Hey all,

I recently swapped my engine and engine mount...Installed a seaplanes west mount in a C185. The original heat shields don't seem to be the best fit/finish for this mount. Anyone done anything different or out of the box to help protect this bad boy? I know I can fabricate my own but if something is available that you have had luck with I'm all ears.

Thanks guys.

Try F Atlee Dodge in Anchorage. 907 344-1755

TR

You might want to research heat shields a bit.
What does SPW recommend?
Don't remember which one(s), but at least one engine mount outfit recommends using flexible heat shields
(think fire-sleeve) glued onto the tunes, vs clamped-on metal shields.

I did get ahold of SPW, they said "Sorry there is no heat shields for the mount some people use the 3m tape". Figured I would see what has worked for you all out in the ether.

When I picked up my SPW kit in Vernon BC Jim Sherwin (founder of SPW) made a point that you only needed to put aluminum tape on the mount to protect it from heat. That’s what went on mine 12 years ago, still looks good.

Halestorm wrote:When I picked up my SPW kit in Vernon BC Jim Sherwin (founder of SPW) made a point that you only needed to put aluminum tape on the mount to protect it from heat. That’s what went on mine 12 years ago, still looks good.

Did he validate his statement with data or merely make a statement?
It's the air space behind the shields that provide the protection to the underlying substrate (engine mount tubes/finish) in this case. Applying aluminum tape directly on the tube merely transfers the heat through the aluminum by conduction. Aluminum is an excellent heat conductor; this is why cheap cookware is often made from it. Using a shield forces the heat source to resort to convection across the air gap behind the shield, which due to the movement of air from the upper pressure chamber down through the cylinders results in maintaining temperatures of the tubing below critical values. Yes, science is employed in the lowly heat shield.

TR

Putting shiny aluminum tape on something is actually an excellent way to reduce radiative heat transfer. Doesn’t do anything for conduction or convection, but really really good for radiation which is probably often the method of heat transfer between hot exhausts and engine mounts.

Fun fact:
Ever noticed that many space capsules, especially early ones, were partly white and partly black? They designed them that way partly so they could help control temps by rolling the spacecraft until the appropriate color was facing either deep space (cold) or sun (hot).

Yet another reason to paint engine mounts white.

S.patJ3,

In 2007 I ordered a Sea Planes West engine mount from owner Jim Schwerman (edit for spelling 12/7) for my 1977 C180 with float kit and he told me to call Bill Larson who owns Oregon Aircraft Design and order his STC heat shields that are designed for the Sea Planes West engine mounts. Bill has been fabricating heat shields since 1997 and has sold thousands of them. Easy to install and no issues. His web site: http://www.oregonaircraftdesign.com. and located in Willamina, OR. 503-876-8980. -Bruce