The International Cessna^® 170 Association

What a mess I have now! While at the paint shop in Longview, Tx they noticed I have a broken engine mount. The metal tubing is cracked all the way thru on the rear right side. Being 350 miles away is going to make this a troublesome project. I am thinking that if I could find another engine mount and go down there with that, then perhaps I can change it out in one trip. Not having to wait for my mount to be repaired. This would save a lot of time. So, I am looking for another mount.
I have a few questions for anyone with recent experience on engine R&R. I am thinking that the project may be doable with the engine hanging in place and therefore saving some time and effort. What are the chances of this? A friend and I removed the engine a couple of years ago for the overhaul, that only takes a couple or three hours. But I can not remember what all had to come off to get at the engine mounting bolts. As I recall the mount itself will remove easily from the firewall. Will the exhaust system have to come off and what can I safely leave attached if I plan to hang the engine there and remove and replace the mount around it.
Any advice please!
I guess I was just getting too excited about flying the newly painted bird. Now this.
Curtis

Should be a lot of mounts out there from people doing the Lycoming conversion.Sounds like a good time to replace the mount to firewall bushings and bolts also. Good luck!

Joe
4518C

Curtis
You have my deepest sympathies.

I've done some engne swapping lately, notably a 180 conversion. (No I don't have a mount). Joe is right about the firewall bushings and bolts. Now is the time. I like your idea of finding another mount. This lets you strip, inspect, and repaint it before you install. I'm high tech with that preferring Krylon seni flat black over Rustoleum primer. It can always be touched up easily and will show the cracks. Powder coat is nice on a lot of things but for me the jury is still out for it's use on motor mounts.

I think you're on the right track on how to accomplish it. You will need to remove the trim pieces around the rudder pedals to get to the lower bolts. A universal on the socket is nice for these nuts. What you'll have to remove from the engine is a guess for me but a look at an installation would get you in the ballpark. I'm thinking it won't be much but I don't have that engine installation anymore to have a look. Best of luck. I wish I was close to help you.

I appreciate the info... I did remove the mount from the firewall at the overhaul project. Had the mount inspected and painted the mount white at that time.
Also I am pretty sure we put new brushing in and I know I used new bolts. I used all new lord mounts and bolts there too. I am really proud of the installation because nothing old went back on except the battery.
All new exhaust and scat hoses, all new fuel lines, control cables and wiring. One would hope that they would be finished. Now this!
I think what may have happened and when the mount cracked. The day I flow it to the paint shop it was very rough. I can remember senching down my shoulder harness just to keep my ass in the seat. I recall one or two really hard jolts, you know the kind that makes you grunt. That's my story and I am sticking with it. I hate to think I have been fly around like that for long.
Curtis

When you get the mount off take a good look and see if you see any rust on any portion of the break and then any shiny part. The rust is where it has been cracked a while, the shiny is the fresh break. I suspect it had started before that flight.

Give that paint shop a big public Thank YOU! for finding that crack! That's a sign of a good shop.

Okay, I finally located and purchased a mount. I got it from Tom at XP mods in WA. He was very helpful, thank you. This site has been helpful as well. I located XP mods by linking off Punkin's site which links off this site. Ahhh, the power of networking. I will keep the site informed as to how it goes.
Curtis

Talk about engine mounts ... I sent my mount to Kosolla. With Kosolla, it doesn't matter if you only need a paint job or send them a powdercoated pretzel (as I did), the bill will always be the same, about 900+ dollars. What kills me is the packing job they do. Mine is currently enroute back to them with a bent ear on the front cradle. I could easily straighten it and hope that the rest is not bent too, but for that kind of money, take it back and make it right. Packing seems to be the nemesis of people involved in the aviation industry. It's as if they are trying to prove they are not excessive, but in the end wreck stuff in the process. What fun!

Friend of mine sent a fairly nice looking 180 mount to Kosola, and
got a bill for around $1,000 bucks (reason given was excessive
corrosion). My friend (and his IA) asked to have the "corroded"
tubes returned to them. What they got back was a grab-bag
of "scrap tubing", that in no way had anything to do with the
original mount....

Y'all be careful out there....

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP

What do you think would be reasonable shipping cost of a mount packed in a crate going cross country.

Mixed feelings about the Kosola reports. I'm disappointed to hear of you guys poor experiences. In the past, I've had good experiences with them. That's a shame if they've changed.
AeroSpace Welding, Inc. (the exhaust people who give a 5% TIC170A discount) also does engine mounts. They might be worth a try.

15% discount to 170A members!

I checked with lots of folks during my search for a mount. I called Air Salvage of Dallas, Wentworth, Kosola and Wag-Aero and they all had no mounts for 170's. Kosola would rebuild my core for me but I want to save time and go in with a mount ready to install. AWI said they thought they had one but were checking to see if there was a difference between the 055100 and 055100-50 and said they would get back to me and did not. Think White Industries had one but I can't remember the details. Acorn in Canada has cores and can overhaul 170 mounts. They have the jig and rebuilt them. They use an anti-corrosive substance inside the tubing. They send them out yellow tagged. Sounded very knowledgable but were expensive.
Curtis

Done!!!! Three of us replaced the engine mount today, it took about 8 hrs labor. Two last night and the rest today. I drive the equipment and tools down Wednesday and the others flow in. It was pretty straight forward with no surprises. We were able to remove the broken one and replace it with the good mount with the engine hanging there on the hoist. A little tight in work space but do -able. Changed out the rubber bushing also.
By the way... the paint job is beautiful. The flight home to Tupelo (TUP) was clear blue and I got home just after sunset. Greased her in on the mains for a perfect wheel landing after not flying for a couple of months. She really looks beautiful setting in her place in the hanger.
Look forward to see those of you that make it to Sun n Fun.
I'll be the well hydrated one setting under the wing of a deep red on white 170A.
Thanks to all in this forum for your help and support.
Curtis

Great news! I'll look for you at Sun & Fun.

Bela P. Havasreti
'54 C-170B N170BP