Turbo V band clamp AD

[Igor_U]

On 4/20/2024 at 2:54 PM, khedrei said:

So when pigs join us in the sky...

Hey, that happened 40 years ago. 

[khedrei]

Bumping this back up to the top.

Does anyone have any new info on this parts supply disaster that was created from the total overreaction of the FAA?

I have already paid for 2 clamps from Southern Cross aviation back in May that are now showing a ship date of Feb 2025.  That has been moved 3-4 times already from the original ship date.  There is little doubt that it doesn't happen again.

I would have expected the manufacturer to have done a few big production runs by now.  Seeing as the certification cost of these $7 clamps has already been accounted for, you would think someone would be happy to print a bunch of money.  $500 profit per clamp, X 25000 aircraft = $12 500 000.

Anyone with any inside info??

Edited December 12, 2024 by khedrei

[geoffb]

I got mine in about 8 weeks from Airpower.

[Kawabob]

What was the price from Airpower?

[geoffb]

I think it was $800.

[Kawabob]

Good, I think they higher now.

[N303FW]

Hey everyone, my aircraft is grounded because of this turbo clamp issue - anyone have an update or any ideas of how to find one?

[Z W]

6 hours ago, N303FW said:

Hey everyone, my aircraft is grounded because of this turbo clamp issue - anyone have an update or any ideas of how to find one?

Sorry to hear that.

Go to continental.aero and verify the part number you need for your particular engine serial number.

Order one from Airpower.com. They show backordered but are shipping them as they get them from Boeing, who makes them. Took me 4 months to get one but I got it this month.

Call RAM aircraft and see if they will sell you one of theirs. Consult your A&P to make sure they will install it. There may be issues with their PMA, which may or may not include the TSIO-360-GB/LB/MB/SB, depending on who you ask, though it's approved for the other models of the TSIO-360 used in the Piper Seneca. They may also be sold out again.

Be prepared to spend $850/1300 for whatever you get. Hope you get one soon.

[Ragsf15e]

6 hours ago, N303FW said:

Hey everyone, my aircraft is grounded because of this turbo clamp issue - anyone have an update or any ideas of how to find one?

I also ordered from airpower, but in January.  Apparently the last shipment they got was only ~12, so @Z W got lucky.  They are telling me ~may.  Definitely check RAM and consult with your IA to see if theirs is an option.

Curious, why is yours toast now instead of in July when they all are?

[LANCECASPER]

18 hours ago, N303FW said:

Hey everyone, my aircraft is grounded because of this turbo clamp issue - anyone have an update or any ideas of how to find one?

Going forward, as the supply chain catches up, since we are maintaining 15-70 year old airplanes, I thought it was a good idea to backorder an extra essential part like this to keep on hand. Not only will it most likely be more expensive in the future but it keeps me in the air. Plus if someone else is AOG, they can backorder one for me and I can let them have the one I have.

Most other airplane brand owners have figured out that it's an community effort by the owners to keep these airplanes flying. Mooney has gone through many ownership changes in the past 60 years and doesn't have any mandated obligation to keep the airplanes flying. However on parts that they manufacture, they have been very helpful in supporting the fleet. 

[N303FW]

13 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

I also ordered from airpower, but in January.  Apparently the last shipment they got was only ~12, so @Z W got lucky.  They are telling me ~may.  Definitely check RAM and consult with your IA to see if theirs is an option.

Curious, why is yours toast now instead of in July when they all are?

My engine had to be repaired and during reinstall my A&P told me my clamp PN: 653332 had timed out and they were unable to find a new one - they've had it on backorder for months. I discovered this thread and appreciate the community discussion and help.

[Ragsf15e]

1 hour ago, N303FW said:

My engine had to be repaired and during reinstall my A&P told me my clamp PN: 653332 had timed out and they were unable to find a new one - they've had it on backorder for months. I discovered this thread and appreciate the community discussion and help.

Interesting. Id have to read the AD again, but I thought that part number (same as mine) could continue to be used until July 17th as long as it passed inspection every 6 months.  Did it fail inspection?  

[Z W]

1 hour ago, N303FW said:

My engine had to be repaired and during reinstall my A&P told me my clamp PN: 653332 had timed out and they were unable to find a new one - they've had it on backorder for months. I discovered this thread and appreciate the community discussion and help.

The AD allows for inspection and re-use of the clamp until July 17. There's a procedure in the AD for it that involves looking at it with 10x magnification, and as long as there are no cracks and as long as the band's inner parts do not touch when tightened to the proper torque spec, it can be placed back in service. This inspection becomes required after 500 hours in service so maybe your A&P is a little confused on what "timed out" means.

I've attached the AD. I previously talked with some A&P's who said they are in fact inspecting and reusing clamps that pass, since new ones are not available.

AD_2023-09-09-compressed.pdf

[N303FW]

16 minutes ago, Z W said:

The AD allows for inspection and re-use of the clamp until July 17. There's a procedure in the AD for it that involves looking at it with 10x magnification, and as long as there are no cracks and as long as the band's inner parts do not touch when tightened to the proper torque spec, it can be placed back in service. This inspection becomes required after 500 hours in service so maybe your A&P is a little confused on what "timed out" means.

I've attached the AD. I previously talked with some A&P's who said they are in fact inspecting and reusing clamps that pass, since new ones are not available.

