Pushrod tube swage or flaring tool?

[buzzlatka]

Gerorge you are not harsh. I'm stupid but not that stupid. I also hang out with people that are smarter than me, hense the forum.

The tool came out of the package broken. 2 of the ball bearings work free but the one stays fully out. In the other tools I have dealt with when you take the screw out there is some sort of retainer that holds the ball bearings in place. That retainer and the ball bearings can come out. In this tool it seems like the one ball bearing is jammed full out. I don't know if it is holding on to the retainer or if the retainer is not made to come out. Anyway when you remove the screw we can't seem to get the ball to move or the retainer to come out.
We started with some light taps and some LPS-1 and moved to stronger taps. The vise was only after we gave up.
We also are trying to make our own tool in my buddies machine shop next door. I'm not confident in that.

The SAGA continues. I called ATS this morning and the tool is on back order. 2 weeks minimum until it is shipped. At least it is made in the USA on site. I figured it was made in China based on the performance of the tool.

Now for some more help from my forum friends. I am going to send PM's to Aryana and Rupertjl to see about either flying to Livermore to borrow the tool or having it shipped from PA.

Thanks for the help.
On a good note surgery recovery is coming along and I might be back in the Cessna cockpit next week. This latest saga might delay that. After 90 Days of no fly it will not make me happy if I am ready before the cessna.

[GAHorn]

I can mail you my swage tool for about $6 and you'll have it by MOn or Tues. Return Priority Mail will be another $6 on you. PM me if interested, but beware, Frank found mine would not fit inside his ECI cyls, and I don't want you to modify my tool. (It is an El Reno unit, and I'll expect it to be replaced with similar if lost or broken.)

[buzzlatka]

Thanks George, I think your tool is similar to my IA's and it won't fit the thick walled tubes. Both Jud and Arash have offered there tools and Arash is a little closer than Jud.
Part of being injured and out of work is that I am now a card carrying member of the retired airport bum club. I tossed out a flight to Half Moon Bay to pick up the tool from Arash and I had about 5 takers. They wanted to go this evening.
Anyway we are all making a lunch run to HAF tomorrow and thanks to Arash I will hopefully have the 170 ready when I am!

[buzzlatka]

Mission complete and a big thanks to Arash. Flew over to HAF for fish tacos and grabbed the flaring tool from Arash's hangar. Came home and it fit!
This weekend I'll actually get in there and re-bead the tubes. Until then thanks again to Arash.

Now get back to your honeymoon and quit hanging out on the forums!

[buzzlatka]

Tubes were beaded this afternoon. We put the pushrods and rockers back in. Tomorrow I'll put the covers and baffling back on and the annual will be done. Time will tell if they still leak. We are going to give the motor a good wash so we can better check for leaks.

[blueldr]

If you want a really quick way to locate oil leaks on an engine, wash it down thoroughly, let it dry and then spray it with white calcimine, The calcimine acts like the developer in a dye check set up. An oil leak shows up RIGHT NOW. I learned that when I picked up the first DeHaviland Beaver for the USAF at the factory in Downsview, Ontario, back in Feb.,'51, That was the system DeHaviland used and when they were finished that P&W R-985 didn't leak one drop all the way to Fairbanks, Alaska.

[buzzlatka]

I think that is what we have. Some sort of white stuff that sprays on the engine and looks like powder.

[buzzlatka]

Annual done. Leg good enough to fly. Too cold and lazy to wash and leak check engine. Appears like less oil leakage but at this point who cares because there was nothing else I was willing to do. I'm not going to pour more money into these oil leaks, at least this year.
It was great to actually fly again. 3 months out of the cockpit.