Seeking 0-540 engine hanging tips

[TrueAirSpeed]

Made a valiant attempt today at hanging the 0-540 on my 4 place BH, with limited success. I was following the same process used in hanging an 0-360 engine starting with the upper right mount (as viewed from the pilot seat). That went fine. Next the upper left that took a great amount of effort. Then worked two more hours on the bottom two mounts with no success. I'm hoping for advice from someone that has been down this road before with the 0-540. Thanks, Terry

[Battson]

Hi Terry, what is the exact problem you are having? Did the bolts just not line up....?

When I couldn't get my -540 to hang from the top first, I tried working the opposite way around (starting at the bottom) and then lifting the engine to align with the top mount holes (one guy lifting by hand with crane assist). It went on fine.

Kinda obvious, but have you checked the bushes are the right way around (reversed at the bottom for compression on the aft side).

Serious question, there are TWO different types of O-540 engine mounting ear, pictured below is the TYPE II DYNAFOCAL mount and the reciprocal type II mounting ears on the engine. But you can also get the Type I Dynafocal mount, and type 1 engine ears, they are not interchangeable, the angle is different... I hope you don't have the wrong mount.

Jonathan

Hanging Bob Barrows Lycoming IO-540 with Type II (2) Dynafocal mount

[TrueAirSpeed]

Jonathan, thanks for the quick response. After I closed the hangar door and walked away I thought about trying the bottom mounts first and will tomorrow. It took a great amount of effort to get the second top mount to line up today and the bottom ones were about half an inch off vertically and horizontally. I'll try a different approach tomorrow and hopefully I have the correct engine mount. Thanks again and thanks for the pictures. Terry

[Battson]

Terry - I don't think the mounts should be that far off. It should fit pretty nicely straight off the shelf.
The engine mount to fuselage connection can need to be "sprung", but the motor to mount fit should be pretty close.

If you're really that far out, I think you could have the wrong engine mount (you wouldn't be the first, and won't be the last). Suggest you check that first, before you spend too much time hauling on the engine.

Otherwise, if that's not the problem, I can't say why it's being such a dog! Maybe try getting all the bolts in the holes before you do the nuts up?

[TrueAirSpeed]

Thanks again for your quick reply. I've hung three engines (all four cylinders) before by myself in about an hour each time and never had this much difficulty. If a try again tomorrow doesn't work, I'll have to figure out the difference between the dynafocal I and dynafocal II. Terry

[Battson]

I believe the Bearhawk manual briefly explains the difference, I seem to recall it's the angle of the mounts. 25 degrees comes to mind for type II.

[Enewton57]

I put in the top two and tight them all the way down compressing the rubber donuts. This allws the bottom two to line up with their holes. Worth a try.

[bestbearhawk1231]

So, out of curiosity...how does it feel having that much money hanging off the end of a hoist?

[Battson]

Nervous is the word!

But like Jared says, it's a little irrational. But understandable I think!

[jaredyates]

I thought it felt fine on the hoist. I felt a little sqirmy when I took the pressure off of the hoist! Of course this feeling was completely unwarranted. It just looks odd hanging from the side instead of the top.

[n144sh]

I just hung my Bob O-540. Didn't have an engine hoist but did have bucket truck and a tractor to use as a crane!

[Zzz]

This thread is getting me excited, seeing all these engines

[Battson]

If you haven't got your wings hung when you do this, be sure to tie the tail down or throw a few spare tires / bags of sand in the cargo area.
With the IO-540 on, my tail weighed about a 1/2 lb - no exaggeration! That was with a covered fuse.