That makes two of us
Having spent over 8 hours attempting to change bearings and align the pulleys, its been a total nightmare and the craft is in almost as many bits now as it was at lunch time. Turns out one of the fan hub bearings is obsolete and I've had to cannibalise the old oil seal as the bearing no longer has one supplied as standard and I didn't think to order one separately. It was eventually easier to remove the entire thrust frame and work on it on the bench - but of course it has sprung slightly and with the engine in situ its impossible to line up the bottom bolts - so tomorrow morning the engine has to come out.
Add a few little things like the grp fan nose cone being glassed into position, narrower new bottom bearings that cocked up the pulley position and fouled the drive donut and about 6 trial fits - its just not been a good day - praise be Gill was there to answer the phone, run the business and keep the lights on!
At least I've found out WHY the bottom bearing failed - well started grumbling, it was nowhere near failing. There was no sealer on the shaft, so salt water could run back along the inside of the inner race and get into the bottom bearing.
At least I can now go out without carrying a belt and drive spares. Changing them at sea or on a beach would be totally impossible.
There is no way we will be operating at the Hunt and the way its looking I may just drop in for a short while to hand out some stickers. Assuming I can move tomorrow - I had hoped my days of lying full length on the cockpit floor fighting nuts and bolts was over but it seems if you have a hover you just have to accept it. I usually tell people that its an operating ratio of 4 : 1 - 4 hours maintenance to 1 hour operating. Thats optimistic at present!
One light in the darkness. Bearing Boys are first rate. Cheaper than other suppliers, ordered at 3.00 pm and arrived by 9.30 am the next day - and very helpful + the club discount.
This is the third time I've missed the Treasure Hunt.
Ross
( who can hardly move tonight, being over 50, over the hill, p****d off and spent most of the day lying in contorted positions not normally possible for a human body )