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AOG - Bad Front Seal, Oregon Coast

DanH

DanH

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We landed at S45 this evening to find one of our group's 390's was puking oil from the front seal. It's going to need replaced before it can be flown back to Tennessee. We have travel tools, but nothing like what is needed for a prop R&R, so we're looking for a good local mechanic to do the job.

It's flyable for a moderate distance, so let's say anything from Portland to Eugene could work.

How about it gang...suggestions?
 
Try Mike Fleer at 7S9. Leenhardts Air park just south of Aurora
503 871 5503 or 503 263 9296
Independent A & P with depth of experience
You can use me as a reference
Jim Frisbie
 
Try Scott McDaniels - if not him, he can probably find or recommend someone. It’s not like you’re in an RV desert there….. you can probably have a squadron with tools and parts there in the morning!

Texting you his contact in case you don’t have it.
 
Ironflight said:
Try Scott McDaniels - if not him, he can probably find or recommend someone. It’s not like you’re in an RV desert there….. you can probably have a squadron with tools and parts there in the morning!

Texting you his contact in case you don’t have it.
Click to expand...
I probably have everything you would need including a place to do the work, with the exception of a replacement seal and a prop wrench ( I have always borrowed the one in the tool box at work, which I no longer have access too).

I am at Lendhardts Airpark 7S9
 
BTW, off topic, but if you're looking for a place to fly and camp, S45 is fabulous. The RAF gang has installed campsites in the forest on the north side of the ramp..fire pits, picnic tables, etc. There is an excellent restaurant a short walk away, plus a jumping local bar, and the beach is nice too.

IMG_20260529_224327084_HDR.jpg
 
rvbuilder2002 said:
I probably have everything you would need including a place to do the work, with the exception of a replacement seal and a prop wrench ( I have always borrowed the one in the tool box at work, which I no longer have access too).

I am at Lendhardts Airpark 7S9
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If needed, I have an open hangar in Aurora (KUAO) just north of Lenhardts.

How many hours does the engine have on it?

My seal began leaking after a couple hundred hours. When examined, it looked brand new. I was able to clean the sealant off of the seal and the case and re-install it with new sealant.

I’ve heard multiple instances of this seal leaking on nearly new engines coming out of Lycoming. Evidently, regulations restrict them from using the good stuff and they use an inferior adhesive/ sealant. I have most of a tube of Dow-Corning 737 available as well.

Good luck! Let me know if I can help.
 
Come on Dan, a 3/4" wrench and some elbow grease is all that's needed to get the prop off (back in the day I would do prop RR by myself, no hoist).
This is also a good opportunity to take advantage of a 2-piece seal for easy installation.
 
The "Kitplanes" PVC pipe elbow works wonders for stretching a new seal over the prop flange if you don't want to go the two peice route!
 

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We are on the ground at Lenhardt, 7S9. Thank you to the many people that have offered help. We are going in Scott McDaniel’s hangar. It is possible the only part I will need is PlioBond. I used the Lycoming 782 and it lasted a mere
300 hours.
 
Once you guys get all patched up and flying again, if you want to head south to Ashland (S03) I'll buy you lunch. Not much going on at the Siskiyou (SIY) composites shop right now, but you can see a few things if you feel like stopping in there too.
 
We plan to pull the prop at Scott’s hangar tomorrow. Then I can decide to find a seal and PlioBond or maybe just the PlioBond. I used the Lycoming adhesive last time only to later learn PlioBond is more reliable.
 

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M McGraw said:
We plan to pull the prop at Scott’s hangar tomorrow. Then I can decide to find a seal and PlioBond or maybe just the PlioBond. I used the Lycoming adhesive last time only to later learn PlioBond is more reliable.
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Latest Lycoming Service Instruction 1324D lists Permatex® Optimum Max
Flex Black (P/N 27037) as recommended sealant, with Pliobond® #20,
Pliobond® #25 or Dow Corning® 737 Neutral Cure Sealant as an acceptable
substitutes, SI attached.
 

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Swoda said:
Latest Lycoming Service Instruction 1324D lists Permatex® Optimum Max
Flex Black (P/N 27037) as recommended sealant, with Pliobond® #20,
Pliobond® #25 or Dow Corning® 737 Neutral Cure Sealant as an acceptable
substitutes, SI attached.
Click to expand...
My seal front crank shaft seal leaked from day 1. IO-390 Exp-119 Thunderbolt. Had it replaced once and it leaked again. Permatex Optimum Max 27037 was used the second time. So far it has been holding and was recommended by Lycoming.
 
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Too bad this thread is in the "temporary" forum. Lots of good info about getting the front seal installed without leaking that would be beneficial. Perhaps a parallel thread or edited version could be moved to the "ongoing maintenance" forum?
 
Walt said:
Come on Dan, a 3/4" wrench and some elbow grease is all that's needed to get the prop off (back in the day I would do prop RR by myself, no hoist).
This is also a good opportunity to take advantage of a 2-piece seal for easy installation.
Click to expand...
Sorry for the tread drift, but have you been consistently successful in using two piece seals?
 
I tested various option by bonding pieces of an old cleaned up seal to aluminum and I think you will find the newly lycoming approved Permatex Optimum Max Flex Black is vastly superior to any previous options.
It's so good in fact, it will even keep in a seal when the blow by of Superior washboarded cylinders try to blow it out before your new warrantied ones arrive in the mail.

Due to the Canadian label differences the part number is 59823 in Canada (#038-0173-0 at Canadian tire) and 27037 in the US.
Absolutely the same product verified by Permatex tech support.
 
Dang Marvin, but it looks like you are in good hands. Scott is one of my favorite RV guys in the whole wide world!

Sorry I can’t help!
 
Brantel said:
Dang Marvin, but it looks like you are in good hands. Scott is one of my favorite RV guys in the whole wide world!

Sorry I can’t help!
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Today we got the old seal out, it was cracked rubber, and the area cleaned. Tomorrow we will install the new seal and move forward. Scott flew us to a local airfield with a good restaurant. Everyone on the airfield and VAF have been helpful.
 
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