What to do?
 

I just sold a used P-60 with 12 hours on it to someone that needed one.
I gave him a really good price. The motor has always been a perfect runner.

It has never flown ever without a fod screen.

We shipped it to him and when he got it, he noticed there were some small chips on the leading edge of some of the blades.
I can only guess that from time to time it sucked in some grit smaller than the holes in the fod screen.

The motor runs perfectly and vibration free.
We just flew it a few weeks back at the Greater Southwest.

From the photo, do you think the motor is too damaged to run?

I sent the pics to Bob Wilcox for his opinion but have not heard back yet.

I told the buyer I would refund him if he wanted.
But really I think the motor is fine as it still runs like the day I got it.

What do you think?

RE: What to do?
 

Ronnie,

If you run your turbine (even with a FOD screen) for any decent length of time, you are going to get those tiny nicks. Overall, they do not greatly affect the turbine, and will simply be smoothed out and re-balanced on the next service. No service center would replace the compressor due to those nicks.

If you want a brand new looking compressor, buy new!

Chad

RE: What to do?
 

If it was running fine it's probably fine, my engines have small marks in the blades too, unless there is a vibration or something I personally wouldn't worry about it, I'd just run it myself.

RE: What to do?
 

Yeah I'm thinking most motors with any time on them are gonna get nicks.
I'm sure it will be fine to the 25hr mark.

RE: What to do?
 

it's normal wear and tear and not a problem.

RE: What to do?
 

It´s no problem.
If the Compressor looks like the one on my pics, then you have a damage. This is a Olympus- but it still runs. Just a little slow acceleration @low rpm.


brosi

RE: What to do?
 

Normal compressor condition for 12 hours.
The P-60 compressor blades are a bit "soft" and this wear scheme is normal.

RE: What to do?
 

Nay Shok, Mine is a little bit more pitted than the one you are showing and runs like a new one. Later.

RE: What to do?
 

Ph-uck no! You should have seen my old Simjet 1200 (the one I purchased from you many moons ago). It was missing like 3 blades and still ran fine, just had a little shiming upon accelerating. I added 30% Heli Blend to the fuel mix and it became unnoticeable [8D]

Dude seriously have you ever had an engine with more than 5 hours? They kind of look like that. They probably just buff it out and rebalance at the factory.

RE: What to do?
 

The only thing he can do , i did it to with a simjet 1200 , is take a piece of sand paper 600 or 800 , and make the small nicks nice and round again.

I have a lot of experiance with dirt in turbines , and when i see this little damages , i grind them with very fine paper away , because it can be the beginning of a real brake point.
So if every blade is nicely round , no sharp or damaged ends , then i shoud be oke.
I even had a compressor wheel from garret 54mm ,and i let it fall by mistake on a hard surface.
One blade was bent , but it put it in ,and it still runs , and its has run more then 70 hours now, so be afraid , polish the nicks ,and no problem.

Best regards,

Martin.

RE: What to do?
 

Ronnie, my experience is with big engines like the Pratt & Whitney family. We had a nick size criteria that determined whether the blade should be simply blended or replaced. Based on what you show us I would lightly blend with crocus cloth and be done with it. Cracks that can generate from sharp edges are far more dangerous than the dent itself. My P70 and P160 have far to few hours on them to have FOD damage. On the other hand, if the guy doesn't want the P60, PM me and I'll buy it. I've been looking for one for a 150% Northstar that I want to build.

RE: What to do?
 

Thanks guys

He emailed me and decided to keep it and sand the blades.


John, if you need a motor hit me up.
I got a few.

RE: What to do?
 

Damn, another P60 slips through my fingers!

RE: What to do?
 

I have more p-60's

let me know