Skymaster Forum  

Go Back   Skymaster Forum > Messages
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Today's Posts

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Unread 08-09-20, 05:39 PM
mshac's Avatar
mshac mshac is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: North Texas
Posts: 749
mshac is on a distinguished road
A new Skymaster Owner enters the forums

Greetings to the membership! I've only recently become a 337 convert, coming from a long history of owning Barons, 310's, Bonanzas and the like.

I bought a 1978 P337H that was owned by a doctor for 32 years. The maintenance looks good - maybe I won't complain as much when I pay my doctor bill next time.

The Pressurized Skymaster II has boots (in good condition) and a hot prop on the front, but no hot prop on the rear. I guess the exhaust naturally keeps the ice off the rear prop? It has a provision for a hot plate, but none was included with the sale. Anybody have one lying around?

First trip home was 540nm on a 132 heading flown at 17.5K. Flight averaged 205 knots and 28 GPH. Plane could of performed even better, but I ran it well rich of peak as I'm told I should with turbos. Even some slight leaning would have saved 2-3 GPH as my TITs were low at about 1350 vs. a 1650 max. As I get to know the plane, I'll try different leaning strategies.

Aircraft was purchased with a known fault of the rear alternator not charging. Once I was home, I pulled the front cowl and checked the voltage regulator (VR). It showed good DC voltage on the red bus line ("D" line) and the blue field line about a volt less, as it should be. Every thing points to a bad rear alternator. Although...

Rear alternator was changed at the last annual and looks brand-spanking new, which makes me suspect a bad connection between the blue field wire coming from the VR and the alternator. I need access to the alternator, but can't just from removing the cowls.

The service manual refers to removing interior panels to gain access to the rear firewall service port, but doesn't give any directions on how to do it. I'm sure I could start taking things apart, but I'd much rather have photos or a guide so things would hopefully go more smoothly. Any advice in this regard would be much appreciated!

EDIT: Gaining access to the rear engine was a cinch. The problem is trying to work in 109 degree Texas heat (hanger is full again!). It was easy:

Three interior panels on the rear wall come off in seconds (they were velcroed in my plane), then the engine access cover has 8 3/8" bolts. Took maybe three minutes to gain full access. Photos in a later thread!

Last edited by mshac : 08-14-20 at 07:17 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Unread 08-10-20, 12:19 AM
JeffAxel JeffAxel is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 150
JeffAxel is an unknown quantity at this point
pictures, or it didn't happen! As to getting to the rear alternator, take the interior coverings off the rear wall of the cabin and there is an inspection plate you can remove to get access to the rear alternator and magnetos. What tail number did you buy?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Unread 08-10-20, 11:07 AM
mshac's Avatar
mshac mshac is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: North Texas
Posts: 749
mshac is on a distinguished road
Can't for the life of me understand how to post photos here. None of the photo options I'm used to seeing in other forums! And most of my pics exceed the 1MB limit.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg N42GB (Under 1mb).jpg (993.0 KB, 1027 views)
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Unread 08-10-20, 11:11 AM
mshac's Avatar
mshac mshac is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: North Texas
Posts: 749
mshac is on a distinguished road
Here is a pic of the CNX80 showing 210kts. I also attached the speed/altitude printout from the flight.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg CNX80 210 kts.jpg (975.1 KB, 856 views)
File Type: jpg Speed-Altitude data.jpg (166.9 KB, 814 views)

Last edited by mshac : 08-11-20 at 08:31 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Unread 08-10-20, 07:21 PM
JeffAxel JeffAxel is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 150
JeffAxel is an unknown quantity at this point
Nice, saw the advertisement. Do I remember that both engines were very high time? I was tempted to call our local engine shop (Premier Aircraft, Troutdale OR) to see what overhauls would cost for that plane but the ad was gone before i got a chance to call. Have fun with it, and I would suggest getting a Parts Manual and a Service Manual, very helpful items to have.

Last edited by JeffAxel : 08-10-20 at 07:30 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Unread 08-10-20, 07:50 PM
rrolland rrolland is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Miami FL
Posts: 93
rrolland is on a distinguished road
Congratulations! Enjoy flying the airplane. Looks pretty good.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Unread 08-10-20, 08:26 PM
mshac's Avatar
mshac mshac is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: North Texas
Posts: 749
mshac is on a distinguished road
Talking

Quote:
Originally Posted by JeffAxel View Post
Nice, saw the advertisement. Do I remember that both engines were very high time? I was tempted to call our local engine shop (Premier Aircraft, Troutdale OR) to see what overhauls would cost for that plane but the ad was gone before i got a chance to call. Have fun with it, and I would suggest getting a Parts Manual and a Service Manual, very helpful items to have.
Yep, that's the one. I was "johnny on the spot with cash" or I would've never been able to buy it. Seller had almost 100 phone calls within a few hours.

Greatest news is that engines times were being kept off Hobbs, but I found a log entry a few years back that says the engine times are much lower. The tach time is much less, closer to 1000. Either way the engines look like they're only a year or two old. Soft hoses, shiny clean surfaces, etc. I'm gonna replace a few cylinders on the back, but the front is all solid.

May do GAMI's, they are just up the road a bit from me. Not sure what the fuel flow mafia has to say about LOP operations on a turbo.

Last edited by mshac : 08-11-20 at 08:31 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Unread 08-10-20, 11:07 PM
Red Air Rambo's Avatar
Red Air Rambo Red Air Rambo is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Tulsa, Ok
Posts: 137
Red Air Rambo is on a distinguished road
Welcome and Congrats!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Unread 08-14-20, 01:41 PM
Multimotor Multimotor is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: NorCal
Posts: 50
Multimotor is on a distinguished road
Looks great! How did I miss the advertisement for this one? Does anyone have it cached?
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Unread 08-14-20, 01:44 PM
mshac's Avatar
mshac mshac is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: North Texas
Posts: 749
mshac is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Multimotor View Post
Looks great! How did I miss the advertisement for this one? Does anyone have it cached?
It was only advertised for a few hours.

I just happened to see it, and I was booked on the next flight to go get it!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Unread 08-14-20, 01:46 PM
Multimotor Multimotor is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: NorCal
Posts: 50
Multimotor is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by mshac View Post
It was only advertised for a few hours.

I just happened to see it, and I was booked on the next flight to go get it!
I'm green with envy. Congrats!
Reply With Quote
Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:23 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.