engine rust

[urban]

Hi guys,
I'm looking at buying a T-craft. The plane has been out of annual for 3 years, but the engine gets fired up at least once a year. The aircraft is always hangered. Can someone tell me how much rust I can expect to find in the engine, and how much an over haul would probably cost?

Gary Stockford

[dedrekon]

Re: engine rust

That depends on a lot of factors......climate is a biggie. I bought a TCraft that had been out of annual (and outdoors) for about the same period of time, it was also started and run a few times during that period.

After running a boat load of MMO through the cylinders and turning it over slowly a few times, we fired it up and flew it home. That was 15 years ago and it sill runs like a top, flying several times a week now. Keep in mind I live in Oregon where PEOPLE start to rust if THEY sit around for a few minutes.

I think it's a bit of a pig in a poke, but many have had similar success with like situations.

V

[hangarb7]

Re: engine rust

My T has never had any type of pickling that I know of in all the times that it has been sitting idle.

In my hangar, tools rust just sitting around. I think there may be rust inside my engine and I am considering making one of those desicant air pumps that was in Sport Aviation magazine last month.

Anyway, my airplane has sat outside for a year without running. It has sat in an open front hangar with dirt floor for up to two years without running. And it has sat in my concrete block hangar for up to two years without running.

Do I think it is a good idea to let it sit and possibly rust? No. But this engine has something like 1700 hrs on it and never had a complete overhaul and it also runs like a top. I never knew about this stuff when I bought it years ago. I'm glad I didn't because I probably would never have purchased it.

Jack D
N44057
'46 BC12D with 65 Conty

[fearofpavement]

Re: engine rust

Well, a boroscope look into the cylinders should be able to tell a lot. While probably everyone on the site would agree that an aircraft sitting around is not good for it, I can't imagine a class of aircraft (small single engine rag and tube) that does more sitting around for one reason or another. I think you will probably find the engine to be fine as long as it was ok to start with. Why was it out of annual? If it was because the engine was bad it probably isn't any better now...

Anyway, if the rest of the plane is good I wouldn't let the period of inactivity scare me away. Assume it will need some work.

I would also change the oil after about an hour of flight to flush out any rust debris as it gets scraped off the cylinders, lifters, cam or whatever.

[Len Petterson]

Re: engine rust

READ the LOG BOOK!
Is there another timeperiod when it has sat for more when 1 year?
LOCATION and under what condition.
Bore scope.
Remove a cylinder look at the cam.
What oil was used in it? Mineral keeps the engine better during storage I been told, true or not I dont know. May have helped mine.
Len

[Bobdog]

Re: engine rust

Cylinder rust is not the problem with a sitting engine. If they do rust bad enough to be a problem the pistons will stick and you won't be able to turn the engine over. A slight amount of rust will just be scraped off by the rings.

Be sure to check the compression and look for leaking valves...they my be rusted, or stuck open.

THE BIG PROBLEM is the bearings. Bearings that sit for a long time can start to dissimilar metal corrode. Even with a good oil film they can still go bad. I just tore down 2 engines that were overhauled and then sat for some time, and the bearings were badly pitted in both engines. If you buy this plane, run the engine for 30 minutes and then check the oil for metal. Check it again after running for another hour. etc.

Good luck, Bob

[urban]

Re: engine rust

Thanks for the abvice. Good news, the engine was fine. We primed the cylinders with some oil, turned it over a few times, it started on the first pull. One other problem though. The paint was pretty ugly, a fair bit of peeling. There was also some ring worm at the trailing edge of the wings. we manged to put a finger through the cloth where the two pieces over lap mid point of the wing at the trailing edge. Any advice?

[Bobdog]

Re: engine rust

DO Not Fly This Plane!! The Fabric Is Rotten, And Needs To Be Recovered. This Will Cost About 6000 Dollars For Material Alone, And Lots And Lots Of Hours Of Labor.

[alwaysoar]

Re: engine rust

I wouldn't buy it, you're in for a world of trouble, a lot of time lost, and $$$. Did I say $? Yes, Canadian $.

[alwaysoar]

Re: engine rust

ps. I just sent you a private message. Check your PM's.

[urban]

Re: engine rust

Thanks for the advice. The little voice in the back of my head was telling me the same things. The search continues.
Gary Stockford

[Len Petterson]

Re: engine rust

I was thinking the same. after I talked to you. It is a complete aircraft ready for rebuilding a 5 -7 year project unless you are retired and/or have lots of money.
Len