The engine is finally back!

After sending my Lycoming AEIO-540 to the factory for a mandatory repair it
has finally returned. At Oshkosh this year the people at the Lycoming booth
swore it would take only two weeks, but when the actual paperwork arrived
everything said one month in the shop. It ended up taking a little over a
month, from the day it was crated by my mechanic to the day it was returned.

Lycoming says they will pay for the costs of removing and remounting the
engine, along with the shipping as well as the repairs. Mine only had a
little over 300TT. I guess they figure the costs of the new crankshafts as
well as the repairs for all of the engines would be a lot cheaper than
series of very expensive product liability lawsuits!

Anyway, it looks like it'll need mineral oil for a while, and then there's
also the risk of something else working loose or breaking after the removal
and install- we'll have to wait and see in this regard. I may take it and
run it hard for a few hours, and then take it back to the mechanic to pull
the cowling and make sure everything stayed tight.

I've heard a lot of different advice on breaking in a new engine- run at
full power, don't run at any power for a long period of time, vary the power
settings (MP and prop), etc. Any advice? When do you switch back to regular
detergent oil?

Viperdoc wrote:

I've heard a lot of different advice on breaking in a new engine- run at
full power, don't run at any power for a long period of time, vary the power
settings (MP and prop), etc. Any advice? When do you switch back to regular
detergent oil?

Lycoming should have sent a copy of their recommended procedure with
the engine. If not, I'd get on them to give you a set of guidelines so
that if there is a failure during the breakin period they can't tell
you that you used the incorrect procedure.

Craig C.

Glad you got it back! Hopefully it will be a smooth install and no future
problems.

Google "Lycoming engine break in " and you'll get several hits directly from
Lycoming's site regarding break in. If there is any warranty remaining, I
would call Lycoming and ask them directly, then document the call and their
advise. (just in case)

Congrats. Glad you got it back.

Jim

"Viperdoc" wrote in message
...
After sending my Lycoming AEIO-540 to the factory for a mandatory repair
it
has finally returned. At Oshkosh this year the people at the Lycoming
booth
swore it would take only two weeks, but when the actual paperwork arrived
everything said one month in the shop. It ended up taking a little over a
month, from the day it was crated by my mechanic to the day it was
returned.

Lycoming says they will pay for the costs of removing and remounting the
engine, along with the shipping as well as the repairs. Mine only had a
little over 300TT. I guess they figure the costs of the new crankshafts as
well as the repairs for all of the engines would be a lot cheaper than
series of very expensive product liability lawsuits!

Anyway, it looks like it'll need mineral oil for a while, and then there's
also the risk of something else working loose or breaking after the
removal
and install- we'll have to wait and see in this regard. I may take it and
run it hard for a few hours, and then take it back to the mechanic to pull
the cowling and make sure everything stayed tight.

I've heard a lot of different advice on breaking in a new engine- run at
full power, don't run at any power for a long period of time, vary the
power
settings (MP and prop), etc. Any advice? When do you switch back to
regular
detergent oil?

As others have said, follow the Lycoming recommendations to the letter.
It will involve high power settings until the rings seat (assuming you
have new rings) and you will use mineral oil until that happens. The
event will declare itself with lower CHT and reduced oil consumption.

I did my first 30 minutes orbiting the airport with tower permission.

Same here.

"Paul kgyy" wrote in message
ups.com...
snip
I did my first 30 minutes orbiting the airport with tower permission.

I'll echo that... we did an overhaul by a local shop. Piper Pawnee
O-540-235HP with STC to 250HP

He did his normal run at the shop.. then once installed.. it was a quick
(short) static run (mag check) to check oil pressures and leaks.. then shut
down inspect...

Then it was start and go.. no ground time.. it was 100F out and we did not
want to overheat on the ground... FULL Power climb to 10,000MSL where the
outside temps were cooler and we could run it full throttle at cruise.
Stayed there for 1+30 monitoring oil temp and pressure (no CHT available).

A few more flights at altitude to accumulate about 5 hours total before
putting it to work, glider tow.

Over 55 hours on the engine now and just swapped from Mineral to regular AD.
All appears well.

