As an update to my inflight failure...

I removed the rocker box on the #6 cylinder and see what looks like bullet fragments lying in the cover.



So obviously the exhaust valve guide caused my cylinder failure. However, the top plug wire tip was a little corroded.
The bottom plug was gunked up and not firing because of it. I imagine it "expired" during the failure, but there could have
been a couple strikes against this cylinder that just happened to converge on that flight. It was probably sick for awhile.

The plane and I wait (impatiently) now for the cylinder to come back. All is well.

Once again, I'm glad you got back to the airport ok. I don't remember if you said how many hours are on your Franklin? Are you going to just do the jug, or the whole motor? Hey, at least it is not the beginning of summer.
Erick

No kidding!

It has 960 hrs on it with a top overhaul on 4 of the six cyls done about 500 hrs ago. This was done during a restoration when everything was apart. This particular cylinder was not done at that time. So I'll just get it redone now.

I've changed the oil and filter and will also flush the oil pan just to be on the safe side. I've also removed all the valve covers and inspected the rest of the valves. All looks to be good.

It's just hurry up and wait now.

As an update...

My cylinder will need to be built back up as it apparently had been reamed out too much, which caused the guide to fail. So that's getting done.

The good news is Greg Lucas in Pauls Valley, OK sent me a new yellow tagged cylinder he had on the shelf. So we installed that and I just got done flying it for the first time. 1.4 hrs and 9 landings. All is well.

Thanks also to Wup and Bill at AK Bushwheels for loaning out the Franklin cylinder base nut wrenches! I'll get those back to you guys ASAP.

BTW, the oil analysis came back to day with no abnormal wear.

Thanks for everyone's concern and advice after my engine failure!

Spinner wrote:.........My cylinder will need to be built back up as it apparently had been reamed out too much, which caused the guide to fail. So that's getting done. ....................

"Built back up"-- don't get it. What was reamed out too much, the cavity where the guide fits? Or the guide bore itself?

Eric

The cavity where the guide fits. The cylinder will be welded and machined.

Is that an approved repair? Don't mean to be fussy-- if it works & is cost effective, then by all means go for it-- just curious. I don't guess that they make valve guides with an oversized OD? I know that oversized exhaust mount studs for Continental engines are available.

Eric

Yes... yellow tagged.

I was just wondering whether you used mogas or avgas. Avgas has lead which lubes the valve guides and the unleaded mogas doesn't. I was just curious.

The Franklin has high compression which requires avgas. Mogas would cause a lot of harm in that engine.

Turns out the cyl was cracked, which probably contributed to the failure.

I tried to use mogas in my 0-470 engine, in my 182, and I was having cylinder problems and my mechanic suggested I use only avgas and I haven't had any trouble since. That is why I asked that question. Bob

Now I might be crazy or thinking of the wrong motor, however my frank 165 is a 7:1 compression which is low. Maybe you have the 220? However I run exclusively auto gas, this is beacuse the valves in these motors are intolerant of the excesive lead being designed before the use of lead gas. I use 87 w/ Marvel mystery oil which is mostly a detergent/lubricant. The mystery oil does not burn through after ignition. The vaporized particles left over help lubricate the exhaust valves which are well known for their failures ( I had on go about 5 hours after i got my plane last summer.) I know that avgas has harmful effects if used exclusively on the franklins especially the 150hp the 165 tends to be more tolerant. Someone correct me if i am way off base but I am pretty sure of these statements.


Mike

You are correct, both the 150 and 165 were designed for zero (0) lead. The lead content in 100/100 is quite high.

The 220 was designed quite a while after the other two, and is of higher compression. There are many similarities as well, but two different engines.

The 150 and 165 on mo gas or 100/100 with TCP.

Many like MM oil, some say it makes no difference, I do not know.

electricsnail wrote:Now I might be crazy or thinking of the wrong motor, however my frank 165 is a 7:1 compression which is low. Maybe you have the 220? However I run exclusively auto gas, this is beacuse the valves in these motors are intolerant of the excesive lead being designed before the use of lead gas. I use 87 w/ Marvel mystery oil which is mostly a detergent/lubricant. The mystery oil does not burn through after ignition. The vaporized particles left over help lubricate the exhaust valves which are well known for their failures ( I had on go about 5 hours after i got my plane last summer.) I know that avgas has harmful effects if used exclusively on the franklins especially the 150hp the 165 tends to be more tolerant. Someone correct me if i am way off base but I am pretty sure of these statements.


Mike

Ditto, I cannot run 100LL without TCP or I get lead fouling. I run 50/50 avgas/mogas usually unless I am somewhere I can't get auto fuel.

Where do you get the TCP? I've been trying and apparently it's out of stock by everbody I've tried.

a64pilot wrote:Where do you get the TCP? I've been trying and apparently it's out of stock by everbody I've tried.

The last time I bought from Spruce I purchased quite a bit, so I haven't had to buy in a while. Since I keep one wing full of mogas most of the time I really don't go through it too fast.

Sorry to hear that though, because I'm planning on flying quite a bit this summer and my supply can't last forever

I am lucky, I found a gallon in the area. It was stated earlier that the bottles have been leaking during shipping and many places are not shipping it anymore.

I have heard that they will have a new bottle and start shipping again in the summer sometime, but you can be sure that we will pay for the new bottle, shipping and any lost sales from this fiasco.

I will see if the local has any more next week when I get home and let you know.

soaringhiggy wrote:I am lucky, I found a gallon in the area. It was stated earlier that the bottles have been leaking during shipping and many places are not shipping it anymore.

I have heard that they will have a new bottle and start shipping again in the summer sometime, but you can be sure that we will pay for the new bottle, shipping and any lost sales from this fiasco.

I will see if the local has any more next week when I get home and let you know.

If you are offering to help me find some, I appreciate it. I've been adding MMO in the hopes it will help, but I doubt it works as well as TCP.

a64pilot wrote:

soaringhiggy wrote:I am lucky, I found a gallon in the area. It was stated earlier that the bottles have been leaking during shipping and many places are not shipping it anymore.

I have heard that they will have a new bottle and start shipping again in the summer sometime, but you can be sure that we will pay for the new bottle, shipping and any lost sales from this fiasco.

I will see if the local has any more next week when I get home and let you know.

If you are offering to help me find some, I appreciate it. I've been adding MMO in the hopes it will help, but I doubt it works as well as TCP.

Just talked to Aircraft Spruce, they have over 200 backorders in the Q ahead of me. They said call back next month

I am back home and I will start looking for some now.

I will let you know.