INTERNATIONAL AERO ENGINES
400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108 USA
Telephone: 860/565-5515 . FAX: 860/565-5510
SERVICE INFORMATION LETTER
SIL 221 Initial Issue
DATE: February 18, 2005
TO: All V2500 Operators
SERVICE INFORMATION LETTER NO.: 221 Initial Issue
SUBJECT: In-Service Re-application of Fan Blade Root Lubrication in accordance
with VRS1030
APPLICABILITY: All V2500-A1, V2500-A5, V2500-D5 Engines
REFERENCES: AMM TASK 72-31-11-300-014, Repair of the LP Compressor Fan Blade
Touch Up Coating – VRS1030
SB72-0375 – LP Compressor Blades and Fillers - Introduction of a Revised
LP Compressor Blade with Metco 58
SB72-0384 – LP Compressor Blades and Fillers – Introduction of a
Revised LP Compressor Blade with Metco 58 - Rework
PURPOSE
The purpose of this SIL is to remind operators of the procedure to be followed when re-
applying fan blade root lubrication in accordance with VRS1030.
DESCRIPTION
There are two standards of fan blade root coating systems currently in service. Early
standards of fan blades (pre SB72-0375 or pre SB72-0384) feature stoved on root lubricant
applied during new manufacture or overhaul, onto which air dried lubricant will be applied
during in service maintenance, as shown in figure 1. Later standards of fan blade (post
SB72-0375 or post SB72-0384) feature a Metco 58 coating onto which stoved on lubricant is
applied, both of these coatings are applied during new manufacture or blade overhaul.
Metco 58 is a metal spray, and leaves a rough surface designed to improve the retention of
root lubricant. Subsequent coats of lubricant applied in service will be of the air dried
variety, as shown in figure 1.
ACTIONS
On all standards of V2500 Fan Blade, when performing VRS1030 (Repair of the LP
Compressor Fan Blade Touch Up Coating) any existing root lubricant must not be removed.
All that is required is to wipe the root with a lint free cloth made moist with methyl-ethyl-
ketone (material number V10-076) or isopropyl alcohol (material number V10-106) prior to
lubricant application. This is to make sure that no grease remains on the blade root and any
loose flakes of existing lubricant are removed.
There have been cases where operators have completely removed existing coats of root
lubricant before performing VRS1030. This is to be avoided for two reasons:
Page 1 of 2 Issued on: February 18, 2005
INTERNATIONAL AERO ENGINES
400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 06108 USA
Telephone: 860/565-5515 . FAX: 860/565-5510
SERVICE INFORMATION LETTER
SIL 221 Initial Issue
1. The air dried lubricants specified in VRS1030 are not as durable as the stoved on
lubricant applied during new manufacture or overhaul. Therefore it is beneficial to
leave as much of the existing coating on the blade root as possible.
2. The removal of existing lubricant from the blade root can involve the abrasion of the
Metco 58 coating. This abrasion can cause the Metco coating to become smoother
and lose its ability to retain lubricant.
Failure to correctly apply the air drying lubricants specified in VRS1030 can increase friction
between the fan disc and fan blade root. This can lead to increased levels of vibration and
increased stresses in the fan blade root and fan disc. In addition, increased levels of wear
in the fan disc and fan blade root can be observed.
Therefore, this SIL is issued to remind operators of the need to reapply fan blade root
lubrication on wing as per VRS1030.
Figure 1
Regards,
Bruce Stubaus
Director – Customer Support Programs
Page 2 of 2 Issued on: February 18, 2005
