It isn't getting any better...
Mags I sent for 500 hr are bad. Allen found a replacement crank for $2800. The camshaft did come back OK. Can't take much more of this....
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Monday, June 06, 2005
Bad business....
I'm finding that the aircraft industry isn't a nice place to do business. First I get an engine from an FBO that is "ready to fly" but turns out has a bad crank.
I've been trying to locate a replacement accessory case for about a year. Finally found one only to find out it was the wrong one. So back on the hunt I go. I get an email from a guy at Premium Aircraft Parts saying he has a 76110 case that will work. The first one they sent wasn't a 76110 and it was for a rotary fuel pump (whatever that is) so it won't work. Email them.. ok.. we'll send a replacement. You will never freakin' believe what they sent me?! They sent me the ORIGINAL accessory case that I pulled off the engine and sold on eBay!! Not only that... it was marked up almost 3 times what I sold it for. Crimeny!! I was working with another company in TX who said they might have one but wouldn't ever call me back. I called her back this morning and again, she thinks she has one but I need to call her tomorrow.
Are there any honest, reputible people out there in aviation land!??? Uggh this is so frustrating.
I've been trying to locate a replacement accessory case for about a year. Finally found one only to find out it was the wrong one. So back on the hunt I go. I get an email from a guy at Premium Aircraft Parts saying he has a 76110 case that will work. The first one they sent wasn't a 76110 and it was for a rotary fuel pump (whatever that is) so it won't work. Email them.. ok.. we'll send a replacement. You will never freakin' believe what they sent me?! They sent me the ORIGINAL accessory case that I pulled off the engine and sold on eBay!! Not only that... it was marked up almost 3 times what I sold it for. Crimeny!! I was working with another company in TX who said they might have one but wouldn't ever call me back. I called her back this morning and again, she thinks she has one but I need to call her tomorrow.
Are there any honest, reputible people out there in aviation land!??? Uggh this is so frustrating.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Moving forward
After agonizing for 12 hours, Sandi and I decided to continue on with the engine overhaul. We have enough invested in it, it doesn't make sense to scrap it and buy new. We are moving the seminar date to late September to give us more time to save some $$. Hopefully everything else will come back OK.
If you are still building and haven't made an engine choice... well, go with one of the new kit engines. Unless you get an engine for free (Mike S!), it isn't worth it. If you can find a LOCAL engine with known time/condition that has been running, you could do OK. I wouldn't touch another engine with a 10 ft pole that I didn't know every detail about and who was selling it. Trust me.. that is a $7,500 piece of advice.
If you are still building and haven't made an engine choice... well, go with one of the new kit engines. Unless you get an engine for free (Mike S!), it isn't worth it. If you can find a LOCAL engine with known time/condition that has been running, you could do OK. I wouldn't touch another engine with a 10 ft pole that I didn't know every detail about and who was selling it. Trust me.. that is a $7,500 piece of advice.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Very bad engine news...
Crank got rejected. Excessive pitting behind the flange area. This is a pretty serious setback as a new Lycoming crank is $5600 (with bearings). Add that on top of the $7500 engine core and the cost to overhaul and I'm more than a new engine.
I have a call into the shop I bought the engine from but I'm not the least bit hopefull.
Stay tuned...
I have a call into the shop I bought the engine from but I'm not the least bit hopefull.
Stay tuned...
