IO-360 A3B6D Magneto cost

[redbaron1982]

Hi all,

Sorry to make a silly question, but I couldn't find the answer online. What's the cost of a brand new magneto for the IO-360 A3B6D? My endless first annual now says that the magneto case is cracked, they are quoting me 1600usd to replace the case + whatever it cost to repair any damage part inside, or 2900usd for a overhauled part.

A quick search for magnetos for IO 360 but other model give me a total cost of 1000usd aprox.

Is the shop ripping me off?

[toto]

As far as I know, there are zero companies currently manufacturing the D3000 mags. Kelly has a PMA to make every component including the housing, but technically they can’t produce a brand new mag.

[EricJ]

Kelly Aerospace is the place to ask.   You can likely send yours in for overhaul and they'll replace the broken case, and you'll get an overhauled unit back.    They may sell new as well, since they're PMA for all the parts.    That price isn't out of line.   You're paying for both mags at the time with these.   You can check directly with Kelly for retail prices.

https://kellyaero.com/

 

[PT20J]

First annuals are like that. Usually some surprises. Hopefully the really expensive ones were found during the pre-purchase inspection.

[redbaron1982]

22 minutes ago, PT20J said:

First annuals are like that. Usually some surprises. Hopefully the really expensive ones were found during the pre-purchase inspection.

Hope didn't help in this one, this is the second big item that was not caught in a 17 hours pre buys inspection performed 2 weeks before, by the same shop that is now doing the annual. First finding, stub wing spar cap corrosion, still trying to figure out how much and who can do the job, but's going to be around 15k. This one, between 1.7k and 3k.

MSC service is crap, at least this one. Now I'm in mode "I need to get this finished" and not complaining much, they have been performing the annual for almost 2 months already (they started on Dec 20th). Still they haven't given me a clear completion date for all the finding, and they are still coming up with "surprises".

Anyway, this is already off topic, but I'm quite disappointed and feeling hopeless with this shitty shops.

[EricJ]

48 minutes ago, redbaron1982 said:

MSC service is crap, at least this one. Now I'm in mode "I need to get this finished" and not complaining much, they have been performing the annual for almost 2 months already (they started on Dec 20th). Still they haven't given me a clear completion date for all the finding, and they are still coming up with "surprises".

Bummer.   That sucks, but many of us have been there.   My airplane was held hostage for four months by an IA doing the annual (for the seller), who "kept finding new things" because the seller was remote and paying for everything and not very good at managing it.  Then a prebuy and repairs at a reputable MSC, then a lot of time re-doing many of those repairs which weren't done very well.   Sadly, it's not a new or unusual story and many of us can relate.

 

[PT20J]

I purchased my first M20J, a 1978 model in 1987. The first annual was done by Tom Rouch (shortly before he and Gordon Wooley started Top Gun). SBM20-208 was hot off the press and, of course, my plane had had a leaky pilot's window which I had fixed, but the damage had been done. One tube needed replacement which required removing rivets and peeling back skin and cutting and welding and re-riveting. And there were a few other things. That annual cost about $5K (about $12,500  today). For the next two years, it seemed like every time I flew it something broke that cost a few hundred to fix. But after a couple of years, by deferring no maintenance to annual and doing owner-assisted annuals with the late, great Vern Miller, my average annual inspection cost less than $1000.

My current 1994 M20J was purchased in 2018. It was low time, two owner and well maintained. The engine was burning oil -- 2 hrs/qt -- but running well, and passed pre-purchase (compressions in the 70s, filter clean, normal oil analysis, borescope done personally by Don Maxwell showing only minor pitting). I negotiated a bit figuring a top overhaul was in the future. First annual found a broken ring, damaged piston and spalled camshaft. Put in a factory rebuilt for $40K. Got tired of playing whack-a-mole with random avionics failures in 25 year-old equipment and just put in an $80K Garmin panel. But I still do owner-assisted annuals for which my IA charges a ridiculously meager $750, "because I do all the dirty work and the airframe is so clean."

So, my experience is that these things are expensive and the first annual and first few years are a bit of a crapshoot. But at some point you can get it under control. 

Skip

[Guest]

The current situation in the industry is bad and only getting worse.  It’s getting harder to find young people interested in any trades, let alone aviation where wages have lagged and the attitude of customers toward the technicians is so poor.

Hiring ex airline maintainers brings in a whole new set of attitudes and work ethics.  They work slower with little understanding of economic realities.

Clarence

[A64Pilot]

The sad truth is an A&P doesn’t make nearly as much money as a mechanic at the local John Deere tractor place, so imagine your a young 20 yr old who likes to work on things, what is your choice? Aviation with it’s lower pay, a couple of years apprentice program and several very difficult to pass FAA tests, or the John Deere shop which will send you to JD school which I assume is a couple of weeks or so?

Oh, and don’t forget the liability, seems every pilot / owner wants to sue you and take your 20 yr old truck and Mobile home.

Then factor in that in all honest truth the average 20 yr old has zero mechanical aptitude now, don’t believe me? It’s what the big Home Improvement stores have classes on how to read a ruler etc now, because their sales have dropped, because the kids can’t DIY anymore.

https://www.bigissue.com/news/why-millennials-dont-diy-a-very-21st-century-problem/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilhowe/2014/07/02/millennials-struggle-to-pass-life-skills-101/?sh=48ec94ea79e7

Edited February 12, 2022 by A64Pilot