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Mark asks:
Has anyone
installed the quick oil drain from Aircraft Spruce on a IV-P? If so, are there
any problems ?
Mark,
As you've probably discovered, the
drain plug on the Continental 550 sits about 1/4 to 1 inch above the nose
gear linkage when it's retracted--depending on configuration, engine mounting
location, and other factors such as settling of the engine mounts. In most
installations there is not sufficient room to install a "standard" oil quick
drain. We tried one of the "low profile" drains on Jim's airplane, but
there wasn't room for that either. I really like the quick drain idea--if you
use one with a positive closure cap, and am planning to move the oil
drain in the bottom of the pan off to the side just a bit so it won't sit
directly on top of the nose gear linkage.
You'll need to do a retraction test,
with the nose gear doors disconnected, to determine how much space you have to
work with, but no matter what you see, be sure to allow for the engine to move
around on it's mounts. Perhaps some of the folks on the list have empirical
data, but it seems to me that 1/2" of clearance in all directions from the
static/resting position is about a minimum?
Based on looking at a number of
IV-P's, I'd be surprised if you have enough space to install a quick drain in
the existing plug location.
Bob
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