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oil filter adapter SB

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2020 4:28 pm
by bubba144
Any opinions to alternative products not included in the AD?

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2020 4:48 pm
by Bruce Fenstermacher
First, it is not an AD yet. The NTSB doesn't get what it wants automatically.

By alternate products what do you mean. A different filter adapter or just a different seal?

Cessna made an adapter which has similarities of the F&M product. The Cessna adapter does have an AD requiring a retorque every so often. As for other adapters, all the rest have hoses to the remote filter. Much more complex and opportunity for failure.

As for the F&M product using copper crush gaskets. These have been used for nearly 40 years. They have always seeped a little oil likely cause they are almost always a bit loose. But now the NTSB wants an AD perhaps because the new "improved" fiber seal just didn't pan out as well as a copper crush gasket.

Originally the F&M filter came with a 1" square nut that needed to be torqued. Few have the tool to do this so it probably didn't get done right. I think if I see pictures right, the square nut has fallen to a normal hexagon. So that issue should be better. Use a new crush washer every time you tighten the adapter. Torque it correctly. Don't allow the adapter to turn when a filter is replaced and if the adapter does turn it is new copper gaskets and retorque time. You should be fine.

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2020 7:07 pm
by Joe Moilanen
Bruce Fenstermacher wrote:First, it is not an AD yet. The NTSB doesn't get what it wants automatically.

By alternate products what do you mean. A different filter adapter or just a different seal?

Cessna made an adapter which has similarities of the F&M product. The Cessna adapter does have an AD requiring a retorque every so often. As for other adapters, all the rest have hoses to the remote filter. Much more complex and opportunity for failure.

As for the F&M product using copper crush gaskets. These have been used for nearly 40 years. They have always seeped a little oil likely cause they are almost always a bit loose. But now the NTSB wants an AD perhaps because the new "improved" fiber seal just didn't pan out as well as a copper crush gasket.

Originally the F&M filter came with a 1" square nut that needed to be torqued. Few have the tool to do this so it probably didn't get done right. I think if I see pictures right, the square nut has fallen to a normal hexagon. So that issue should be better. Use a new crush washer every time you tighten the adapter. Torque it correctly. Don't allow the adapter to turn when a filter is replaced and if the adapter does turn it is new copper gaskets and retorque time. You should be fine.
As for the 1" square nut Bruce, I cut the "open end" off from 1" end wrench and welded a socket to it, 10 minute operation. My adapter has been in service for 21 years without problems. I will however comply with the upgrades at next annual. I see no safety concerns with the product if serviced properly.

Joe Moilanen
4518C

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2020 8:20 pm
by 170C
Bruce, do you still have those GREEN torque sockets you were making? Mine still works well. Doesn't get much wear so it should last forever.

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2020 9:27 pm
by Bruce Fenstermacher
Joe Moilanen wrote:As for the 1" square nut Bruce, I cut the "open end" off from 1" end wrench and welded a socket to it, 10 minute operation.
170C wrote:Bruce, do you still have those GREEN torque sockets you were making? Mine still works well. Doesn't get much wear so it should last forever.
Joe, I don't know about a 10 minute operation but I've made about 15 of these square sockets. I used 1" inside square tube cut to length with a socket welded to the end. Painted all but 1 green and that 1 was painted red. All but a few where sold them all at convention auction to benefit the association after getting a nice high bid on the only red one in existence for a guy particular to the color red.

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2020 3:25 pm
by 170C
:mrgreen: :mrgreen:

Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2020 3:43 pm
by cessna170bdriver
Bruce Fenstermacher wrote: Joe, I don't know about a 10 minute operation but I've made about 15 of these square sockets. I used 1" inside square tube cut to length with a socket welded to the end. Painted all but 1 green and that 1 was painted red. All but a few where sold them all at convention auction to benefit the association after getting a nice high bid on the only red one in existence for a guy particular to the color red.
I traded Bruce a set of crosswind landing gear for one of his GREEN sockets. I’ve finally gotten good enough at changing oil filters that I haven’t had to use it in about two years. I’m probably jinxed now... :|

Re:

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 12:48 am
by Joe Moilanen
cessna170bdriver wrote:
Bruce Fenstermacher wrote: Joe, I don't know about a 10 minute operation but I've made about 15 of these square sockets. I used 1" inside square tube cut to length with a socket welded to the end. Painted all but 1 green and that 1 was painted red. All but a few where sold them all at convention auction to benefit the association after getting a nice high bid on the only red one in existence for a guy particular to the color red.
I traded Bruce a set of crosswind landing gear for one of his GREEN sockets. I’ve finally gotten good enough at changing oil filters that I haven’t had to use it in about two years. I’m probably jinxed now... :|
My plane is blue and white so I'm sure it'll smoke those green and red ones... I'll take a picture of my socket next time I get to the hangar!

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 3:17 am
by mit
Boy there where a a lot of crashes before the fiber Gasket.

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 10:43 am
by Bruce Fenstermacher
mit wrote:Boy there where a a lot of crashes before the fiber Gasket.
My thoughts exactly Tim.

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 4:19 pm
by GAHorn
TCM never used a fiber gasket on the screen and I’ve never heard of the oil screen leaking so badly it caused engine failures.
The weakness of the FM/Tempset/Stratus adaptor is it’s proclivity to rotate and tear that fiber gasket when the spin-on filter is replaced.
Returning to the use of the AN900 copper-crush-gasket should solve the engine oil loss in-flight problem.... solving the rotation of the adaptor is the weakness of the design, it seems. Using some heavy-gauge (.041 or .051) safety-wire to brace or secure against rotation seems a good solution... but it’d be even better if accommodation were made in the basic design to secure that safety-wire to the adaptor.

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2020 6:48 pm
by daedaluscan
My gut feeling is that the only way for these fibre gaskets to fail is after rotation of the filter and tearing the gasket, perhaps without even knowing it has been done.
I think the two copper gasket solution will fix this.

And perhaps not being so heavy handed when torqueing the new filter on - they definitely do seem to tighten with time.

I have just had an engine rebuilt, and the oil pressure sender was installed with a copper gasket that had a white plastic insert. Looks like a great product that would seal at very low torque.

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Wed Dec 23, 2020 12:56 am
by n2582d
GAHorn wrote: Using some heavy-gauge (.041 or .051) safety-wire to brace or secure against rotation seems a good solution... but it’d be even better if accommodation were made in the basic design to secure that safety-wire to the adaptor.
The latest version of Tempest's Installation Instructions includes the following:
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 2:51 pm
by GAHorn
NTSB report

Re: oil filter adapter AD

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2021 7:15 pm
by Joe Moilanen
This was my answer to the one inch socket.

Joe
4518C