FFS. I need a new hobby.

Jim K said:
Not QUITE to the two weeks since the last update. Finally have something interesting to report. No, not finished parts of course.

But I did get a call and email from an ASI. So that should be interesting. Guess the FAA is about two months backlogged as well.
Click to expand...
I'm rootin for you, and I'm sure it's not just me. You get tossed a LOT of grief from general bad luck to questionable mechanics, and instead of walking away you go out and lock the hubs, put it in first gear, and keep going.
 
moparrob66 said:
Reason #9,174 for me to go experimental vs. certified. I
Click to expand...
That's great if you use a true experimental engine. If you use a Lycoming/Continental or clone, you're in the same boat. Unless maybe you trust "Billy Bob's Airboats and Used Tires" to weld you up a Lycoming crankcase.
 
Jim K said:
That's great if you use a true experimental engine. If you use a Lycoming/Continental or clone, you're in the same boat. Unless maybe you trust "Billy Bob's Airboats and Used Tires" to weld you up a Lycoming crankcase.
Click to expand...
Gave GPT some artistic freedom to imagine what this repair shop would look like...
1736826636628.png
 
Jim K said:
That's great if you use a true experimental engine. If you use a Lycoming/Continental or clone, you're in the same boat. Unless maybe you trust "Billy Bob's Airboats and Used Tires" to weld you up a Lycoming crankcase.
Click to expand...
Agreed 100%. It's certainly what has chilled my search for the replacement aircraft. Mating the exp with a lyco puts me right back into the captive audience morass I'm trying to get away from.

Problem is most of the auto conversions I see are going into low hp STOLbro ships, and generally compete with the rotax power output. My needs are 160hp-180hp SL continuous, haven't seen much of that in the auto space and certainly zero in the rotax (latter where the pricing is quickly making it moot as an alternative anyways). Other than insane LS1 long blocks that make the airplane useless as an actual acro/cruiser, it's crickets.

The old Subaru guy now selling Hondas is the only game in town (viking), but people on here hate him because his subbie venture presumably ripped some people off, so the presumption is the hondas are snake oil too. Thing is, at the prices they're asking, I'm willing to gamble. Problem is I have yet seen a completion on an RV for the viking engines in my desired HP range. If I had the time, I'd love to tackle the cowl/firewall/radiator work to get me to the promised land, even if I have to swap PRSUs like they're brake pads. Anything is better at this point than the nonsense you're currently putting up with, all due respect.

As to the aspersion of non-aviation mechanics putting their hands on your airplane mill, I hear ya... kinda. Again, I know you're putting your money where your mouth is, but I'm not speaking from the cheap seats either, it could have been my family on board when "it" happened to me. That wasn't a homebrew, that was a cErTiFiEd. So you'll excuse me if I cut auto engine wrenchheads some slack.

To quote Jay from 40-year old virgin:
 
hindsight2020 said:
As to the aspersion of non-aviation mechanics putting their hands on your airplane mill, I hear ya... kinda. Again, I know you're putting your money where your mouth is, but I'm not speaking from the cheap seats either, it could have been my family on board when "it" happened to me. That wasn't a homebrew, that was a cErTiFiEd. So you'll excuse me if I cut auto engine wrenchheads some slack.
Click to expand...
Fair enough, and I would trust most any competent machine shop (few & far between these days) to turn the crank, install valve guides, press rod bushings, etc. My point (and I think you got it) is that there are still bottlenecks. Cases being the biggest one in my mind. To my knowledge there are two companies in the world that do them, and they are about a block apart in Tulsa.

I don't know what the parts situation for experimental engines is like. I somehow doubt that there's shelves full of PSRU's ready to ship. I suppose it can't be any worse though.

Obviously I'm cool with non FAA blessed peasants turning the wrenches; as you said I'm putting my money where my mouth is on that one. It ain't rocket surgery, and this case proves that even part 145 doesn't guarantee a minimum level of competency.
 
