Brief Description: Sensor Manifold Standoff and Restrictor
I started by installing the bracket I made to go on the sensor manifold bolt in order to get a better routing for the wires I have going through the area. The bracket really helped with the routing and by canting the adel clamp a bit really added to the bundle clearance. I then spent some time tying the wire bundle more with lacing to neaten the bundle up.
When installing the engine I failed to make sure that the fitting for the oil pressure gage line had a restrictor in it. Well after getting the engine installed it is impossible to remove the fitting and low and behold I determined it has no restrictor. The purpose of the restrictor is to reduce the loss of oil if the hose was to fail. The restrictor has a hole of about .040 instead of .170 which will reduce the oil loss quite a bit.
Over the past few months I have been thinking of the issue and have to decide to leave it as is and roll the dice....or come up with a fix. Last night I got a piece of brass and machined it to press into the 45 degree elbow to make it a restrictor fitting. I measured the length of the fitting so the restrictor could not go "around the corner" of the elbow should it come loose and fall into the engine....11/16ths long. My one plan is to get the adapter in the fitting with a press fit and some red locktite. IF the restrictor ever came loose the only possible problem is a partial blocking of the oil pressure sensor.....that could be resolved easily and the airplane could be flown safely in that condition.
My other plan is looking into getting adapters that I can simply make a restrictor to fit in the adapter. I will continue to ponder and get a couple opinions before commiting to a final plan.
