Where to buy Lycoming parts?

[Lood]

Where or who in the US, would be best to buy new, certified Lycoming engine parts from? I got a rather nasty surprise yesterday morning and might be in for some serious repairs (read $$$$$$) on my engine. I'll have the final result of the tests, etc. by Monday afternoon and hopefully it will be good, but I'd like to start looking at all the options.

[Shadrach]

What kind of parts?  trade-a-plane.com will allow you to drill down by manufacturer or part type:

http://www.trade-a-plane.com/for-sale/parts/Engine+Parts

 

[Parker_Woodruff]

I assume you can buy them from Authorized service centers.  Don Maxwell is one.

903-643-9902

[Lood]

There's a great possibility that I'll have to replace the crankcase...

[Shadrach]

Quote: Lood

There's a great possibility that I'll have to replace the crankcase...

[N601RX]

Aircraft Specialties Service in Tulsa,Ok is one of the best. They have a very good stock and have the best prices.  They can also overhaul any of your steel parts.  They are next door to Divco who can overhaul your case and other aluminum parts.

[Shadrach]

Almost all of the CC shops are in Tulsa OK.

[N601RX]

Quote: Shadrach

Almost all of the CC shops are in Tulsa OK.

[flight2000]

I've used A.E.R.O. in the past for cylinder parts and full cylinder kits.  They are great to deal with in both shipping and returns if needed. They have some tighter security for International orders, but it doesn't look like a problem.

http://www.aeroinstock.com/

Brian

[sellis]

Aviall is a Lycoming parts distributor.

[N601RX]

Quote: flight2000

I've used A.E.R.O. in the past for cylinder parts and full cylinder kits.  They are great to deal with in both shipping and returns if needed. They have some tighter security for International orders, but it doesn't look like a problem.

http://www.aeroinstock.com/

Brian

[N601RX]

Also If your case is not repairable, Divco keeps a good supply of used overhauled cases.  If you send Andy at Divco a picture he can probably tell you if it is repairable.  If you do indeed have to buy a new case, then a Lycoming factory exchange motor may be a better deal.

 

http://www.divcoinc.com/about.asp

 

[Shadrach]

This is a relatively young engine, the internals would have to be trashed to make a Lycoming factory exchange a good deal and even then questionable. We opted for a field overhaul back in '99 precisely because we knew what we had... Unlike a factory reman or OH where you have a hodgepodge of components of various age and use that met serviceable specs...

[Lood]

The first setback on Friday was when I was informed that my crankcase had been repaired in the past. The repairs are clearly visible on the casting between cylinders #2 & 4 and this is exactly where some oil was spotted after our 10min test flight following repairs where the cylinders have been re-honed and new rings fitted all round.
We did a preliminary crack detection test but it's really difficult to get in there with the cylinders still on. So, I instructed the shop to pull the pots once again and do a thorough test. I'll probably get these result tomorrow.

I immediately though about going the factory reman route untill I heard the quote - unfortunately way beyond my financial capabilities and there have been a couple of instances where problems were encountered with factory remans.  Problem is not in getting it repaired under warranty, but in the cost to ship it half way around the world and back. To give you an idea, a factory reman plus labour would amount to more than 50% of the airplane's value. Same with a used, yellow tagged crankcase. Apparently, the chances are that you might receive one that might not be much better than your own. That's why I thought it best to replace the crankcase with a new one if mine is indeed cracked.

Thanks to all who provided advice and links to suppliers. I'll start following up once I get the final result on my engine's state.

[DaV8or]

Quote: Lood

Apparently, the chances are that you might receive one that might not be much better than your own. That's why I thought it best to replace the crankcase with a new one if mine is indeed cracked.

[Lood]

Dave, I'm sure that it would be possible to get a very good, used case. The problem seems not so much with cases that have been welded, but rather where a thru bolt leaked. Apparently, there are two mods that are done to prevent this and if it leaks again after the second mod, the case is being scrapped. I agree that it must be possible to ask for a case that has not been welded nor modded at the thru bolt.

[Shadrach]

Lood,

Is the case in question a narrow deck or a wide deck?

[Lood]

Hi Ross - it's a wide deck.

[N601RX]

Quote: Lood

Dave, I'm sure that it would be possible to get a very good, used case. The problem seems not so much with cases that have been welded, but rather where a thru bolt leaked. Apparently, there are two mods that are done to prevent this and if it leaks again after the second mod, the case is being scrapped. I agree that it must be possible to ask for a case that has not been welded nor modded at the thru bolt.

[Lood]

Thanks to all for your great advice and all the links! However, I received the good news yesterday afternoon. The crankcase is sound and the oil apparently leaked out between the cylinders and the crankcase. For some unknown reason, oversized seals were fitted when the cylinders were put back after being re-honed and this seems to have caused the leaking. The engine shop is confident that all will be fine when they replace the seals with standard ones like they were.

I plan to fetch the Mooney this coming Saturday and will see how it runs then. A friend will run it in the mean time to make sure all is well and that I don't go through all the trouble just to return home empty handed - like I did last week.

[Shadrach]

I am so glad that you did not have to go through what I did, though I thoroughly enjoyed doing the work. I hope that your cylinder replacement takes a chunk out of that speed deficit!