I am building a supersportster with a Saito 56. the instructions say to mount the engine by lining up the engine properly and drilling through the mount then tapping with a 4-40 tap and then bolt the engine down with lockwasher.

I have some concerns that locktite will not hold in the plastic. One plane I have, has the engine mounted by drilling out holes in the mount then screwing down the engine with regular self tapping screws. That seems to work fine and I wonder if there is any reason why i cannot mount the Saito the same way.

What have your experiences been in mounting engines with various methods. Obviously, i don't want the engine to vibrate lose in flight.

Thanks,

Terry

This works well on my planes:

Drill through the engine mount.
Use bolts and Nylock nuts with washers "in both ends".

I forgot to say that the bottom of the engine mount is inaccessible because their is no access to the bottom, it is enclosed.

I do like that method where I have an open engine compartment. Thanks for the suggestion.

Terry

There's no need for lock tight or lock nuts. The nylon mount will act like a lock nut on its own. Just tap the mount and use any washer you like under the head of the bolt to keep from maring the engine lug. I've been doing this for nearly 18 years and never had a bolt back out of a nylon engine mount.

John

I used to tap nylon mounts too until I had a SIG mount strip out due to engine vibration (on the ground, fortunately). Some mounts are pretty brittle and don't hold a thread well...I too prefer the lock nut. I have used GP mounts with good success as well.

If you can't access the bottom of the mount, can you install a blind nut in the mount?