Original Date: 10/18/1999
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

Orenda Turbines began manufacturing front frame strut assemblies for the F404-GE-400 engine in the late 1980s. Because of its location on the engine, this assembly incurred a number of problems early in service. The struts that support the hub assembly were susceptible to damage from objects which were ingested into the engine during operation. Often this damage was severe enough to render the entire frame assembly unserviceable. Another potential problem involved the three struts that contained the service tubes for the oil system to the main engine bearing. If any of these tubes developed cracks, broke inside a strut, or broke within the anti-icing manifold, the frame assembly was rendered unserviceable. To address these problems, Orenda Turbines developed the Front Frame Strut Repair process.

Using the expertise and tooling that had been developed for the manufacture of new hub assemblies, Orenda Turbines designed repair procedures to address used and damaged assemblies. These procedures enable the individual struts within a damaged frame assembly to be removed and replaced. In addition, any cracked or broken oil supply lines can be repaired without causing damage to the surrounding areas of the frame. Once repaired, the assembly is inspected and pressure tested to ensure proper operation.

Because of its expertise and successful repair history with this component, Orenda Turbines is now the sole-source provider for front frame strut replacement in the F404-GE-400 engine. The company is referenced in the U.S. Navy’s maintenance manual and has performed successful repairs for several other countries which use this engine.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.