Airplane Owner Maintenance

A Maintenance Oriented Podcast For Airplane Owners, Pilots, and Mechanics

Tag: safetywiring

162 – Giving Thanks for my Good Friend Jonathan Brush

November 26, 2020 / / 0 Comments

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Without Jonathan Brush, this podcast might not exist! I’m super-thankful for his part in pushing me to launch this whole thing. I think you’ll enjoy the conversation with him today.

At the end of the podcast, I asked Jonathan to talk a little about the organization he leads, called Unbound.

If you’re curious after hearing about it, or if you have high school age or young adult kids, check out BeUnbound.us for more info.

The phone number is on the top left corner of the website, and if you call, you’ll be able to speak with a real person!

In this episode, I also listed all the guests who have been on the podcast up to this point. Here they are in order:

  • Morgan Showalter (my daughter) episode 002
  • Maria Showalter (my wife) episode 022
  • Mike Busch  episode 054
  • Bret Chilcott 055
  • Paul New 061
  • Brian Holmes 076
  • Cindy Ferek 125
  • Drew Wright 131
  • Carl Valeri 135
  • Joe Godfrey 144
  • Aram Basmadjian 147
  • Jim Weir 148
  • John and Leslie Caubble 149, 150
  • Jessica Spangler 160

Thanks so much to each of you for the great conversations!

Our sponser for this episode is PilotWorkshops.com

Go to the website and sign up for the free “Tip of the Week.” And while you’re there, take a look at the fantastic book: Airplane Engines – A Pilot Friendly Manual.

Today, I’m offering a Thanksgiving special price on my “Safety Wire Like A Pro” video tutorial course. Today through midnight Eastern Standard Time on December 3rd, you can get the course at a 20% discount.

The normal price is $97, but for the next week, you pay only $77 when you enter the code “thanksgiving2020“

Try it out… it’s risk-free.

If you’re not completely satisfied, there’s a 30 day money back guarantee… no questions, and no problem.

Why safety wire like an amateur, when you can “Safety Wire Like A Pro?!”

Click here for more info.

The course has 15 videos, covering topics like safety wiring an oil filter, a brake caliper, fixing backwards safety wire, good and bad safety wire, how far you can twist safety wire until it breaks, and much more.

Click here, and then:

Click “Enroll in course for $97.”

Click “Add coupon code.”

Enter “thanksgiving2020” and you’ll receive $20 off, and pay only $77.

Check it out today, and let me know what you think.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone, and God bless you!

143 – Oh No! A Lycoming Exhaust Stud Pulled Out!

May 30, 2020 / / 2 Comments

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Note: The “Safety Wire Like A Pro!” video training course is available for one more day at 20% off (use code “canard” for discount coupon.) Read about the training here:

https://airplane-owner-maintenance.teachable.com/p/safetywiring

Three stories for today:

Story #1:

A Lycoming exhaust stud pulled out.

It was disappointing, but turned out to be an inspiring learning experience.

A helicoil had previously been installed, which pulled out, and left a hole too big to install another helicoil (thread repair). Listen and find out how we solved the problem with a “Keensert” thread repair:

It worked fantastically!

Story #2:

Bad spark Plug.

We also talked in this episode about a bad spark plug and how we determined which one was bad, using the engine monitor system in a Cirrus SR22.

The EGT for cylinder #2 was higher than all the others because only one spark plug was firing in that cylinder which caused the exhaust gases to be hotter when they crossed the EGT probe.

It turned out the spark plug ceramic was cracked and the plug was not working at all: (I verified it using the spark plug tester.) There’s actually another crack on the other side of the ceramic as well.

With some basic training, an engine monitor can be an excellent troubleshooting tool.

Story #3:

Rough engine in an Ercoupe.

After some troubleshooting, it was discovered that cylinder #2 had no compression due to a stuck exhaust valve.

Other resources mentioned in this episode:

https://airplane-owner-maintenance.teachable.com/p/safetywiring

(Use code “canard” for 20% off on the safety wiring training course until midnight May 31, 2020.)

PilotWorkshop.com

(Be sure to sign up for the free pilot “Tip of the week.”)

139 – My Alternator Came Apart… Should I Also Replace the Voltage Regulator?

April 4, 2020 / / 0 Comments

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NOTICE: UNTIL THE END OF MAY 2020, USE CODE “CANARD” FOR A 20% DISCOUNT ON MY VIDEO COURSE “SAFETY WIRE LIKE A PRO!” (Listen to the podcast to hear the story behind the word “canard” and why I chose that for the code.)

