"Just be sure you lube it with something"

"Just be sure you lube it with something"

From Ask the A&Ps by AOPA

December 15, 2025 · 44 min

About this episode

The episode discusses pre-emptive engine overhauls, electrical system upgrades, and maintenance concerns related to wood wings in aviation.

Pre-emptive engine overhauls, upgrading an old electrical system, spark plug anti-seize, and old wood wing concerns are on tap for this episode. Send your questions to podcasts@aopa.org for a chance to get on the show. Join the world's largest aviation community at aopa.org/join Full episode notes below: Lance inherited some furniture that had lived in the Midwest for 200 years, and began splitting after only a few years after he moved to Salt Lake City. He's wondering if the same concern would hold with wood wings, like those on the Bellanca Viking. The hosts say not to worry. The wood spars are lathered with a varnish that helps keep out moisture, Sitka spruce is resistant to splitting, and Mike said in his experience with Vikings in the 1970s, shops didn't report issues with airplanes that had lived in different parts of the country. Jim has an Arrow and he wants to guard against the long down times we're seeing at overhaul shops. To do so he wonders if she would pick the right time and pre-emptively overhaul his engine, or at least change out the cylinders. Mike, Paul, and Colleen fully lecture poor Jim on the perils of so-called top overhauls, and instead advise him to do…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mike, Paul, Colleen

Topics covered

  • engine overhauls
  • electrical system upgrades
  • spark plug maintenance
  • wood wing concerns
  • aviation community

Keywords

  • engine overhaul
  • electrical system
  • spark plug
  • wood wings
  • aviation maintenance

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AOPA

Products: Bellanca Viking, Tri-Pacer, Sitka spruce

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