Opening turbine oil cans properly?
OK, after wading through this thread I am forced to ask....
Just how many mechanics does it take to open a can of oil and add it to an engine?
Real engines require a 5 gallon drum to be carried out on the wing for top up.
And the more that get broken the more they sell.
Just how many mechanics does it take to open a can of oil and add it to an engine?
Real engines require a 5 gallon drum to be carried out on the wing for top up.
Puts me in mind of the adage about not turning a piston engine over backwards by hand because it will destroy the vacuum pump vanes. Absolute nonsense - I've got it in writing from Parker Hannefin, who make the things...
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Still an intriguing argument
Gazin.ASKAP, Tinwacker and others:
I ask you the following:
Is opening an oil can with the correct tool an unsafe workshop practice?
Do you consider inverting oil cans before opening an unsafe workshop practice?
It behooves us as senior maintenance personnel to impart high maintenance standards to those we supervise and advise.
Using a screwdriver to open oil cans shows less than professional standards, or perhaps incorrect instruction on the use of hand tools at the base trade level. There are also OHS issue if one is using palm of the hand to strike the screwdriver.
To shake or not to shake. Appears from the posts here, to be a matter of personal experience, those that have seen frothing of the oil and those that haven't.
Those that have experienced oil foaming/frothing of turbine oil - mobil jet11 and Aeroshell 555 in my case, will err on the side of safety and shake the can. Is it akin to saying a prayer?
Peter Fanelli
And 23 inches at idle
Hi mate, I had to laugh about PH service bulletin when it came out several or more years ago, just after I had a pilot break two on an Islander, he wound the props through several times ADOR - less than 50 hours TIS.
Cheers
BH
I ask you the following:
Is opening an oil can with the correct tool an unsafe workshop practice?
Do you consider inverting oil cans before opening an unsafe workshop practice?
It behooves us as senior maintenance personnel to impart high maintenance standards to those we supervise and advise.
Using a screwdriver to open oil cans shows less than professional standards, or perhaps incorrect instruction on the use of hand tools at the base trade level. There are also OHS issue if one is using palm of the hand to strike the screwdriver.
To shake or not to shake. Appears from the posts here, to be a matter of personal experience, those that have seen frothing of the oil and those that haven't.
Those that have experienced oil foaming/frothing of turbine oil - mobil jet11 and Aeroshell 555 in my case, will err on the side of safety and shake the can. Is it akin to saying a prayer?
Peter Fanelli
Real engines require a 5 gallon drum to be carried out on the wing for top up.
Hi mate, I had to laugh about PH service bulletin when it came out several or more years ago, just after I had a pilot break two on an Islander, he wound the props through several times ADOR - less than 50 hours TIS.
Cheers
BH
Last edited by blackhand; 14th Mar 2010 at 14:58.
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" Using a screwdriver to open oil cans shows less than professional standards, or perhaps incorrect instruction on the use of hand tools at the base trade level. There are also OHS issue if one is using palm of the hand to strike the screwdriver."............
I was mortified to learn that, over the years, I ( and numerous colleagues )have clearly been guilty of such flagrant acts. I am thus indebted for this advice. Indeed, with regard to workshop practices, clearly the instructors at Halton (many years ago now) were mere amateurs with little or no experience in this area.
I hate to use the old adage "never check, always assume"...cough....but do I take it you have never actually worked in a Line environment ( Mil or Civil ) and are thus more office engineering orientated shall we say ?.
Just curious though as to where your organisation, Air Utopia, operates from........
I was mortified to learn that, over the years, I ( and numerous colleagues )have clearly been guilty of such flagrant acts. I am thus indebted for this advice. Indeed, with regard to workshop practices, clearly the instructors at Halton (many years ago now) were mere amateurs with little or no experience in this area.
I hate to use the old adage "never check, always assume"...cough....but do I take it you have never actually worked in a Line environment ( Mil or Civil ) and are thus more office engineering orientated shall we say ?.
Just curious though as to where your organisation, Air Utopia, operates from........
Last edited by Krystal n chips; 15th Mar 2010 at 06:17.
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Over the years I opened many Esso TJ15, Esso 2380 amd Mobil Jet 2 oil cans. You would think that if it was necessary to shake the cans before opening, that it would be written on them.
I wonder why most engineers are stingy to buy a can's opener and prefer using flat head screw drivers to open them
I wonder why most engineers are stingy to buy a can's opener and prefer using flat head screw drivers to open them .
