Can we agree to not use scraps to fix our planes?

[Oldguy]

Coming out of New Orleans two weeks ago, I felt a new vibration in the plane. Checking gauges, avionics and anything I could revealed nothing out of the ordinary. Completed the flight and when I came back the next day to do an in-depth cleaning on the plane, I noticed the flexible exhaust strap had broken. Ordered a new one and when I took the old one off, I found it was from a piece of old tire cut and drilled with holes to use instead of the actual part.

 

Okay, I am as much a CB as anyone, but, really? Do our planes deserve to be pieced together with scraps for discarded tires? Sure, it probably did not make any difference, but now I am wondering what else on the plane was "repaired" with something other than the correct part. Maybe nothing. Maybe nothing that matters. But maybe not...

 

End of rant.

 

John

[lamont337]

Wow. Wondering if this was a hard-to-come-by part at some point? I wouldn't be very happy to find that either. Actually, as I sit here thinking about it I seem to recall a service bulletin about that part... Fuzzy memory though, could be mistaken.

[Ftlausa]

Funny that you should mention this part.  I just replaced mine this week after it failed.  Ordered direct from Power Flow and consisted of 4 thin strips of rubber, but was definitely not used tire. 

[TWinter]

and a Cooper at that, not even Michelin. Just kidding. Glad your safe and have the right part. You do have a very good point. We can only hope the prior custodians of our birds kept the future safety in mind.

[Alan Fox]

Actually the exhaust hangers for automotive are made from used tires , I cant speak for the Mooney part , but that may be how they are made.....

[MB65E]

I have used new hose material on installations in the past. It at least has a steel braid in it. That reminds me I should change mine this year.

-Matt

[carusoam]

The part in the photo is clearly marked 'Good'.

[Hank]

The part in the photo is clearly marked 'Good'.

Best regards,

-a-

Even has the winged foot after the 'D'. Still not how I want my aircraft maintained.

[N201MKTurbo]

When I had my F I messed with that thing for years. I finally just took it off and never had any more problems

[TWinter]

After looking closer you are correct!,. however, Michelins would have "clearly" lasted longer..lol.

I don't care what it's says as long as some where it says " FAA Certified ".

[carl]

I side with the Goodyear.

 

But ok , Im in, No  Scraps. 

carl

[N201MKTurbo]

No scraps, use a new tire!

[rbridges]

I ordered a few of those from Joey cole. He told me they were 25 each. I kinda laughed and said that's expensive for something that looks like a chunk of tire. He told me he's seen several mooneys that had a piece of tire holding their exhaust.

[Yetti]

obviously amateurs CB.  Should have used the steel belted section

[jetdriven]

Mine broke and I read on here to use s tire sidewall for a new one. Call it owner produced but it's better than the presumably factory piece that was on there. It's lasted 500+ hours now.

[Guest Mike261]

my 98 mooney has a chunk of tire there as well. its been there for 1300 hours. the owner produced part documentation is still with the logbook. My mechanic says its widely done, cheap, safe and durable.

mike

[orionflt]

The rubber part of the hanger is just tire side wall material cut into chunks specifically sized for the hanger. Looking at Johns pic it looks like who ever fashioned that owner produced part did not produce it to original specs. I personally would have no issue returning an aircraft to service with an owner produced part if it was properly made. 

 

Brian

 

John, Not saying you do not have a good point, but simply said if your going to fix it, fix it right the first time!

[Shadrach]

I'll play Devil's advocate. Almost nothing lasts forever regardless of who makes it. That piece is clearly ratty and has been for quite some time. It failed because the material is physically breaking down from age, heat cycles, etc...not because there's no Mooney part# stamped on the side. It should have been replaced several years ago. At a minimum it should have been caught at the last annual.

[jetdriven]

The hole wasn't in the center of the strap, and it tore out. It probably did take ten years to do it.

[C-GHIJ]

After 10 years of service...it was just plane tire'd.   Quit groaning, you were all thinking it.  LOL

[Andy95W]

After 10 years of service...it was just plane tire'd.   Quit groaning, you were all thinking it.  LOL

Luckily, it got re-tire'd just in time.