George Patterson wrote:
Jimmy B. wrote:


What do you all do? Torque to the specification, or just 1 turn?


Torque to specs. I also use the Dow lubricant on the gasket instead of
engine oil.

What is your opinion?


Lycoming says to change the oil in the O-320 series every 4 months or 50
hours of operation, whichever comes first. IIRC, Continental said 4
months or 25 hours with the O-200 with a screen. The recommendation for
a 3 or 4 month change period is pretty widespread. I'd be looking for
another mechanic.

The more I deal with this mechanic, the less I like him. For example, I
have a Precise Flight standby vacuum system, and the indicator light is
out. When I told him about it, his response was that not everything has
to work. I told him that without the light, I would not know that my
vacuum pump has failed until I got high enough in altitude that the
Precise Flight system could not produce enough vacuum and by then, I
could be in or above IMC. He just shrugged and walked away.

For planned maintenance, it is easy to go to another shop, but he's the
only mechanic on the field and I do want to stay on good terms with him
just in case I need something done and the plane is unflyable.

I would like to find a free-lance mechanic that could come to my field
to do work.



George Patterson
Why do men's hearts beat faster, knees get weak, throats become dry,
and they think irrationally when a woman wears leather clothing?
Because she smells like a new truck.