Its only for about 1 buck ..
Its only for about 1 buck ..
The GS is old hat now unless opening cowlings or, gawd forbid, actually undoing a large screw!
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Hey blackhand, nope haven't filled the engines up yet. I'm waiting for my CanKeys to arrive.
The GTD-350 will be filled this coming weekend, although it's not quite ready for a full run yet (need to do some welding work on the exhaust deflectors) so it'll just be an oil pressure test on the starter.
The Williams needs some hydraulic work and I sheared a bolt on the rear turbine housing on Sunday, so that's probably a month and a lot of swearing before I can refill that one.
I've taken your advice (and that of the people who PM'd me!) to not change the oil on the Williams, so it will get BPTO 2380 again when I do fill it.
If you're interested what I'm up to I have all of my engine work online at http://www.cursorkeys.com, thanks again to you and everyone else for all the help and tips.
The GTD-350 will be filled this coming weekend, although it's not quite ready for a full run yet (need to do some welding work on the exhaust deflectors) so it'll just be an oil pressure test on the starter.
The Williams needs some hydraulic work and I sheared a bolt on the rear turbine housing on Sunday, so that's probably a month and a lot of swearing before I can refill that one.
I've taken your advice (and that of the people who PM'd me!) to not change the oil on the Williams, so it will get BPTO 2380 again when I do fill it.
If you're interested what I'm up to I have all of my engine work online at http://www.cursorkeys.com, thanks again to you and everyone else for all the help and tips.
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New a bloke that use to open oil cans with a an old valve stem sharpened to a point...Good area for knocking it with the palm of your hand...
Personally i use a flat blade, mainly due to convenience....never can find a can opener when you trying to do theright thing...
Personally i use a flat blade, mainly due to convenience....never can find a can opener when you trying to do theright thing...
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Air Utopia
Just curious though as to where your organisation, Air Utopia, operates from.
Meanwhile, here at Air Utopia, technicians are paid to use the correct tool for each task.
Air Utopia's Engineer Trainer
, has identified the flat blade screwdriver as the tool to be used for .......(wait for it) screwing slotted screws. At times people have tried to use it for phillip headed screws, pry bar, tooth pick, haemorrhoid probe, and to short starter motor terminals - he is still adamant that is for slotted screws. Is like old saying from my russian friend - when all you have is hammer treat all problem like nail.
But we are not Russian Peasants, we are Aircraft Maintenance Engineers and as much as possible are REQUIRED to carry out tasks with the correct tools.
Mr Krystal and chips, I doubt very much that you are a trainer of engineers as you claim in your profile.
Cheers
BH
Last edited by blackhand; 16th Mar 2010 at 06:43. Reason: grammar
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" Some technicians require only a blade screwdriver, two size shifting spanners and a large hammer to carry out complex aircraft maintenance tasks"
Alas, not quite........a rag and a pen are also required. The horse hair shirt is, presumably, standard working dress in Air Utopia.
.....otherwise, sums up my tools nicely.
But thanks for your comments. I can use them as a feature of my Flight Safety lessons to demonstrate to students the dangers of myopic egocentricity within a maintenance environment.
Alas, not quite........a rag and a pen are also required. The horse hair shirt is, presumably, standard working dress in Air Utopia.
.....otherwise, sums up my tools nicely. But thanks for your comments. I can use them as a feature of my Flight Safety lessons to demonstrate to students the dangers of myopic egocentricity within a maintenance environment.
Just a suggestion to go easy on the syllables in your lessons there Krystal, should you be teaching folks who prefer to improvise than use the right tools for the job
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Dodo,
You can relax.....I have long subscribed to the K.I.S.S principle...
...even when teaching baby engs the fabled "best practice"....as one always does.....albeit with some practical engineering of course.....such as how to open oil cans ( various ) for example.....
You can relax.....I have long subscribed to the K.I.S.S principle...
...even when teaching baby engs the fabled "best practice"....as one always does.....albeit with some practical engineering of course.....such as how to open oil cans ( various ) for example.....
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We ain't started yet I've got a couple of combined opener/spout thingys that I got in the local hardware shop years ago. Just plunge into said can and you have a nice curvy spout to pour with. Keeps your hands clean for more important stuff like bacon sarnies. Very Gucci 
I've got a couple of combined opener/spout thingys that I got in the local hardware shop years ago. Just plunge into said can and you have a nice curvy spout to pour with. Keeps your hands clean for more important stuff like bacon sarnies. Very Gucci