Mike,
Most of us are asking our aircraft to carry a few more pounds than we should, except for Marty Vanover of course.
This step issue has been showing up on several of our member aircraft. IMO, this is not all about the load. As you examine the step I bet you find a contributing factor of corrosion. That step looks like it has been repaired before. When you have it repaired this time have some one MIG or better yet TIG weld it that knows what they are doing.
Our modern aluminum aircraft do not have very much of this old school 4130 mild steel tubing, but one place we do have it is in our engine mounts / nose gear mounts. :shock:
If anyone is removing their engine for any reason they should spend the $1500 to exchange or overhaul that 30 year old engine mount. If your engine mount tubes do not sound too good on the tap test, you should consider a link(s) of stout chain from the engine to a lower airframe mount bolt(s). You should also do this if you think there is even the remote possibility you could have a prop blade or hub failure. It is a proven fact, you will not be able to shut the engine down, before it shakes itself off a brand new mount, after a prop failure. There are several airshow pilots that owe their lives to engine chains.
Sciscoe
