From: RWolf99@aol.com
Message-ID: <ca.9968e4a.26de7f16@aol.com>
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 11:15:34 EDT
Subject: RE:  Cowling Longevity
To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Reply-To: lancair.list@olsusa.com
Mime-Version: 1.0

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Bob Smiley sent me these comments, which I highly appreciated, and gave me 
his permission to forward them on to the rest of y'all. <Rob Wolf>

I wrote a thread not to long ago about the cowling.  Don Geotz told me to
use two bid of graphite on the underside of the cowling.  I did so.  I also
reinforced two bid glass around the area between the prop spinner hole and
the air intake holes.  Please observe the high stress gelcoat cracks on high
time lancairs.  I also used graphite strands on the lower aft cowling around
the nose wheel well opening and aft exit area as well as dropped an aluminum
brace on each side of the nose wheel well cutout from the firewall and
attached it to the lower cowling.

Hanger rash on that top cowling piece needs attention.  Any hairline cracks
in the gelcoat must be repaired for painting.  They will be seen.  Sand down
to the glass. repair with one bid glass with peel ply over it to reduce
finish work. remove the peel ply and proceed with final sanding and body
work to smooth it out.  You can find the cracks by wiping down the the
cowling with degreaser and observe it drying.  The cracks will show up as
spider web like fractures.  They need to be repaired before painting.

My cowling sagged 1/4 inch over one year in the middle.  The two bid
graphite reinforcement should cure that problem.  I have about 30 hours on
the plane since the graphite installation and I do not notice any sag to
date.  Interesting, the motor mounts sagged more than expected.  I added 1/8
inch above the cowling for the initial spinner placement.  It has since
sagged to 1/8th in below.  This is interesting because the motor has been on
the mounts for two years.  It is the heat and working that causes movement
and compression.  I will have to add spacers on the lower mounts to
compensate.

I wrapped the pipes, both intake and exhaust but the wrap vibrated apart,
looked dirty and basically didn't work. I have since had the pipes
cermichromed.  The intakes are cermicrhromed silver and the exhaust pipes
are porcelain gray.  I encourage you to coat your pipes.  IT does help keep
temps down and besides; the motor looks prettier.No aluminum reflective tape
is on the inside of the lower cowling.  No apparent discoloration on the
paint is noticed at this time.  Bear in mind that these flying hours are in
the Pacific Northwest where temperatures are usually in the 50-80's in the
summer.  I have since moved to Salt Lake City and the temps are
significantly warmer here.  I do not know if protection of the lower cowling
is necessary.  I am considering doing such to avoid the problem  for my
plane.

Bob Smiley
801-257-0561
rjsmiley@tscnet.com-


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