Jim K said:
Obviously I'm cool with non FAA blessed peasants turning the wrenches; as you said I'm putting my money where my mouth is on that one. It ain't rocket surgery, and this case proves that even part 145 doesn't guarantee a minimum level of competency.
Click to expand...
So with respect to the thread title, is this your new hobby?
 
Jim K said:
…Cases being the biggest one in my mind. To my knowledge there are two companies in the world that do them, and they are about a block apart in Tulsa...
Click to expand...
I know (and bought from one of them) two very well known overhaulers who have FAA approved case repair processes for Lycos.
Neither will accept a case just for repair though.

Good news is those two big shops aren’t flowing their work to Tulsa. Bad news is current state is current state.
 
My understanding from those I know in the aircraft parts business is that some of the airboat engine people have better machinery and overhaul resources than certified shops. I’ve flown behind a Lycoming on which all the parts were overhauled by Junior Jernigan, and its fine.

Having said that I’ve also flown behind a non-certified auto engine that quit while I was in the plane, resulting in an off field landing. So I prefer aircraft engines but I think it’s the design that matters mostly, more so than who overhauled the engine.
 
Jim K said:
That's great if you use a true experimental engine. If you use a Lycoming/Continental or clone, you're in the same boat. Unless maybe you trust "Billy Bob's Airboats and Used Tires" to weld you up a Lycoming crankcase.
Click to expand...
I could physically weld the case quite well...but I still wouldn't consider it
 
For the government customer service bashing...

 
Im considering the GM LV1 4.3 liter. Aerovolare is offering an FWF kit for this, but it seems to cost way more than the sum of its parts and they arent doing much that cant be done with off the shelf parts for less.
 
hindsight2020 said:
Agreed 100%. It's certainly what has chilled my search for the replacement aircraft. Mating the exp with a lyco puts me right back into the captive audience morass I'm trying to get away from.

Problem is most of the auto conversions I see are going into low hp STOLbro ships, and generally compete with the rotax power output. My needs are 160hp-180hp SL continuous, haven't seen much of that in the auto space and certainly zero in the rotax (latter where the pricing is quickly making it moot as an alternative anyways). Other than insane LS1 long blocks that make the airplane useless as an actual acro/cruiser, it's crickets.

The old Subaru guy now selling Hondas is the only game in town (viking), but people on here hate him because his subbie venture presumably ripped some people off, so the presumption is the hondas are snake oil too. Thing is, at the prices they're asking, I'm willing to gamble. Problem is I have yet seen a completion on an RV for the viking engines in my desired HP range. If I had the time, I'd love to tackle the cowl/firewall/radiator work to get me to the promised land, even if I have to swap PRSUs like they're brake pads. Anything is better at this point than the nonsense you're currently putting up with, all due respect.

As to the aspersion of non-aviation mechanics putting their hands on your airplane mill, I hear ya... kinda. Again, I know you're putting your money where your mouth is, but I'm not speaking from the cheap seats either, it could have been my family on board when "it" happened to me. That wasn't a homebrew, that was a cErTiFiEd. So you'll excuse me if I cut auto engine wrenchheads some slack.

To quote Jay from 40-year old virgin:
Click to expand...
Steve Henry runs a Yamaha from Edge Performance in his Highlander.

But I have heard the Honda venture has been better.
 
For today's project, I put an IO-540 into a Skyhawk.


IMG_20250127_103122888_HDR.jpgIMG_20250127_103127397_HDR.jpg

Well, most of one anyway. Still waiting on the effing crankcase. For those keeping score:

I was originally quoted 4 weeks on Oct. 23, 2024.
After 4 weeks, I called and was told, "a couple more weeks"
After a couple more weeks, it was "After Thanksgiving.
After Thanksgiving it was "before Christmas"
On Jan 2, 2025, it was "next week"
On Jan 12, it was "by the end of the week"
By the end of the week, it was "Mon. or Tue. of next week for sure.
On Thursday of that week, it was "Shop foreman said we'd definitely ship it tomorrow". That was last Thursday. It didn't ship Friday. The intervals HAVE been getting shorter...

It feels like one of those math problems where the answer "approaches" zero.

