Cracking on rear engine cowling.....

#1 01-10-12, 11:10 PM

Have you tried doing a propeller balance? It might be worth looking into.

hharney · #2 01-10-12, 11:18 PM

I was thinking prop balance too. I had some cracking around these areas in the past but since I installed the MT props no issues. I will take a photo of the cracks and we can compare.

edasmus · #3 01-10-12, 11:28 PM

Thanks Herb,

I have had my props balanced twice in the past. Each time after they come back from the prop shop after reseal. It has been about 3 years now. The props go out every 5 years for reseal.

hharney · #4 01-11-12, 12:13 AM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-337-S...f#ht_539wt_689

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cessna-337-S...f#ht_500wt_689

Ernie Martin · #5 01-11-12, 12:40 AM

My '73 has had some cracks in the upper tailcap, which required some metal work with doubler and has held up well, but nothing on the lower tailcap. One of the rings (either 35 or 48 in the figure) broke and I replaced it with a carbon-fiber STC unit from Owen Bell at Aviation Enterprises, which has held up well.

Ernie

edasmus · #6 01-11-12, 09:31 AM

Thanks Herb for the eBay link. I did see that one but the part numbers do not match. Not sure if it would work or not but I will look into it. Ernie, that carbon fiber sounds interesting. I will look into that.

Thanks everyone. I will keep you posted.

Ed

edasmus · #7 01-11-12, 09:38 AM

Ernie, one more question for you.

It is number 35 in the drawing (the lower ring, part number 1552127-2) that keeps cracking. The entire assembly has other patches on it that seem to be OK but it is the lower ring that keeps failing. Anyway, reference the carbon fiber option, is it the ring that is actually made of carbon fiber? How does it get attached to the rest of the assembly? Is it riveted? Can carbon fiber be riveted to aluminum? I have sent an email to Owen asking if he had the entire assembly but I have not heard back yet but this sounds like a potential option to me.

Thanks,

Ed