I was looking at an airplane with a friend the engine had an O-360 with only 600 hours SMOH but it was last overhauled in the 80s. The engine runs smooth, good compression, and the owner had the crank borescoped a couple years ago. The engine maybe 300 hours in the last 3 years. Should I assume I need to overhaul or replace it right away? Are old overhauls generally OK to fly?
Mid time engine but overhauled long ago.
- Thread starter Skylark23
- Start date
Good compressions? What about the accessories? That’s what I’d be most interested in if the compressions are good. I’d go fly!
Being run 300 hours in the most recent 3 years along with good compression would go a long way towards easing my mind. I wouldn’t put money on it making TBO, but I would be pleasantly surprised if it did, or even close.
If it made it 300 hours in the last few years it is probably okay. But any engine is a gamble, some more than others. Without knowing anything other than what is communicated here, I'd categorize the risk for needing an overhaul soon as moderate.
I understand compressions were great but haven't seen the numbers yet and accessories seem to have been maintained or upgraded.
We have a call into the mechanic to talk to him.
We got a quote for an overhaul for $39k and 12 month lead time for new cylinders. That downtime scares me.
Last edited:
A boroscope a few years ago tells you nothing today. So re-do it and include the cam as well. Last o/h of the carb, last rebuilt of the mags and condition of the risers are those items I would look for after 40 years in service.
Are there a series or recent oil analysis reports you can look at? If the 300 hours are recent, it seems like whatever might happen, would already happened.
It wouldn't scare me but I'd dig a little
It wouldn't scare me but I'd dig a little
So; the first time I met the Cherokee 140 it was lifted high on jacks.
The reason was so when ( not IF) the nearby river flooded!
And it had not flown in 20+ years. Good start?
We pulled all cylinders and accessories and found no rust.
We will be doing the mag 500 Hour shortly as that’s how much it’s flown in
the last 10 years. You can get lucky sometimes!
The reason was so when ( not IF) the nearby river flooded!
And it had not flown in 20+ years. Good start?
We pulled all cylinders and accessories and found no rust.
We will be doing the mag 500 Hour shortly as that’s how much it’s flown in
the last 10 years. You can get lucky sometimes!