Broken exhaust caused by worn lower engine mounts

The old spring kept half the exhaust pipe from departing the aircraft. Needless to say it was unusable and apparently completely unavailable.

I found www.amazon.com/Handyman-Springs-Extensio...ps%2C107&sr=8-1&th=1

On amazon had the same basic wire size (wire thickness, inside and outside diameter)

I had to make a jig to stretch the wire out. The first time I didn’t use a jig and i didn’t work out very well

Then I used a 36 inch threaded rod, 2 nuts, and 2 large fender washers from Home Depot.

I bent the double loop end a bit so I could fit the end into a slot I cut into the fender washer. I also used safety wire to keep the end of the spring from departing the jig.

I tried putting the stretched springs in the oven for 1/2 hour @ 500 degrees. That didn’t work.

I took it to my welder who let me use his torch.

I found that it needs to be warmed up gently enough to loose the shinny off the spring and get an even spacing between the individuali loops.

If I were to do it again I would only stretch the spring out to 24 inches. Remember this spring started at 16 inches.

And when I installed the new springs on the exhaust pipe three wraps was too thick for the heat muff but 2 1/2 fit.

No 8130 for this item. It is not a safety of flight item and fits with ‘owner supplied part’.

I have the O200 engine that uses Lord mounts. New bushings going on when the engine gets back from the overhaul shop. They had been replaced about 500 hours ago. 

I read someplace that these should be replaced every 3-4 years.

These were probably on for at least a decade.

That's exactly what mine looked like as well. Bottom ones had worn almost all the way through.

  The bottom 4 were toast