AD_2023-09-09-compressed.pdf 224.81 kB · 2 downloads

Thanks! I'll run in by my A&P. Appreciate the perpective

[Ragsf15e]

51 minutes ago, N303FW said:

Thanks! I'll run in by my A&P. Appreciate the perpective

 just read the AD carefully and be ready because it’s written in FAA speak designed to confuse the heck out of everyone!  Your IA might not want to read it the three or four times it takes!

[hubcap]

On 4/16/2025 at 1:46 PM, N303FW said:

Hey everyone, my aircraft is grounded because of this turbo clamp issue - anyone have an update or any ideas of how to find one?

I recently purchased 2 of the V-Band clamps from RAM. It is the replacement for part #653332. They were $499 each. They had them in stock a couple of weeks ago. I posted about this in another thread.

 

 

 

[N303FW]

On 4/17/2025 at 2:11 PM, Ragsf15e said:

 just read the AD carefully and be ready because it’s written in FAA speak designed to confuse the heck out of everyone!  Your IA might not want to read it the three or four times it takes!

I ran it by my IA and he agreed that they originally interpreted the time constrain on the AD incorrectly. They reinspected and  unfortunately the clamp failed the inspection. Hopefully Continental comes up with a soluton soon. Anyone want a 1981 231 with a freshly repaired engine, lol...

[exM20K]

1 hour ago, N303FW said:

I ran it by my IA and he agreed that they originally interpreted the time constrain on the AD incorrectly. They reinspected and  unfortunately the clamp failed the inspection. Hopefully Continental comes up with a soluton soon. Anyone want a 1981 231 with a freshly repaired engine, lol...

consider yourself fortunate if your IA found some sort of failure when he or she inspected the clamp.  Inflight failure is a bad, bad thing. Can you describe or share photos of the failed clamp?

-dan

[N303FW]

14 hours ago, exM20K said:

consider yourself fortunate if your IA found some sort of failure when he or she inspected the clamp.  Inflight failure is a bad, bad thing. Can you describe or share photos of the failed clamp?

-dan

Yeah, in flight failure is a very bad thing. My shop reread the AD and said there are 7 different ways the clamp can fail the required inspections and needs to be in practically new shape to pass. I believe mine failed because they found micro abraisions on the outside part of the band. No reason to risk it, I can wait and see what happens with clamp certification and production. Happy to have this resource to share info,

[Z W]

Did you read the AD yourself? The inspection procedure is on pages 23-25 of the AD document.

"Micro abrasions on the outside part of the band" are not a criteria for failing the permitted inspection. 

When mine was off, I did an inspection as described in the AD myself and found the clamp to be satisfactory. My A&P did the same inspection and passed it as well and reinstalled it. It stayed on for a month or so until I got the new riveted clamp installed. Ended up being only about 2 flight hours.

If you prefer to wait I completely understand and would not blame you in the least.

[Ragsf15e]

Mine shipped from airpower today!   I ordered in January, and they estimated end of year at first, but then updated to end of may.  There’s light at the end of this tunnel!

[shawnd]

Congrats @Ragsf15e - now cross the mountains and get over to the west side for lunch :-) 

[M20Kid]

I'm stuck in this V-Band clamp murk now.  I've called, texted, emailed - everyone.  The only supplier with stock is asking $3000 each now.  Ram says no more until at least March 2026 and Continental is still in certification on their own replacement.  With nobody currently producing them and the supply in the market dried up, I just don't know what to do.

I have one on back order at Air Power, but they took my order at Oshkosh 2024 (Yup, over a year ago and haven't shipped to me yet).  If anyone have a spare sitting around, I will gladly replace it when mine ships from Air Power, or any of the other places that all say they can get one - someday.  Or buy it from you outright.  By the way - RAM 2177-300 or Continental 653332.

Thank you!

[ad5ut]

8 hours ago, M20Kid said:

I'm stuck in this V-Band clamp murk now.  I've called, texted, emailed - everyone.  The only supplier with stock is asking $3000 each now.  Ram says no more until at least March 2026 and Continental is still in certification on their own replacement.  With nobody currently producing them and the supply in the market dried up, I just don't know what to do.

I have one on back order at Air Power, but they took my order at Oshkosh 2024 (Yup, over a year ago and haven't shipped to me yet).  If anyone have a spare sitting around, I will gladly replace it when mine ships from Air Power, or any of the other places that all say they can get one - someday.  Or buy it from you outright.  By the way - RAM 2177-300 or Continental 653332.

Thank you!

Good luck! At least you have the option to pay the $3k ransom and fly your plane if you get desperate. Maybe they will lower their price eventually since they might have gotten their hopes up when I was asking around at $3k for the Continental part only.

I've been offering $3k each for the Continental ones since the RAM PMA doesn't cover the -GB engine variant and have gotten zero non-scam responses. I finally went out to the plane yesterday at the airport where its stuck on the ramp and pulled the battery out getting it ready for the long wait until April in the hopes that Continental has something available for when their AMOC expires. Though somehow Continental thinks they can sell me a new engine with two of the same clamps on it in 16 weeks...

[M20Kid]

2 hours ago, ad5ut said:

Though somehow Continental thinks they can sell me a new engine with two of the same clamps on it in 16 weeks...

My understanding is that nobody will overhaul a GB engine without converting it to an LB.  My current understanding is it's a minor change and the GB is no longer supported.  If they can return the engine in ANY timeframe, then they MUST have some of these V Band clamps in stock in the overhaul shop.  Hoarders ...