Look what I found!

[jwd3ca]

The rivet simply fell out and down into the sump. And out with the oil when I drained it. I doubt much real damage could have occurred as a result, but who knows...

[Rynoth]

Yea I'd imagine you'd know it if it ended up circulating the system... pretty disconcerting failure though. Glad you were still on the ground and not pushing negative g's having that rivet clank off the internals and finding its way to the oil pump.

[wlarson861]

I don't really think of it as a repair, as such, more like a modification that is actually an improvement on the original (which fell apart) :?
So now two people have said that a spare screen assembly is a good idea. Under what conditions would the original screen assembly be damaged and need to be replaced? Seems to me it should be pretty safe once installed in the sump. Excepting any rivet (quality control, actually) failures :)

New builders: take a good look at the set of that rivet before you button it up!

Pulling the screen every 50 hours for cleaning raises the potential to damage the screen, especially the thin flange. Mine was always stuck to the engine to the point I would have to pry it loose. I could see that eventually I would either scratch or bend the flange making it impossible to seal.

[Sonerai13]

We only use engine oil on the oil screen gaskets. They never get stuck to the engine so bad that they are difficult to remove. Avoid using any sealing compounds like RTV or other gasket dressing. That will only make the job harder. Just put a thin coating of clean engine oil on each gasket and torque the nuts to the proper 60 pound inches and you'll be all set.

[rizzz]

We only use engine oil on the oil screen gaskets. They never get stuck to the engine so bad that they are difficult to remove. Avoid using any sealing compounds like RTV or other gasket dressing. That will only make the job harder. Just put a thin coating of clean engine oil on each gasket and torque the nuts to the proper 60 pound inches and you'll be all set.

60 pound inches on these little nuts? Are you sure about that number?
I think mine are 20-25, similar to a AN3's.

[mike.smith]

So now two people have said that a spare screen assembly is a good idea. Under what conditions would the original screen assembly be damaged and need to be replaced? Seems to me it should be pretty safe once installed in the sump. Excepting any rivet (quality control, actually) failures :)

The screen is easily "crushed" inward if dropped, or if you grab it the wrong way and press on the screen while cleaning it. If you try pulling the screen back into shape you have to do it with something like a dental pick. The screen material is pretty thin, so not overly strong. Pulling on it with a dental pick could break one or more of the screen wires, making a hole in the screen twice as big as the others.

Also, if you do find lots of particles trapped by the screen, there really isn't any way to get them out. The screen is like a lobster trap; easy path in, but no path to get out. So at some point you might choose to throw the screen away and use a new one.

[Sonerai13]

60 pound inches on these little nuts? Are you sure about that number?
I think mine are 20-25, similar to a AN3's.

AeroVee Assembly Manual, table of torque values (Page 62 in the current revision). "Oil Pan Cover Nuts - 5 pound feet or 60 pound inches". Check it out!

[vwglenn]

20 years of driving and maintaining old VWs and I've never seen the rivet fall out of an oil screen. I've crushed my fair share of screens though. $21 seems pretty steep for a screen. Don't remember paying more than 5 bucks for one.

[Sonerai13]

20 years of driving and maintaining old VWs and I've never seen the rivet fall out of an oil screen. I've crushed my fair share of screens though. $21 seems pretty steep for a screen. Don't remember paying more than 5 bucks for one.

Glenn,

If you're referring to the price of the "oil change kit" on the Sonex web store, understand that the kit includes a new steel oil screen cover (sometimes called the "oil pan cover") as well as the new screen, gaskets, plug, etc. It is not just the screen itself.

If your screen is still useable, you can get just the gaskets and such from us for $3.25 (ACV-P01-54).

[vwglenn]

20 years of driving and maintaining old VWs and I've never seen the rivet fall out of an oil screen. I've crushed my fair share of screens though. $21 seems pretty steep for a screen. Don't remember paying more than 5 bucks for one.

Glenn,

If you're referring to the price of the "oil change kit" on the Sonex web store, understand that the kit includes a new steel oil screen cover (sometimes called the "oil pan cover") as well as the new screen, gaskets, plug, etc. It is not just the screen itself.

If your screen is still useable, you can get just the gaskets and such from us for $3.25 (ACV-P01-54).

Ahhhh....I cued in on the price and missed what was included. If the sump plate is part of the deal, I can see that. If the only thing broken is the screen, however, you don't need the whole kit. Usually I can find quality German stuff for pretty cheap at local shows. I typically get the oil German oil change sets (two paper gaskets and the 7 washers) for a buck or two.

Totally agree about the oil on gaskets by the way; lube them with a little oil from your finger and it keeps them from sticking to the cover or the sump when you change it the next time.