Cyril Gibb Posted October 27, 2013 Report Posted October 27, 2013 Any recommendations for a REALLY good, REALLY thorough pre-purchase on a M20J in the Calgary area? (not Cavalier Aviation - don't ask)
FBCK Posted October 27, 2013 Report Posted October 27, 2013 I agree with the Cavalier non vote- dont ask either. I've been taking my Mooney to Doug Foster for a year now and I have been very impressed and this is after going though three different shops in the past four years, I cant believe some of these guys are not killing pilots, oh wait now , one did. I found him to be good business man and while not listed as a Mooney expert, knew my 231 like the back of his hand. He knew what the issues would be with a legacy Mooney. The best in the area I think.
FBCK Posted October 27, 2013 Report Posted October 27, 2013 Sorry, the shops name is Foster Aviation, from Edmonton City Centre but moved a fewwyears back with City Centre closing in the next week . If you are buying a local bird I may know it, so PM me if your interested. http://www.fosteraircraft.com/index.html
Chris Strube Posted October 27, 2013 Report Posted October 27, 2013 Agree with not going to Cavalier. No good since Mike sold it. I've used Greg Silcox at Springbank. He works out of Innovative wings.
Cyril Gibb Posted October 29, 2013 Author Report Posted October 29, 2013 Further to the pre-purchase, I have a question that I haven't clearly seen answered. With an engine that hasn't been run regularly, there's a real concern about cam/lifter spalling... I get that. I also know that it's a crap shoot in a lot of cases and often the engine starts to come apart in the first 100 hours or less. For potential purchasers, it'd be educational to know if it's occaisional, often, usually or most always. The question is: has anyone that bought an infrequently flown plane and had a pre-purchase that did an oil analysis, checked the filter element to check for metal, pulled 2 jugs to visually inspect each lobe of the cam and borescoped the remaining 2 cylinders had a subsequent failure? And to balance that out, who has done all that and had no failure in the next 100 or so hours?
mike_elliott Posted October 30, 2013 Report Posted October 30, 2013 Getting a seller to let you pull jugs off the engine might be somewhat of a trick in itself. Mike Busch warns of the danger of even doing top ends. I know I wouldn't agree to letting a buyer yank apart my engine. After his check clears, if he wants to disassemble it, no problem. I would be agreeable to let him measure the valve lift, however, with a dial indicator at the valve stem during a prepurchase. 1
fantom Posted October 30, 2013 Report Posted October 30, 2013 And to balance that out, who has done all that and had no failure in the next 100 or so hours? I'm betting....nobody. Unfortunate overreaction to several spalling reports and concerns, IMO. There are no absolute guarantees, either in aviation or in life, my friend.
Highflight Posted October 30, 2013 Report Posted October 30, 2013 I NEED A MECHANIC IN THE PALM BEACH AREA FOR ANNUALS. I HEARD ABOUT STEVE CRAFT. ANYONE HAVE A PHONE NUMBER ?
mike_elliott Posted October 30, 2013 Report Posted October 30, 2013 I NEED A MECHANIC IN THE PALM BEACH AREA FOR ANNUALS. I HEARD ABOUT STEVE CRAFT. ANYONE HAVE A PHONE NUMBER ? You might consider Phil Jiminez at KAVO. Very reasonable, very mooney savvy. (863) 873-9999 I don't know Steve. 1
Cyril Gibb Posted October 30, 2013 Author Report Posted October 30, 2013 I'm betting....nobody. Unfortunate overreaction to several spalling reports and concerns, IMO. There are no absolute guarantees, either in aviation or in life, my friend. Heaven knows I've been around enough years to know about life's guarantees. I do think however that it's an unanswered question if doing all I've mentioned during an engine inspection is worth it. If it isn't, then I'm cool with that. I've sent an email to Mike Busch directly to see if he has an opinion... hopefully he'll respond and with his permission I'll add that info to this thread.
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