Date:  01-26-2026

Number of Hours:  0

Manual Reference:  no ref

December 6th. 2025 and the engine is back. In the end it was just a set of rings.

I pretty much got it back on the mounts on my own but I did get a bit of help to seat the final rubber. That was a couple of days in the end. Now I should have hooked up the small alternator and a couple of pipes while the engine was a few inches off the mounts. I thought I could struggle with the lack of clearance later… That decision soon came back to bite me.

Yes, heres’ the first gottcha, all that stuff had to come out now.

The plug at the back of the alternator needed another 1/4″ or so to fit in and I couldn’t do it with the engine installed. Yeah, should have done it when it went in. So a bit of work to get there, then 2 seconds for the plug, then it all back in again. Chalk up another day gone.

I’ve bought a larger heat exchanger. This ones a bit longer than the last. Laminova ECD54-329 the previous was the 250mm version. I hope this will improve the cooling balance between the coolant/cylinders and the oil. If not I am going to need a bypass system which would be more pipes and complexity. I had quite some challenges fitting this longer unit.

It really doesn’t fit. I tried denial for a while. That radiator is just too close.

So by mid January I pulled the radiator, had the corner chopped off by my excellent welder friend and now there is good clearance. Of course I had a lot to go through before that happened.

This is after two weeks work fitting electrics and pipes, I realised I needed to pull the engine out again. Just one little -4 size pipe for the oil pressure simply could not be fitted. You couldn’t even see it and braille skills required! I had no idea that was going to be so difficult and I was reluctant to pull the engine again given how tough it is to get the mounts sitting just right.

Now we are at 30 December 2025. I got my little oil pipe on with the engine removed back a few inches. In the end I had two very skilled LAME’s help me get it back on the mounts. This is not a one person job. During the process I was asked, “Get me a bigger hammer” Now coming from fixing guitars as a background I don’t tend to think that way on airplanes. You need to know what you are doing. I will say the engine now sits on its rubber Lord Mounts better than it ever has.

Finally, ready for some leak testing before the first ground run.

I’ve decided to leave off the exhaust wraps for now. I think I need more heat in the cowls after flying to help it cool down at a closer rate to the coolant. Particularly while I am using straight mineral oil.

It has been a huge job to this point.

Before the first start attempt I did run the fuel pumps. I can get full pressure without the engine running which is great. I had a few leaks and addressed them. A couple of things not done up enough.

24 Jan 2026 I ran the engine. It started on the third try. I was pretty happy with that. It meant I hadn’t stuffed up all the electronics and ignition leads for a start. A few things on the first brief run had to be tightened up. I then got a start on the first crank and ran for a few minutes at 1000rpm and then up to 1500rpm. Well that extra pressure showed up a significant coolant leak. Otherwise I seem good.

Well you can see what leaked out overnight.

On investigation and some research it looks like the O rings in my water pumps have failed. I never touched them during the reinstall and they didn’t leak before. The idea fits perfectly with them run wet for a while and then the coolant drained and the system dry for over 6 months. So I pulled the fittings and had to drive home again (1hr 45mts each way) after hoping to be close to flying. We have the weekend then a public holiday so I might get two little O rings mid week. I think there are about four other leak points. I’m not sure if just a tighten will do it but the O-rings are a game stopper.

Replacing those is not negotiable so that’s the next step. Then another run. Of course I need a ‘spotter’ each time to let me know if there are leaks or problems as I can’t see the engine from the cockpit. If the other areas are leaking, I may need to replace fittings. They have to be perfect in the coolant system compared to oil or even fuel. Water is thin! Wish me luck…