{"id":718,"date":"2021-10-03T16:34:21","date_gmt":"2021-10-03T16:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost\/rv10ca\/?page_id=718"},"modified":"2021-10-24T15:18:35","modified_gmt":"2021-10-24T15:18:35","slug":"building-an-engine","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/localhost\/rv10ca\/building-an-engine\/","title":{"rendered":"Building An Engine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For most pilots, myself included, aircraft engines are a bit of a mystery. As years pass we learn the jargon (jugs \/ mags \/ flywheel \/ exhaust valves \/ crankshaft etc etc). But unless you have an opportunity to see inside an engine, you don’t realize the simplicity of their design. In 2018 I spent a 3 days at Aerosport Power<\/a> in Kamloops BC building a new Lycoming IO-540 from engine kit. The parts were all new parts direct from Lycoming. No overhauled or remanufactured parts were used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given that my only engine experience was torqueing spark plugs, the opportunity to build an engine was not to be missed. Aerosport’s build school was a one on one builder \/ technician experience where Aerosport staff guided me through the build process. I was allowed to do as much as I wanted (a lot). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In some cases, I asked the tech, Simon, do do what was necessary as I didn’t want to get something wrong. For example threading the case halves with silk thread seemed like something that I wanted not to do as an error would result in an oil leak along the split. Also, I had Simon install the prop nose seal as this was something I doubted I would ever need to do. Again, I wanted it done right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The build from start to first engine run took 3 days. The build took 2, day 3 being spent prepping the engine for first run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pix below are the highlights of the build (or at least when I remembered to take pix) and are by no means complete. There are many steps I didn’t document but none were particularly difficult. Like anything else, the key was to know what to do and in what order. That is where the Aerosport technician shined. Simon was very experienced and very patient. As a result I really enjoyed the experience and would recommend it to anyone so inclined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Engine Being Built<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the specs on the engine I built:<\/p>\n\n\n\n