanks.

Thu May 15, 2008 12:39 pm

I feel better now.
Gary A & I use the same filing system -
File by Pile!
:lol: :lol: :lol:

Looking for a 3 in 1 gage for Ol'927

Fri May 16, 2008 6:06 pm

I'm looking for a 3 in 1 gage...need it for the #3 Engine. Must be certified.

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Oil Temp -70 to 150 (Green 60-95)
Oil Press 0 to 200 (Green 70-95)
Fuel Press 0 to 25 (Green 21-23)

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Engine Gage Unit AN5773-1 12v or 24v General Electric

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Need it ASAP
Thanks

Thu May 22, 2008 9:44 pm

Jason,

What happened with the new engine?

Sat May 24, 2008 8:02 pm

Jason, Please tell us whats up with #3? :?
Dave

Sat May 24, 2008 11:43 pm

Sounds to me like the #3 gauge just took a dive, and not something going wrong with the overhauled engine. The same thing happened on the R4D after an engine change. Within a few weeks of replacing it, one of the gauges (I can't remember if it was the tach or the MP gauge) went south and had to be replaced.

Just seems to happen that way sometimes.

Sun May 25, 2008 4:24 am

I'm probably stepping on toes here, since I'm no longer directly associated with this airplane. However, Jason is taking a much deserved break this weekend and I've been getting several e-mails and phone calls asking about this since there has only been rumor about what happened and no real facts, so I felt it was only proper to stop the rumors and tell everyone what went down.

I can't get into much detail (since the Squadron is still working on a solution to this problem), but yes, the freshly installed, just out of warranty #3 engine is full of metal shavings. :x It ran up just fine and all was good, until take off on it's first flight since installation. As soon as the gear was raised, they got a chip light on the power section of #3. They immediately came around and landed the aircraft. Jason checked the chip detectors, hoping to only find a piece of "fuzz," which is typical for a new engine, but unfortunately, chunks of metal were in them. Further investigation of the oil screen showed substantial metal shavings packed between each layer of screen, which had also circulated throughout the engine. It's junk.

It is too early to tell just what had failed inside, and it's too early to say what the Squadron is going to do to resolve this issue. However, I can tell you that it is being addressed and they'll give y'all details of the plans for the airplane upon coming up with a solution.

Gary

Sun May 25, 2008 6:43 am

Wow. That sucks. I hope that a solution is decided upon and taken quickly. I'd hate for her to miss the whole season because of that engine giving so many problems. :(

Sun May 25, 2008 8:47 am

Thanks for the update Gary, and holy cow that is sh*tty news!

I hope it can be resolved quickly and cheaply.

-David

Tue May 27, 2008 12:24 pm

Gary,

Sorry to hear about the engine on Ol' 927.

Keep your fingers crossed for us down here.

dp

Tue May 27, 2008 4:31 pm

Dang...hope she can make it to Geneseo in time! :shock: :(

Thu May 29, 2008 8:03 am

What a terrible turn of events! :cry:

I hope the situation can be resolved quickly and without any problems or legal wranglings.

Thu May 29, 2008 8:50 am

Ouch :? Good luck getting the issue resolved.

Fri May 30, 2008 10:58 pm

Metal in the screens on the first flight? Ouch :x That sucks!

Sorry to hear that...

Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:09 pm

Everyone,

I took a little time off to ride the motorcycle and visit family, I definitely need that after the last few months. I enjoyed many Texas back roads along the way. Now on the to stuff you really want to know about....

After completing the several necessary ground runs to verify all systems and the four engines where in good shape we finally got airborne, but only for a short while. As Gary already told you we got a chip light and came straight home to check it out. Unfortunately, we had metal.

The engine had metal on both chip detectors and the screen was full. We also pulled the plug on the cooler and it had collected there as well. We are not sure yet what failed.

I am currently removing the #3 engine, I hope to have a have it completely removed by the end of the week and begin flushing the tank and lines.

Unfortunately, the engine is full of metal and I'm not sure how all of this will be resolved. For the moment the tour is obviously on hold until we have a engine again.

Thanks to Cavanaugh Flight Museum we are going to fly to Addison using a loaner from them. The engine is only to get the aircraft to CFM and I hope to be in Dallas before the end of June. The situation is very fluid and is subject to change so don't develop lock jaw on this information.

Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
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