BT

"dlevy" wrote in message
news
Same here.

"Paul kgyy" wrote in message
ups.com...
snip
I did my first 30 minutes orbiting the airport with tower permission.

BT,
Can I ask how much the OH cost at your local shop? I'm always interested
for when the day comes we'll have to OH one of ours.
Thanks
Jim

"BTIZ" wrote in message
news:6qnqf.6557$LB5.5831@fed1read04...
I'll echo that... we did an overhaul by a local shop. Piper Pawnee
O-540-235HP with STC to 250HP

He did his normal run at the shop.. then once installed.. it was a quick
(short) static run (mag check) to check oil pressures and leaks.. then
shut
down inspect...

Then it was start and go.. no ground time.. it was 100F out and we did not
want to overheat on the ground... FULL Power climb to 10,000MSL where the
outside temps were cooler and we could run it full throttle at cruise.
Stayed there for 1+30 monitoring oil temp and pressure (no CHT available).

A few more flights at altitude to accumulate about 5 hours total before
putting it to work, glider tow.

Over 55 hours on the engine now and just swapped from Mineral to regular
AD.
All appears well.

BT

"dlevy" wrote in message
news
Same here.

"Paul kgyy" wrote in message
ups.com...
snip
I did my first 30 minutes orbiting the airport with tower permission.

I'd have to check with the treasurer... but I think the shop price came
close to $19K.. plus we did out own "in house" labor for the R&R, plus new
braided oil lines..

BT

"Jim Burns" wrote in message
...
BT,
Can I ask how much the OH cost at your local shop? I'm always interested
for when the day comes we'll have to OH one of ours.
Thanks
Jim

"BTIZ" wrote in message
news:6qnqf.6557$LB5.5831@fed1read04...
I'll echo that... we did an overhaul by a local shop. Piper Pawnee
O-540-235HP with STC to 250HP

He did his normal run at the shop.. then once installed.. it was a quick
(short) static run (mag check) to check oil pressures and leaks.. then
shut
down inspect...

Then it was start and go.. no ground time.. it was 100F out and we did
not
want to overheat on the ground... FULL Power climb to 10,000MSL where
the
outside temps were cooler and we could run it full throttle at cruise.
Stayed there for 1+30 monitoring oil temp and pressure (no CHT
available).

A few more flights at altitude to accumulate about 5 hours total before
putting it to work, glider tow.

Over 55 hours on the engine now and just swapped from Mineral to regular
AD.
All appears well.

BT

"dlevy" wrote in message
news
Same here.

"Paul kgyy" wrote in message
ups.com...
snip
I did my first 30 minutes orbiting the airport with tower permission.

In article 6qnqf.6557$LB5.5831@fed1read04,
BTIZ wrote:

Then it was start and go.. no ground time.. it was 100F out and we did not
want to overheat on the ground... FULL Power climb to 10,000MSL where the
outside temps were cooler and we could run it full throttle at cruise.
Stayed there for 1+30 monitoring oil temp and pressure (no CHT available).


When I was member of a local club full of old pilots, they had a cilinder
crack on a 0-300 form a C172B. They pulled the cilinders, topped it and
then proceeded to 'break it in' by insisting on reduced power for the next
100hours...

I quit that club and joined another.


--
Eduardo K. | Darwin pone las reglas.
http://www.carfun.cl | Murphy, la oportunidad.
http://e.nn.cl |
| Yo.

BTIZ wrote:

I'll echo that... we did an overhaul by a local shop. Piper Pawnee
O-540-235HP with STC to 250HP

Then it was start and go.. no ground time.. it was 100F out and we did not
want to overheat on the ground... FULL Power climb to 10,000MSL where the
outside temps were cooler and we could run it full throttle at cruise.

Well, glad to hear it's still doing OK, but in a normally aspirated
engine, you're not gonna' make the higher power settings you need for a
good breakin at 10,000msl. You're prolly not going to be able to make
much more than 55% power, even *at* full throttle.

Would have been better to stay lower where you could make 65-75% power
with that engine during those critical, first break-in hours.