I just bought an A185F that still has the screen in the 520. I would like to covert it to a spin on filter.

Anyone have that setup with pictures of where it was mounted and hose lengths?

I was thinking of mounting it on the firewall pilot side.

Not an IO-520 but thought it may be helpful. Airwolf on our 180H (O-470R). I would suggest mounting above a cowl flap which allows easy filter R&R without removing any cowling. Simply pull the pin to disconnect the cowl flap actuating rod allowing cowl flap to drop further and there sits the filter. I wrap the lower half of filter with a piece of butyl to prevent any possible chafe from the one cowl flap stiffener as its close but have had no issues. Make up your pan drain hose that reaches from pan quick drain to either cowl flap with enough length to enter the drain bucket. It is a stretch with one's arm to reach the quick drain through the cowl flap, however, it works and makes oil changes quick and painless. Full disclosure, I have a 36" reach.

TR

Thanks! Looks good

IMHO, the remote is a solution in search of a problem. Adds failure points, weight, and complexity... It's so easy to pull the filter. If you struggle, two nuts and the starter is off for super easy access.

My .02

I was going to keep quiet but since Greg chimed in I need to say I agree completely. You’re adding unnecessary weight and complexity. At the very least I’d drill the B-nuts on those 2 big hoses for safety wire or order them that way.

Also, why would you want to drain the oil without taking the cowling off? It’s a good time interval to give that incredibly expensive and important power plant a visual inspection.

^^^^^ what Bigrenna and Halestorm said. +1

Halestorm wrote:I was going to keep quiet but since Greg chimed in I need to say I agree completely. You’re adding unnecessary weight and complexity.

Also, why would you want to drain the oil without taking the cowling off? It’s a good time interval to give that incredibly expensive and important power plant a visual inspection.

I'll tell you exactly why...I was flying 6-9 hours a day supporting wildlife research, that's an oil change nearly every week if tasked on consecutive days. At times I would land at -30 with the oil change due. The way I set up my filter allowed me to accomplish the oil and filter change without pulling the cowling or opening the heated hangar as at times I was headed out again the next day. Cowling comes off at the 100 hr. No need at the oil change IMO. And, oh my, the complexity and weight , I'm taking off with 110 gallons of fuel, a biologist and full arctic survival gear, not worried about the weight of a filter and two lines. My objective was to help the OP per the request, if you disagree with my solution to streamline my operations, that is your opinion of which you are entitled, you asked why, and I gave you an answer...next question.

TR

TR +1; mounted air wolf on pilot side just above bottom cowl-Seaplanes West motor mount. Worked great=no issues.

Ross said he just bought a 185 that still has just the oil screen, but he wants a spin-on filter.
I agree with the guys who don't care for the airwolf with the adapter, hoses, etc.
What other options are there?
Two immediately come to mind-- Tempest / El Reno / F&M adapter,
and the Cessna version of pretty much the same thing.
Both have issues with leaks, both have an AD re the attach to the engine.
There was also the firewall mounted ADC which uses screen(s).
Seems like the best option might be the later style oil pump housing that has a built-in filter fitting.
But it's kind of a major operation to install.

Tempest provides a new gasket which is an AMOC for the AD, basically making it not an AD if it's installed properly. It does come with a service bulletin that is very specific about installation.

ADC went out of business years ago (actually bought out by Airwolf I believe) so there's none available new, there's zero support and was never a good option in my opinion.

With a little bit of practice it's child's play to get a spin on filter off one of the angled adapters without making a mess. It does, however, require removal of the cowling.

I had a tempest adapter, and could never get it to stop leaking. I removed and replaced it four times, trying every Band aid solution and recommendation that was ever published. There was always a stream of oil running down the engine from the andapter interface.

I came to the conclusion that having two flat faces sealing to one another between a cantilevered mass and the accessory housing, mounted on a vibrating engine is an inherently flawed design.

