William, et al,
Trust me, I would love to think it is a sender but I bought a mechanical gage the other day with the same results as the EM2.
I will likely pull the engine this weekend (I work late tomorrow). I already pulled the prop. I will check the pick up. I do have a half inch extension but because I knew it could be a problem I was focused on getting a good seal and it is safety wired
on, as is the front pressure port.
Since the engine will be off and easier to work with, I will check the front cover stuff again. Is there a test on testing the oil pump while it is off the engine?
As Lynn mentioned I will be looking for sparkles in the pan and will open up the oil filter too. Again, I am speculating that it may be the front bearings as it was the one part that was not well in spec. I could be completely wrong. I do not relish
the idea of just replacing parts without cause....the gear with bushing installed I think is $102 from Mazdatrix....it is always something.
Not wanting to aimlessly replacing parts is the reason that I am once again asking for thoughts. It seems as if I have eliminated most issues; oil pressure ports, front one safety wired, chain, bent washer, o-ring/silicon ring at front cover, safety
wired pick up and sealed 1/2 inch extension, key.....and now the bearings. So, please, share what I may be missing that may cause this type of low pressure since I will be looking over the next several days. Also, I did just check the rotor oil seals and rotar
parts when I replaced the apex seals and springs a couple of months ago following a detonation event.
I could be discouraged but that may go against my Taurus stubborn nature. Ok, not stubborn <g>, or so I hope, but persistent and becoming educated. And, as always, the ground is the place to discover this stuff and why
we ground test and test and test. Test it until it doesn't fail, test it a little more, then fly.
And on a positive not, except for the pesky low oil pressure (yeah, a really big pesky little problem) the engine has been starting a running strong and smooth as hell.
Chris
From: Rotary motors in aircraft [flyrotary@lancaironline.net] on behalf of William Wilson [fluffysheap@gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 2:57 AM
To: Rotary motors in aircraft
Subject: [FlyRotary] Re: Oil Pressure Again
I had a sending unit go bad once and do this. It didn't just read zero like you expect, it just kept showing less and less pressure. It was about a decade old at the time.
On Thu, Jul 14, 2011 at 5:46 PM, Chris Barber
<cbarber@texasattorney.net> wrote:
I hesitate asking about this again, but I am too close to possibly flying to drop the ball too much now. I have a drop in oil pressure again. It has dropped from the high 60's or so to between 20 psi to 40 psi (20 to 30 at lower RPM
and only up to around 40+ as I increase power).
My first thought was that it was the front o-ring and silicone ring in the front cover. So, I pulled the front pan and replaced it. I also was able to check the front pressure port and the oil pump chain/key/washer etc and all was good.
I am about to have to pull the engine to check the bottom of the engine for the oil pick up and rear port (after checking the hoses, but I would thinking a blockage, depending on where it is, would increase pressure). One of the disadvantages
of the Conversion Concepts mount is that I pretty much have to pull the engine to check the bottom end.
My question is, other than the mentioned items, what else could cause this sort of drop. I have hooked up a mechanical pressure gage (instead of the RWS EM2). My concern is that it may be the front
bearing as it was the only part I recall being closer to being out of spec. I hate the idea of having to tear down the engine again to replace this part especially since the engine is running all but perfectly and I was doing squawks preparing
for my DAR inspection before this issue crept up.
Also, even though I can't think of a way, is there any way to replace the front stationary gear/bearing without cracking the engine...just had to ask as I am not really liking the idea of cracking open the engine again, even though I am getting
a bit too good at it....but apparently not well enough to make it actually work right.
As opposed to mucking around with red hearings and wild goose chases, I figured I would just ask again. And yes, I have been reviewing the archives already.
TIA
Thanks
Chris Barber
Houston.