MSB-E4-042 - Crankshaft-bearing cap screws replacement

[ememic99]

Avgas future In Europe is quite blurry these days, besides being much more expensive than Jet A1.

[alanhawse]

... Could any of us seriously recommend an Austro engine to a first-time aircraft owner at the moment? ...

Unfortunately for Diamond, they are making Cirrus's decision to remain with avgas on single pistons look better everyday. I love my XLS and while it certainly runs me a lot more per hour than rental 172's, I value being the sole owner. I still highly recommend an avgas DA40 to a first-time wannabe owner. But these bad surprises give me pause on my plans of upgrading to a DA50 or DA62 until their frequency subsides.

Emacs/vi
45/9
windows/mac
Python/Ruby
blondes/brunettes
Ford/GM
Ferrari/Porsche

And... if you don't know the answers, Emacs, 45, Python, Brunette, Neither, Porsche

[ememic99]

... Could any of us seriously recommend an Austro engine to a first-time aircraft owner at the moment? ...

Unfortunately for Diamond, they are making Cirrus's decision to remain with avgas on single pistons look better everyday. I love my XLS and while it certainly runs me a lot more per hour than rental 172's, I value being the sole owner. I still highly recommend an avgas DA40 to a first-time wannabe owner. But these bad surprises give me pause on my plans of upgrading to a DA50 or DA62 until their frequency subsides.

Emacs/vi
45/9
windows/mac
Python/Ruby
blondes/brunettes
Ford/GM
Ferrari/Porsche

And... if you don't know the answers, Emacs, 45, Python, Brunette, Neither, Porsche

And what about Windows/Mac?

[Boatguy]

Mac.

[pete423]

For those of you who is in group 2 with a single engine, ie DA40NG, do you feel safe flying in it until the next scheduled service? If those bolts fail I would assume it will be a complete engine failure in flight. I would normally say they are the manufacture, and they know what they are doing. But Diamond has completely lost my trust. I can understand the issue with the oil pump, HPP pump, and piston issues due to the complexity of those parts and tight tolerance. But I cannot comprehend the rationale to save a few dollars for using bolts that is inadequate. The replacement 12.9 bolts are 50% stronger than the original 8.8 bolts. The cost saving for the six bolts was give or take $10.00. Someone at Diamond made that decision. And now these are the same people that is telling me it is ok to fly the plane until the next service.

[YokotaFTC]

For those of you who is in group 2 with a single engine, ie DA40NG, do you feel safe flying in it until the next scheduled service? If those bolts fail I would assume it will be a complete engine failure in flight. I would normally say they are the manufacture, and they know what they are doing. But Diamond has completely lost my trust. I can understand the issue with the oil pump, HPP pump, and piston issues due to the complexity of those parts and tight tolerance. But I cannot comprehend the rationale to save a few dollars for using bolts that is inadequate. The replacement 12.9 bolts are 50% stronger than the original 8.8 bolts. The cost saving for the six bolts was give or take $10.00. Someone at Diamond made that decision. And now these are the same people that is telling me it is ok to fly the plane until the next service.

Glad I'm not the only one having those thoughts...but I'm the A&P...not sure my instructor staff has, they're ecstatic to be flying til we hit the "next scheduled maint" 100Hr time...there's gotta be a reason for the separation of engines... I HOPE....they are the "engineers"....right?

[alanhawse]

Mac.

Mac...

Totally.

[FlyingPenguin]

… But Diamond has completely lost my trust. I can understand the issue with the oil pump, HPP pump, and piston issues due to the complexity of those parts and tight tolerance. But I cannot comprehend the rationale to save a few dollars for using bolts that is inadequate. The replacement 12.9 bolts are 50% stronger than the original 8.8 bolts. The cost saving for the six bolts was give or take $10.00. Someone at Diamond made that decision. And now these are the same people that is telling me it is ok to fly the plane until the next service.

I understand how you feel, but I hope Austro gets lots of votes still.

[pete423]

Here is a picture of the repair kit. My service center does not believe it can be done without pulling out the engine. They will do a partial engine removal by lifting it high enough to access the oil pan but not completely so they don't have to remove the harness. They have about six engine lined up to do in the next few weeks. Majority are brand new engines that they just installed. They also have to install them on a few brand new engine that is still in the crate. The earliest they can schedule me in is about a month out.

[Soareyes]

You can see that the oil sump is pretty well exposed already thanks to the way the engine sits angled in the frame. I'm curious how they plan to lift that side of the engine. There are lifting eyelets shown in the maintenance manual but looking all over I couldn't find them.