I have a P80 with under 2-3 hr run time on it ... its only been run at full rpm twice (was detuned before) I also have a FOD screen on the engine ...

I took the engine out of the plane for maintenance of the plane, and when i spin the ening by hand, it makes tat-tat-tat sound .. I do not think its a bearing so soon .. (never over heated, and run under 110,000 for the most part .... ), though i never had a bearing go yet on any engine so im not sure what that would sound like ..

there is a possibility that i got a piece of dry grass in the engine (last 2 landings i shut down before landing, and the engine would not have bolwn whatever got in out ... )

anyway, im not sure if i should send the engine in for a checkup, or run it again and see if this goes away ... ???

the bearings feel very smooth, and when moving the turbine over, the noise does not occur ..


what do you guys think ?


Wojtek

Check and see if the turbine wheel is rubbing the NGV. This can happen sometimes and cause the noise you are talking about. A piece of grass in the engine is not going to make noise. It is almost impossible for fod to get to the bearings. If it were mine or one of my customers engines, I would send it back for inspection. You take a very high risk if you choose to run it again and one of the bearings let go...........MAJOR damage usually. I am sure that if you check with Jetcat, they will want to see it.

Mickey

I know the sound you're speaking off. I thought the same thoughts. I decided to run it again. Repair bill was $600 and change and boy did the sound get louder when I ran it!!

Granted, it was a RAM engine, but the logic would seem to support across all brands. If it's making a noise, it's not right. In my case, I had Carlos on the phone listening to it and I was trying to determine as to whether there was a real problem or not cause the next day I was travelling to a Jet Meet pretty far away and I didn't want to get there and have a problem, so I kept running it till I had a verified problem rather than a questionable one. Didn't spend the money getting to the meet, but did pay for service.

At least with the Jetcat engine, you know when you get it back it will not likely fail again for quite a while.

Good Luck,

Sean

It does not seem like its the NGV rubbing ... it even sounds like the sound is more pronounced in the front ... Now, i did have a small piece of grass come out of the back, and hope its just a piece of dry grass rubbing inside (as i mentioned before, i made my last landing with the engine off, so the gras if thats what it is, would not have had a chance to burn off .... ) ... I will have to waittill tomorrow and call JetCat up ....

thanx for the suggestions guys ..


Wojtek

Im positive its what jetdriver said. Mine has done the same thing. When the engine starts the engine warms up and it will quit making the noise. When the engine cools it will rub again. It will probably just get worse. send it back. have a look at the P80 sticking post.
Scott

thanx Scott ....

I will pack it up tomorrow and send it off .. I know Spencer will be in tomorrow at JC so I'll talk to him also .. I have had a really good run with several JetCat engines so far, and I guess i am a bit surprised to have a problem with under 2 hr run time ... I wish i had caught some friends who headed out to FJ last night, they could have had Bob take a look at it there ..


thanx


Wojtek