Ha! Fixed sticky reverse solenoid and relearned valuable lesson...

[bevans6]

When I installed the new engine, I also fixed/fettled/rebuilt basically everything I could touch on the outside of the engine and gearbox.  I actually rebuilt the reverse solenoid, painted it, changed the points and put a new internal plunger, etc.  What I didn't do was test if it worked before I put the engine back in the bus.  So the first time I fired it up and went to drive backwards, it went into reverse just fine, but stuck and wouldn't come out...  A little help with a lever popped in back into place, but it was sticky and I couldn't believe I had take it all apart again...because reaching the reverse solenoid on a MC-5C is not something a fat old man can easily do...

So I went out today and looked at it, and decided to take it in stages.  I decided to take the pivot bolt for the linkage out (mostly because that is the one and only part of the thing that I can actually remove without extreme contortion and being under the bus), and see what happened.  As soon as I loosened the pivot bolt it all seemed to get free, and a quick test showed that I had found the problem!  So I took the bolt out to have a look at it, and found that I had overlooked "restoring" that little part, it was corroded and horrible, and what had actually happened was a washer had gotten rusty, the rust had expanded the part, and that was what had been binding the linkage.  Little bit wire wheel, file on the shoulder bolt, new washer, copious anti-sieze, back in and tight and working like new again.

Lesson learned - fix EVERYTHING, turn every bolt, clean every part when the engine is out so you don't have to re-do it when the engine is in and you have to hire a 12 year old to crawl under the bus because your old sorry butt ain't gonna fit no more...   

Brian

[Fred Mc]

How can you "re-learn" a lesson when you obviously didn't learn it in the first place. LOL

[pabusnut]

Brian,

Having a ten-year old helper is helpful sometimes, but when you have to explain what a phillips screw driver looks like every time, you start to think about getting the tools for yourself!  My "good" helper moved away and has been a F-16 mechanic for about 6 years now.

Steve Toomey

[Uglydog56]

I've gotten to where I just replace every bolt I take out, and anti-seize everything.  It's not worth it anymore.  Although, those bags of bolts can add up quick.  Still worth every penny.

[Oonrahnjay]

I've gotten to where I just replace every bolt I take out, and anti-seize everything.  It's not worth it anymore.   (snip)

    Yep!

[Fredward]

Brian,
This is the voice of experience talking. You have to adjust the linkage on that solenoid to be sure the solenoid travels far enough to open the breaker points. If those points don't open, you will burn out the big winding in the solenoid and the whole thing is junk. Its a $200.00 solenoid.
Fred