That's why you do ground testing.
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Sohn <res12@fairpoint.net>
To: Rotary motors in aircraft <flyrotary@lancaironline.net>
Sent: Mon, Aug 2, 2010 7:40 pm
Subject: [FlyRotary] Murphy hit again.
When we think something can not happen, it most certainly will.
I was getting ready today starting to shake-down test runs with the flyable single rotor engine. On any newly assembled engine I do an oilpressure check in cranking the engine with no spark plugs until the oil pressure gauge starts showing pressure. This time it did not show any. First thought was, the oil pump needs priming. Never before did I have to prime an oil pump. Consequently, the priming did not help. Next, taking off the oil pan. Everything looking good. Then I took off the oil line from the pump outlet fitting and squirted oil into the pump, o s..t, the oil came right out of the pump intake.
O.k. , accessory housing off and oil pump out. The picture is showing how the oil pump came out. Rest of the story.
Found the missing pump rotor in a parts box, and put the engine back together.
Now I am scared of myself.
Sometimes this is what we need not to get too confident in ourselves.
FWIW.
Richard Sohn
N2071U