Oil Filter cutter

[Andy Dunn]

Clois, thank you for sharing your story with me and others. I feel just as you did. I was chasing my tail for months. It is a tricky problem to diagnose. I am now in the process of what you just described of finding out which parts are toast and which parts can be saved. At the dyno this week, I told the operator my tale of woe. He said I was not the first, nor will I be the last. My hope is that our stories might help future cobra builders. I was joking with Richard this week when reading through my huge build note binder that I assemble with all parts literature. In the back, and a tiny piece of dark read paper it said "failure to follow all instructions may restrict oil flow entirely and result in severe engine damage or failure to your engine or transmission". I wish it had been on giant paper, fluorescent orange, and 2" type. Here is a recent picture of my bearings - barely a spec of surface material left...I am shocked the engine even ran.
http://www.cobralads.com/bearings/MVC-732S.JPG.html

Michael! A great tool is an oil filter cutter opener. I held back from buying one since they seem pricey, but I now feel they are well worth the money. The filter cutter actually was the final key to me discovering what had occured in my engines. Without me describing that there was bearing material "inside" the pleates, rather than "outside" like normal, the mystery might still not have been solved. Grover the engineer picked up on this and saved engine 3. There are many makes and models of cutters. I liked a Tavia unit

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...30&prmenbr=361


I found a unit recently that looks excellent and has been reviewed by flying mags
http://www.airwolf.com/Products/Oil-Filter-Cutter.htm



hope this info helps

Andy