Anyway. Had a nice flight today. Hit 900 hours. First time I've flown in four weeks. It was six weeks before that. I'm a little amazed I still remember how to do it. Thank God for the RV project or I would've really been going nuts this last month.

IMG_20250127_100412257.jpg
 
Jim K said:
For today's project, I put an IO-540 into a Skyhawk.


View attachment 137529View attachment 137530

Well, most of one anyway. Still waiting on the effing crankcase. For those keeping score:

I was originally quoted 4 weeks on Oct. 23, 2024.
After 4 weeks, I called and was told, "a couple more weeks"
After a couple more weeks, it was "After Thanksgiving.
After Thanksgiving it was "before Christmas"
On Jan 2, 2025, it was "next week"
On Jan 12, it was "by the end of the week"
By the end of the week, it was "Mon. or Tue. of next week for sure.
On Thursday of that week, it was "Shop foreman said we'd definitely ship it tomorrow". That was last Thursday. It didn't ship Friday. The intervals HAVE been getting shorter...

It feels like one of those math problems where the answer "approaches" zero.

Anyway. Had a nice flight today. Hit 900 hours. First time I've flown in four weeks. It was six weeks before that. I'm a little amazed I still remember how to do it. Thank God for the RV project or I would've really been going nuts this last month.
Click to expand...

At this rate you should have all kinds of airplane parts just in time to go farming
 
RockyMtnFlyer said:
Hope that crankshaft was strapped down; that could cause a headache!
Click to expand...
Not even remotely fun fact - a young guy (about a year out of college) I knew got killed by test equipment when he went into a ditch in a company car.

But, yea. Secure that ****.
 
Jim K said:
Well, most of one anyway. Still waiting on the effing crankcase. For those keeping score:

I was originally quoted 4 weeks on Oct. 23, 2024.
After 4 weeks, I called and was told, "a couple more weeks"
After a couple more weeks, it was "After Thanksgiving.
After Thanksgiving it was "before Christmas"
On Jan 2, 2025, it was "next week"
On Jan 12, it was "by the end of the week"
By the end of the week, it was "Mon. or Tue. of next week for sure.
On Thursday of that week, it was "Shop foreman said we'd definitely ship it tomorrow". That was last Thursday. It didn't ship Friday. The intervals HAVE been getting shorter...

It feels like one of those math problems where the answer "approaches" zero.
Click to expand...
Maybe you should graph the function and see where the answer gets close enough to zero that there's no longer any meaningful delay, and then plan on that. ;)

For some reason this reminded me of the "Gabriel's Horn" function. It has finite volume but infinite surface area - You can fill it with paint, but you can't paint it.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
Not even remotely fun fact - a young guy (about a year out of college) I knew got killed by test equipment when he went into a ditch in a company car.

But, yea. Secure that ****.
Click to expand...
My grandpa had an engine block in the back of his pickup, rear-ended somebody, and the engine block came to rest in the seat beside him.

Yup…secure that ****.
 
Jim K said:
Well, most of one anyway. Still waiting on the effing crankcase. For those keeping score:

I was originally quoted 4 weeks on Oct. 23, 2024.
After 4 weeks, I called and was told, "a couple more weeks"
After a couple more weeks, it was "After Thanksgiving.
After Thanksgiving it was "before Christmas"
On Jan 2, 2025, it was "next week"
On Jan 12, it was "by the end of the week"
By the end of the week, it was "Mon. or Tue. of next week for sure.
On Thursday of that week, it was "Shop foreman said we'd definitely ship it tomorrow". That was last Thursday. It didn't ship Friday. The intervals HAVE been getting shorter...

It feels like one of those math problems where the answer "approaches" zero.

Anyway. Had a nice flight today. Hit 900 hours. First time I've flown in four weeks. It was six weeks before that. I'm a little amazed I still remember how to do it. Thank God for the RV project or I would've really been going nuts this last month.
Click to expand...

Welcome to doing anything with a machine shop. Aircraft parts and specialty shops are no exception to this.

I'm just wrapping up an engine that I started overhauling back in 2020. The case had to get worked on twice to get it right.
 
