Just to be clear, I do not think he reversed the inlet and outlet
connections. What happened is that he put on a Lycoming vacuum pump
that turned the opposite direction from the proper pump meant for my
Continental Engine in my Piper Turbo Arrow III (TSIO-360-FB). My POH
does not seem to have a schematic of the vacuum system, so I am not sure
exactly what went on with the air flow with respect to the filters.

-Sami
N2057M, Piper Turbo Arrow III

James M. Knox wrote:

"O. Sami Saydjari" wrote in
:


I have not noticed anything really significant...but then again, I
have only hhad the plane a few weeks...so I am not sure what the
average precession is on the D.G. Also, I do not know what subtle
damage might have been done that will reduce the life of my
instruments in the long term. Can someone please tell if they know
for sure one way or another if the event was potentially damaging to
my instruments?


Interesting question. What he wound up doing (it sounds like) is
getting the inlet/outlet connections on the pump switched. [Lots of
these pumps are used for both vacuum and pressure applications, just a
matter of which hose goes where.]

Did it hurt anything? Hard to say. Simply running the gyro backwards
in each instrument should have caused no damage whatsoever. The cause
for concern is that he not only pumped unfiltered (outside) air into the
gyros, he also pumped all the crud that may have been in the lines back
into the gyros. It doesn't take much of this at all to take years off
the lives of the gyro bearings.

Suggestons:

1. As a minimum, have the filters replaced (both canister and finger)
BEFORE you run it again. [Why do I feel it's already too late.] No
need to pull all the crud BACK through the gyros AGAIN! And the crud is
now between the filters and the gyros.

2. Call one of the major gyro house's support numbers and ask their
opinion.

3. Document it.



-----------------------------------------------
James M. Knox
TriSoft ph 512-385-0316
1109-A Shady Lane fax 512-366-4331
Austin, Tx 78721
-----------------------------------------------