Prop side PTO crankcase bolt leak.

Hi Tom,

Honestly, I can't see the leak. Did you clean down the area, before taking the photo?

Sorry

Hello Tom

if it is the one just over the safety wire then that is a crankcase bolt.  Judging by the fact it has a split washer your engine is getting rather old. (al newer versions use flat washers)  The oil trace would indicate that the crankcase sealant is leaking into the thread area at the crankcase parting line.  I would recommend you supply the engine serial number to find out if you have a pre-2006 crankcase.  In that case you may be able to fix it.  If however the case is newer with the bolt connecting to the collar nut on the other side (you show cylinder 2 and this bolt may connect to the collar nut on cylinder 1) there is a special torque and you would need to remove the cylinder number 1 to correct this.  

I would recommend you contact your independent Service Center, iSC, for help on this one.

Cheers

Thanks for the reply. Yes, it's the upper front crankcase through bolt. It's a pre-buy inspection so I guess I'm just concerned with how hard it will be to fix if I buy it. 

It's a 2007 aircraft with only 200 hrs so it did a lot of sitting. It's not leaking much, just annoying the owner so far. 

I'll email lockwood I guess and see what they say. 

Hi Tom

Please get the serial number of that crankcase, it will be marked between the push rod tubes.  The price would be dependent on the actual year the engine was made.  An aircraft from 2007 may have an earlier engine.  The older version had only 1500 hour TBO or 12 year, it appears that is what this is.  If it is the later it may have 2000 hour or 15 year.  In each case you should consider that they are over the time limit which affects you depending on the class it was given airworthiness in .  

Consider the fact that the older case is assembled much differently from the newer versions.  The newer design is far more desirable. 

Cheers