MauleSkinner said:
My grandpa had an engine block in the back of his pickup, rear-ended somebody, and the engine block came to rest in the seat beside him.

Yup…secure that ****.
Click to expand...

I have a similar story - had a stripped small block Ford block in the baggage area of the SUV I was driving when I got rear ended. It stayed behind the front seats but bounced off every wall and the ceiling behind me multiple times during the accident. I knew I should have strapped it down but didn't bother because I didn't figure the chances of an accident were too high. Never again.
 
mondtster said:
Welcome to doing anything with a machine shop. Aircraft parts and specialty shops are no exception to this.

I'm just wrapping up an engine that I started overhauling back in 2020. The case had to get worked on twice to get it right.
Click to expand...
I've built a few automotive and tractor engines. The machine shops I've dealt with have been fairly accurate on their time estimates. This is just bizarre to me. Why would they say four weeks? They HAVE to know how long it takes. It's not even my case, it's one they had, so they knew what it needed. I probably would've done an IRAN using my existing case had I known how long it would actually take. For that matter, G&N did the same thing to me...Original estimate was 3 weeks from when I dropped parts off in early Nov. and I'm just getting them back today.

Oh well. Water under the bridge now.

RockyMtnFlyer said:
Hope that crankshaft was strapped down; that could cause a headache!
Click to expand...
Yeah...I originally had every intention of wrapping the seat belt around it, but I was cold and got in a rush.

MauleSkinner said:
My grandpa had an engine block in the back of his pickup, rear-ended somebody, and the engine block came to rest in the seat beside him.
Click to expand...
I once had a 50HP 3PH electric motor in the back of my old single cab pickup. It was huge...several hundred pounds, and strapped down to a pallet. I was driving through town, and had to make an emergency stop. That stupid thing slid forward and when the pallet hit the front of the bed, it pole vaulted the motor into the back window. I would've been wearing it, but it was a little too big to fit through the window opening. Beat the hell out of the back of the cab, and covered me in glass, which I can still hear rattling in the crevices in the back of the cab to this day.
 
Jim K said:
I've built a few automotive and tractor engines. The machine shops I've dealt with have been fairly accurate on their time estimates. This is just bizarre to me. Why would they say four weeks? They HAVE to know how long it takes. It's not even my case, it's one they had, so they knew what it needed. I probably would've done an IRAN using my existing case had I known how long it would actually take. For that matter, G&N did the same thing to me...Original estimate was 3 weeks from when I dropped parts off in early Nov. and I'm just getting them back today.

Oh well. Water under the bridge now.
Click to expand...

Like I said, this is common practice whether people like it or not. Some of it likely stems from parts supply issues but some of it also stems from other jobs that may have come in later than yours taking priority.

I've got a block getting a sleeved at the only local machine shop that is reliable right now. I dropped it off mid November with a two week promise. Still haven't seen it but I'm told they finally have all the parts in their possession to do the work so it should be "soon". The only way around these delays is don't take stuff to a machine shop or buy all the tooling and do it yourself. Neither is a practical approach for most. At least you'll likely have the engine completed before a year has passed.
 
Jim K said:
Fair enough, and I would trust most any competent machine shop (few & far between these days) to turn the crank, install valve guides, press rod bushings, etc.
Click to expand...
Be aware that most aircraft crankshafts are nitrided for strength and hardness, and after regrinding they have to be renitrided. The equipment for that is scarce and expensive. I don't know if any auto cranks are nitrided. Maybe some racing cranks.

There are numerous ADs on crankshafts that were not properly machined or repaired by some companies. Ignorance ends up costing the owner a lot of money for a new crank, if he's lucky enough that the "repaired" crank didn't fail him in flight.

For instance, AD 98-17-11:

1738019122478.png

There follows a long list of the affected cranks by engine model and serial number, both Continental and Lycoming, all across the ranges of engine models. At a minimum, the engine has to be opened up, and the crank inspected and quite possibly need further repair or replacement. Apparently the nitriding wasn't done right.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top