A65 accessory case question

[taylorcraftbc65]

Tribe,
I would like to know if there is a source for new accessory cases for the
A65 engine. My pump losses prime if I don't fire up the engine at least once a week, and priming it is getting old fast. A friend of mine tells me that the problem is caused by too much clearance between the pump gears, and the housing formed by the case. He also says that the case can NOT be rebuilt, that I need to get a new one. Is this true?

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: A65 accessory case question

ANYTHING worn out can be fixed (25 years keeping Navy A-6s flying taught me that). The question is if the FAA will let you and if there is enough money in you account to pay for it. Seem like someone on the list had their case repaired to restore pressure. If I was going to do it I would look at select plating the hole and machining it back to dimension, but then, I worked at a Navy Depot and we could do it and drop the case into an oven to do the Hydrogen embritlement relief afterwards. The big advantage was the FAA ddin't have squat to say after we were done. Government owned airplanes!
To answer your question, there are rear cases out there for the Cont. 65 but look them over carefully. They can be Magnesium or Aluminum and generally they are available because low oil pressure seems to be a common problem. Inspect carefully and buy with caution.
For the short term, I keep the tail wheel on a stand in the hangar that keeps the plane at flight attitude and never have a problem with picking up oil pressure on start. (Yes, I put the tail down before I start!) It could keep you out of the repair shop for years.
Anybody remember who was fixing rear cases and how they did it?

[Garry Crookham]

Re: A65 accessory case question

Drake Air, 1-800-542-6899, repairs accessory cases. it is "EXPENSIVE" but will cure the oil pressure problems.

Garry Crookham
N5112M
Tulsa

[Doc]

Re: A65 accessory case question

Howdy: ECI (Engine Components International) in San Antonio, TX reconditioned my A65 case (made by ALCOA) - they might be able to help you. They also reconditioned (repaired) the main case - the fit at reassembly was excellent. Doc

[Winston L.]

Re: A65 accessory case question

Yes, ECI would be a good place to send it. I work there so the best advice I could give you is to remove anything (such as crankcase breather fittings)that can be removed from it or you may not get it back. They do so many parts those things sometimes get misplaced. Just send the bare basic parts you want overhauled.

Winston

[Len Petterson]

Re: A65 accessory case question

Do I have problem ?
After my last oil change I have too pull trough a dussin plades or so to pick up the oil, it never needed it before.
I run Shell 100W, and it is 1750 hr on my A 65.
It is time for another oil change soon so I shall see if I did something wrong or if the screen seal/copper gasket din't seal. I have no visable leaks.
I cleaned the screen after 15 hr and it did not make any difference in the priming.
At what time, running oil pressuer went down to 30 psi and idle 5 psi or less.
After cleaning the screen I have 35 psi running and 8 -10 psi idle. If I dont pull trough before starting it takes 10sec or so before the oil pressure builts up.
Len

[fearofpavement]

Re: A65 accessory case question

Do I have problem ?
After my last oil change I have too pull trough a dussin plades or so to pick up the oil, it never needed it before.
I run Shell 100W, and it is 1750 hr on my A 65.
It is time for another oil change soon so I shall see if I did something wrong or if the screen seal/copper gasket din't seal. I have no visable leaks.
I cleaned the screen after 15 hr and it did not make any difference in the priming.
At what time, running oil pressuer went down to 30 psi and idle 5 psi or less.
After cleaning the screen I have 35 psi running and 8 -10 psi idle. If I dont pull trough before starting it takes 10sec or so before the oil pressure builts up.
Len

I don't think that 10 seconds to indicate oil pressure on a higher time engine is unreasonable. When you cleaned the oil screen was there debris on it? Also, on your engine, does the line for the oil guage come off the back of the screen housing? If so, maybe it got damaged and the problem could be a lack of oil pressure indication and not actual oil pressure. Check for kinks or bends in the line to the gauge.

[Richard Boyer]

Re: A65 accessory case question

My oil pressure guage died a while back. I replaced it and immediately noticed a difference on startup. On the original guage my pressure would come up immediately. The "new" guage takes about 4 to 5 seconds before it responds.

[fearofpavement]

Re: A65 accessory case question

Air in the gauge line will also cause a delayed response as the air has to be compressed before the gauge will indicate pressure. Fluid (oil) is incompressible for all practical purposes and gives an immediate transfer of pressure. So opening the lil lines could allow air into the system and cause these types of symptoms. Other than the delay I don't think it is worth the time to bleed the system out.

[Len Petterson]

Re: A65 accessory case question

Ok thanks for hints I just do not like the banging and clanging on start ups.
No the hose comes off the casing on the right side.
Thanks Len.

[NY86]

Re: A65 accessory case question

Air in the gauge line will also cause a delayed response as the air has to be compressed before the gauge will indicate pressure. Fluid (oil) is incompressible for all practical purposes and gives an immediate transfer of pressure.

This is true, and many recommend bleeding the air out of the line, but, I believe that it's much harder on the gauge if there is no air to cushion the sudden pressure changes.

YMMV

[VictorBravo]

Re: A65 accessory case question

Ok thanks for hints I just do not like the banging and clanging on start ups.
No the hose comes off the casing on the right side.
Thanks Len.

Len, if there is banging and clanging from your engine, the gauge is not your only problem!

If your engine is making noises on startup then it might be that you do not have oil or oil pressure for a few seconds.

If you don't want to rebuild your accessory case, then try putting in a bottle of STP. This makes the oil thicker and it sticks to the metal better than regular oil.

[VictorBravo]

Re: A65 accessory case question

I also understand from a local Continental/Taylorcraft expert that there are two other likely suspects to look at before you have to remove the accessory case.

The oil pickup tube inside the oil tank has a coarse screen on the end of it that sits down in the oil. This screen piece is screwed into the end of the tube, with an AN900 copper-asbestos crush gasket. These gaskets sometimes lose their tension over time. This would allow air to seep into the suction tube, break the tension of the oil inside the tube, and allow the oil to drain out of the tube and the tube to fill up with air.

Thi screen is supposed to be held with safety wire but often is not.

The upper end of the tube is welded into a reinforcement sleeve, and can occasionally develop cracks. This again would allow air to seep into the tube and cause the loss of oil pressure.

So, if other external solutions don't work, remove the oil tank and check on the pickup tube before you commit to removing the engine from the airplane and taking off the accessory case.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: A65 accessory case question

THANKS GUYS, those were all GREAT suggestions. I will check out the pickup screen this weekend, and will also start parking my baby with her tail up. If I need to have the case repaired, I now know where to send it. Once again, THANKS. Sabrina

[birdlegs]

Re: A65 accessory case question

My old C-85 has got this habit and when I flew everyday, the problem went away, and I always had a smile going too.