Click the following link to learn about the course:

https://airplane-owner-maintenance.teachable.com/p/safetywiring

I received an email recently asking a question about an alternator that came apart due to a failed bearing… listen to today’s podcast episode for some thoughts on that.

Also, many older airplanes don’t have a digital voltage indicator on the instrument panel, so here’s a fantastic solution for plugging in to the cigarette lighter: (and the great thing is, it’s under $20!)

https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/flight-gear-dual-usb-charger.html

Here are some other items of interest from this past week: (All of these situations are described in today’s episode.)

STRANGE VACUUM GAUGE INDICATIONS IN A MOONEY – CHECK OUT THE DETERIORATED HOSE THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSING THIS:

EXHAUST SYSTEM PRESSURE TESTING ON AN AEROSTAR:

A SLICK MAGNETO THAT MADE IT TO ABOUT 1700 HOURS! (This one has gone to Kevin Herrington at Aircraft Ignition Services, LLC for repair.)

A LOOSE BOLT IN A TURBOCHARGER SUPPORT BRACE: (NOTICE THE RUSTY COLOR IN THE SEAM, WHICH INDICATES CHAFING. ALSO NOTICE THE WEAR MARK UNDER THE WASHER.)

For more information about noticing colors on an engine, check out podcast episode 036 – Tell-Tale Colors in an airplane’s engine compartment.

A FUEL QUANTITY COMPUTER IN AN AEROSTAR:

(We sent this component to Tech-Aire in Wichita, KS because the right fuel gauge was not indicating properly, and “Bill” advised the problem is usually in this box… so I’m hopeful this will fix it.)

PLEASE SEND ME A VOICE MESSAGE OR AN EMAIL:

Which one of these video training courses would you be most eager to learn from:

  1. Servicing landing gear shock struts.
  2. Basic electrical system operation and troubleshooting.
  3. Exhaust valve borescoping and interpretation.
  4. Another idea you have! (Let me know.)

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so click that tab over on the right side of the page and record a voice message, or, send me an email: dean@airplaneownermaintenance.com

Don’t forget, you can get my safety wiring video tutorial course for 20% off through the end of May 2020… click this link for more info:

https://airplane-owner-maintenance.teachable.com/p/safetywiring

130 – A Fuel Leak That Didn’t Catch Fire

December 14, 2019 / / 0 Comments

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Limited time offer on the “Safety Wire Like A Pro!” video tutorial course: (Offer good until midnight December 24, 2019. Just use code “2019” at checkout.)

Click here to save 10% and become an expert!

Hey, check out this 10 second video of an absolutely startling fuel leak I found this past week during a “routine oil change.”

The reason I put that “routine oil change” in quotes is because I’m convinced we should never view an oil change as just a routine thing in itself.

Rather, it should be viewed as an opportunity to become a detective and find any other issues that might need attention in the surrounding area, especially in the engine compartment… like a fuel leak.

Notice the blue staining in the following pictures… clues of a fuel leak:


Apparently, the gasket on this fuel screen plug was hardened and brittle, and no longer able to provide a good seal.

Listen to today’s podcast episode to hear the story about this fuel leak, and how it was solved.

Also, notice the safety wire on the fuel screen plug in the video… it’s in a very tight spot that’s really difficult to work in. It was a bit of an ordeal to even get the safety wire off the plug to remove it.

And reinstalling the safety wire was even more challenging… which reminds me of something I want offer you:

Between now (Saturday, December 14) and Christmas eve, December 24, 2019 at midnight Eastern Standard Time, I’m offering a 10% discount on the safety wiring video tutorial course, “Safety Wire Like A Pro!” This course will teach you everything you need to know to perform excellent safety wiring during preventive maintenance on your airplane.

Whether you’re changing the engine oil, cleaning fuel screens, or safety wiring a brake caliper after changing a tire, there’s a detailed video in this course to help you with that task.

Become a safety wiring expert with this detailed training opportunity. It’s like I’m right there with you at your airplane… you can set your laptop on a table by your airplane, play the appropriate video, and do your safety wiring right along with me, as you watch me in the video… it’s like having your own personal instructor right beside your airplane.

So don’t settle for that ugly, loose safety wiring that I too often see on airplanes… instead, take advantage of this valuable resource and become a safety wiring expert!

Click here to save 10% on the “Safety Wire Like A Pro!” video course.

Use code “2019” at checkout to save 10%.

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