Thanks Bill, I'll check the fuel pump and oil breather elbow. I really don't want to look at the crank. I have seen grooves worn into rotating shafts from oil seals and it isn't pretty.
----- Original Message ----- From: "William R. Bayne" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, May 31, 2010 1:13:54 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [ercoupe-tech] oil leak in front? Hi Darick, I recently saw a coupe fly that had been "in restoration" some 22+ years. Just beforehand it had received a "major" field overhaul, and the crank was turned. Even with the most careful replacement (twice) with "fresh" and soft seals, a leak exists that may well require engine disassembly and machining of the crank AGAIN! In the process of replacement it became obvious that the machine shop that turned the crank completely ignored concentric grooves worn into it (likely from earlier front oil seals ignored long enough to retain grit blown into them). Another "up front" leak that really "gets around" is from a hole in the side if the fuel pump. I seem to recall the purpose of that hole is to alert the owner/pilot of diaphragm failure in the fuel pump. Also check that the oil breather elbow is tight in the crankcase and there is no hole in the breather hose up high (which will get amazing distribution). Regards, WRB -- On May 30, 2010, at 23:40, [email protected] wrote: Group, After I got the ECI Titan cylinders put on, I noticed a new oil leak. After a flight I notice the inside top and left of the front cowling is wet with oil. The is the area below the cylinder head air intake hole. It seems the oil may be coming from somewhere at the front of the engine, then blown only to the left side of the front cowling. The small cover plate at the front of the engine, directly behind the prop, which I think is the accessory port for a vacuum pump, is also wet, but only at the back. You have to insert your hand and blindly feel for this. There is no oil dripping or collecting at the four studs holding this plate on. We have retightened these four nuts once to be sure the gasket is making a good seal and used Parker Stat-0-Seal and Thread Seals (commonly referred to as washer seals or self sealing washers) to eliminate a leak path around these four studs. The Stat-O-Seals and Thread Seals were not used initially, only a white silicone type of sealant from a tube which was "smuched" on during assembly. The Stat-O-Seals and Thread seals helped quite bit and I thought the problem was solved, but it just took longer to show itself. A new seal was put on the prop shaft where it exits the engine case when the new cylinders were installed. Any ideas where the oil may be coming from? Should we still suspect the gasket on the accessory plate or is there another common place for an oil leak up front? Thanks, Darick
