enginehistory.org

[jwilcox]

Hi everyone, I've been a member for a few years and sitting in the sidelines. Have finally made a deal on an R-2600 Wright and hope to be able to restore it to ground running condition over the next year or so. Will try to post photos and info as I go.
Jerry

[rkammlott]

congrats on the purchase. how complete is it? whats it from?

[jwilcox]

The engine is a few hours drive from home and due to vacations and scheduling I won't know the full story for a couple of weeks but it's supposedly a complete core and accessories are available with it if not in place. I'll see if I can post some photos when I get them.
Jerry

[jwilcox]

Went for an inspection of the 2600 yesterday. It's a -20 and from a TBM. The engine is from a plane that supposedly lost power and or quit and was put down in a treed area. Pilot was not hurt and inspections of the engine and airframe post crash found no reason for the problem. There was also very little damage done to the engine, these were tough old birds. The engine has been stored in a can since and appears to have been inhibited. It has some bits removed, those that were needed to inspect post crash, but most everything is there and should make a great project.
First on the agenda is figuring out how to get a 2000lb engine into my garage, once inside I have a gantry crane that will lift it. The problem is getting it out of the can, can't get the crane outside and don't think there is enough ceiling height inside to lift it out. It will get figured out. Once inside it will be stripped down and an inspection done to see if it will be a runner.
I have a few photos:
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1070891.JPG
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1070894.JPG
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1070897.JPG
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1070898.JPG
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1070899.JPG

[rkammlott]

I removed mine with a automotive lift and pulled the lower can away. I had my runnup trailer already and lowered it onto wood cribbing. then gantry crane to set it up. pm me your email and I can send you pictures. my upper can half is im my parents back yard . it is now a fish pond with water plants. No joke. nice picture. looks pretty complete.

[jwilcox]

As the saying goes one man's junk is another man's treasure. I picked up a little more treasure yesterday. A couple of cylinders to replace the damaged ones and an assortment of bit's that would be hard to find. Have made arrangements to pickup the engine monday the 25th. I'll send a couple of photos to add, in the photo you'll see I have the actual TBM engine mount, a question for those that have mounted their engines on a runup trailer. Do you use an aircraft mount or manufacture a new mount system from materials. I concerned that the aircraft mount although sturdy is not accustomed to the bump and grind of highway travel. Flying would impose a completely different load than my intended use, perhaps a support on the front of the engine for travelling?
Jerry
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080024.JPG
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080025.JPG

[rwahlgren]

For radial engines, the aircraft mount should be plenty strong for the trailer application. Just look at the loads that it will take on the plane, if it is a multi engine application, and said engine is not running during flight, it can stand what ever turbulence there is as well as many positive and negative G's. And in operation it takes the torsional moment from turning the large propeller, and the pulling stress. Personally I'd be more concerned about the structural integrity of the mount points on the engine casings than the tube engine mount system. Maybe design a removable support to bolt to a plate bolted to the nose case (reduction case) if possible, to keep the engine from bouncing during trailering.

Please keep us updated on the progress.

[jwilcox]

The 2600 is finally out of the can. Tried to borrow a stand from a local museum with no luck so went ahead and manufactured one. The engine is currently at one of our Canadian Owners and Pilots Assn, COPA, shop he has the equipment to lift and move it about. Plan is to remove the cylinders for an internal look and go from there, so far so good.
Jerry
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080119.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080121.jpg

[jwilcox]

Finally have the 2600 down to a cob with all cylinders removed. Has a fair bit of surface corrosion on the crank and rods but we have decided it is not in the bearings and much of it can be cleaned up. Was dissapointing to find but will not be the end of the project. Only two cylinders have bad corrosion, we'll try to replace them but they may even clean up with a hone for our use. 280 cylinder base bolts seemed like a never ending task.

http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080144.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080147.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080149.jpg

[rkammlott]

looking good.thanks for the updates.

[jwilcox]

Have the engine home in my shop now and starting to remove the rear supercharger cases, will eventually have it down to just the power section but do not plan on taking that apart. After seeing the corrosion on the rods I expected to find it elsewhere, it's a bit worse than I was hoping but still not a killer yet. There has been no corrosion on anything that fits/slides into a bearing or bushing, they seem to retain oil in the tight clearance area, this is good. But any surface exposed seems to be fair game and rust sets in. So far things are cleaning up to a useful state, not an airworthy state but useful. Big concerns are the cams and front reduction gear, will get there in a few weeks.
Jerry

http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080203.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080205.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080207.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080218.jpg

[jwilcox]

Things have gone a bit quicker than expected and we now have the engine apart just about as far as we will go, a few small bits will be checked inside the cases but I don't see any need to try to take the power section apart. The rear cam section is in much better shape than expected with only small patches of corrosion here and there, can pretty much be cleaned up in place. The lifter ring will be out to check the oil passages but looks good otherwise. The front cam is a different story and was worse than hoped for but still not bad on bearing surfaces, only one lobe had corrosion and the gears all cleaned up to a useful state. Before and after photos below. The reduction drive needs to come apart just to be cleaned up but the gears and bearings all feel good and turn freely, as before the important areas retained a bit of oil while the flat open sections started to corrode. Now starts the long task of cleaning, checking, fixing and figuring out how to put it back together.

http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080241.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080247.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080249.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080256.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080269.jpg
http://www.enginehistory.org/BBimages/WilcoxJ/P1080285.jpg

[rkammlott]

What are you using to clean up the rust. ? looks great. these things usually don't come apart to easy! looking good.

[jwilcox]

Indeed these engines do not come apart easily but one thing I'm realizing is that many of the assemblies are designed and fit so that there is only one way they will go together. Could this be a function of war time labor where you need thousands of engines built but don't have the hoards of seasoned assemblers. Adequate training and assemblies that must go together correctly would make things much easier. Have had to make 4 special tools so far and maybe one more to get the bearing off the reduction drive.
I'm removing as much rust as possible with degreasers and scotch brite pads and then glass beading as the final step. I know there is a lot of controversy about glass beading but I've used it for years. Proper cleaning after and keeping the bead fairly fresh is the key.
We are not far from having a few parts ready to paint, having fun.

[tfey]

Jerry, spectacular job! I love to see the parts, before and after, and ponder the headaches you face. No Fear. Keep the pictures and updates coming. And thanks. Tom