I fly often with my family on board across very rugged and unforgiving terrain. Imagining dumping my oil overboard because I attempted to remedy a bad design didn’t sit well. I decided that the risks were not worth keeping it installed, so I went back to the screen.

I plan to install a remote oil filter this winter.

Choosing between a few hydraulic lines and the appropriate fittings (which function nearly flawlessly in millions of applications all day long around the world) vs a fundamentally flawed design is not difficult for me.

I put one on our 0470 180C while the engine was on the plane. The spanner to tighten the round nut that tightens the unit to the engine will not fit if the engine is on the plane. I called Airwolf and after some discussion the person on the phone mentioned that some mechanics used a proper size brass punch to tighten it. I had some aluminum rods on the shelf that I turned down with a drill press and file to fit the holes (brass would also work fine). you want a few different lengths to make it work.
DENNY

I ended up getting my hands on a Tempest Adapter for free. But the l am not sure if it is wise to install because of the leak issues with them.

You are right I wasn't necessarily looking to avoid de-cowling for an oil change, I just wanted to have a spin on filter rather than a screen since it picks up finer particles and is easier to inspect and you don't have to wash it.

Ross4289 wrote:I ended up getting my hands on a Tempest Adapter for free. But the l am not sure if it is wise to install because of the leak issues with them.

Tempest specifies a new gasket https://aeroaccessories.com/shop/st07-gasket-kit/ that is part of the AMOC to the AD that is supposed to address the leaking. So far the ones I’ve observed in the field are leak free.

A little history....the leaking has been an on-going issue with these adapters,
whether produced by El Reno, F&M, or Tempest.
I had an El Reno on my old C170, with two 900-28 crush rings.
I couldn't seem to crush both enough to eliminate leaks.

F&M came out with a fiber gasket for between the adapter & the screen housing, which fixed the leak issue.
Then apparently people started having trouble with tearing that gasket,
due to the filter adapter twisting when installing the adapter or torquing the filter.
This was after I sold the 170, but as I recall, that's when FAA came out with an AD specifying to go back to two crush rings.
And back to the leaks from not being able to crush both crush rings

The link in Halestorm's post shows a new improved gasket,
apparently PTFE (fiber?) for anti-leak properties, plus stainless steel for damage control.
Seems like the best of both worlds-- hopefully that'll do the trick.

Interesting timing, just changed the oil today.

We have our Airwolf mounted on the upper left firewall. You can remove the filter through the cowling door if you like, however we normally remove the top cowling.

The Challenger filter works well, and it lowered the oil temp a bit with those fins.

No leaks..

I've worked on a bunch of Skywagons with all of the various oil filter options. I've fixed leaks on all of the options as well.

My favorite is still the original TCM/Cessna option. The Airwolf just has a lot more places for leaks to develop. It doesn't mean they will, but there is more opportunities.

I think my buddy has an airwolf we just removed in favor of a TCM. He'd probably sell it if you're interested.

So you just prefer to run the screen that comes on the engine?

Ross4289 wrote:So you just prefer to run the screen that comes on the engine?

Tony is talking about the original Cessna/TCM option that many airplanes came with.

eBay link for reference-https://www.ebay.com/itm/266572031457?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item&srsltid=AfmBOooCj3OSg_YGmUvPL69usgBNLc18CUBuHgzfpU5M6WvVuVjgU6tHWMI&gQT=1

This is what's on my airplane and I've never had trouble with it.

Halestorm wrote:

Ross4289 wrote:So you just prefer to run the screen that comes on the engine?

Tony is talking about the original Cessna/TCM option that many airplanes came with.

eBay link for reference-https://www.ebay.com/itm/266572031457?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item&srsltid=AfmBOooCj3OSg_YGmUvPL69usgBNLc18CUBuHgzfpU5M6WvVuVjgU6tHWMI&gQT=1

This is what's on my airplane and I've never had trouble with it.

There is less places for the TCM one to leak, but there is still and AD out on it, and I have had them start to leak on multiple planes. Its an easy o-ring to change, but definitely not exempt from leaking either.