Metal!!!

[Grant Ancelet]

I found these 2 tiny pieces of metal in my oil sump screen... I have a 1966 260B.... I bought the plane about 5 months ago and it's been 50 hours since oil change... about 950smoh... I can't verify if they checked this on the last oil change so it could have been there for years but I don't know. .. any ideas or suggestions? Should I be concerned? Plane is running great... oh, and there were no shavings on the screen or in the filter...

[Ed Asmus]

Hi Grant,

I hate to bring bad news but YES, BE CONCERNED!

What I can tell from your photos, it looks similar to what Heritage Aero found in my screen a year ago. Like you, my oil filter was clean.

I had bearing retainers break off a mag bearing. They apparently separated with enough force to break a tooth off the mag drive gear as well. Long story short, mags replaced, accessory case removed, engine gears replaced all for about $8000 in parts and labor. Best we could tell, the cause was a slightly misaligned mag adapter that put a slight side load on the bearing which greatly accelerated wear. Mags had about 450 hours since last inspection. Like you, my engine ran perfectly. I would STRONGLY suggest NOT flying the airplane until this is resolved.!

SORRY and good luck!

Keep us posted...

Ed

[Ed Asmus]

Grant,

One more thing, I am absolutely no expert and I hope I'm wrong about this. Suffice it say, metal that big must be investigated and resolved.

Let us know!

Ed

[Grant Ancelet]

Thanks! I posted this on a few other sites as well... I have gotten many responses but the answer that keeps coming up is a cotter key on the mag bolt... similar to what you're saying... I plan to start with the mags... we will pull them and go from there... hopefully that's all it is and hasn't damaged anything else... thank you for the input!

[Ed Asmus]

Ok good!

When they found the damaged mags on my plane, they rotated the prop through to inspect the gears. That is how they found the damaged gears.

My fingers are crossed for you!

Ed

[Ed Asmus]

One other thing, the metal that was found in my screen, the shop took photos and sent to the engine shop at Poplar Grove, IL. They were able to tell by looking at it what they thought it was from. They got it correct on the first try. That might be an option for you too.

[Grant Ancelet]

Turns out that's exactly what happened... bearing retainer on the left mag gear broke.... when we pulled the mags we saw another piece of metal that we knew was part of a bearing... we haven't found any broken teeth yet... I have the new bearing on order..

[Ed Asmus]

Ok good. The majority of my expense was removing the accessory case to get to the damaged gears. If you don't have to deal with that, then your expense should not be too bad relatively speaking. Curious though to me why these retainers are coming apart. Does your mechanic have any theories?

Hope your flying soon!

Ed

[Grant Ancelet]

Not sure really... It could be the same as yours... misaligned... but we will get the new bearing in tomorrow and should have it all back together this weekend... I'm gonna try to clean the sump and drain everything to try to find the other small piece of metal... it's gotta be somewhere...

[Gomer Pound]

Wow Ed, That was a really helpful response to Grant's original post. I hope you will be around if I have any similar problems! Nice work based on your personal experience.
Clear Skies,
Gomer

[Ed Asmus]

Hi Gomer,

Cliff at Heritage and his crew are the masterminds!!! I just regurgitated! Thanks for the kind words nonetheless! Good luck on your annual! I always feel good leaving Heritage Aero! These old planes are solid with quality maintenance!

Ed