Turbo V-clamp

[NewMoon]

I am not sure if this has been brought up lately but does anyone know where I might buy 1 v-clamp for the Acclaim  550-G?

Appreciate any help.

[Steve Dawson]

Do you have the manufacturers part number? Not the one from Continental. If you find it, there maybe some available from other sources 

[Brandt]

On 1/4/2024 at 7:49 PM, NewMoon said:

I am not sure if this has been brought up lately but does anyone know where I might buy 1 v-clamp for the Acclaim  550-G?

Appreciate any help.

I have had one on backorder since March. Last I heard was maybe this coming April. Not what you want to hear, but so you know. 

[Pinecone]

Might want to call GAMI, they were working on an AMOC clamp.

[jetdriven]

On 1/10/2024 at 8:16 PM, Brandt said:

I have had one on backorder since March. Last I heard was maybe this coming April. Not what you want to hear, but so you know. 

I think yours are the riveted kind.  

[Pinecone]

Not that they are available either.

I talked to Frank Crawford at MooneyMax, and he was trying to get the bean counters to have Mooney start making them.  A HUGE market, as every turbo engine has at least one.

[shawnd]

I am sure many folks will buy two if not three for backup

[Pinecone]

It depends on the price.

I managed to get one through my FBO for about $400.   I have heard that they are listed as out of stock for $1200 or more these days.

I doubt I would buy 2 or 3 at those prices.

[Fly Boomer]

3 hours ago, Pinecone said:

I managed to get one through my FBO for about $400.   I have heard that they are listed as out of stock for $1200 or more these days.

Was that something they had on the shelf, or do they have a lower-cost source?

[N201MKTurbo]

You can get a functionally equivalent clamp from Amazon for $19. 

[Pinecone]

On 1/13/2024 at 2:55 PM, Fly Boomer said:

Was that something they had on the shelf, or do they have a lower-cost source?

They ordered it from one of their parts suppliers.

[hubcap]

On 1/13/2024 at 5:11 PM, N201MKTurbo said:

You can get a functionally equivalent clamp from Amazon for $19. 

Wonder what the difference is, other than the price?

[N201MKTurbo]

30 minutes ago, hubcap said:

Wonder what the difference is, other than the price?

I have no data to back it up, but I think you would be safer putting on a $19 Amazon clamp every few years than trying to nurse a 40 year old $1000 Continental clamp. 

[hubcap]

10 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I have no data to back it up, but I think you would be safer putting on a $19 Amazon clamp every few years than trying to nurse a 40 year old $1000 Continental clamp. 

They have exhaust clamps that look identical in the Summit Racing catalog.

[N201MKTurbo]

1 hour ago, hubcap said:

They have exhaust clamps that look identical in the Summit Racing catalog.

Yea, but they are really expensive, like $35.

[dkkim73]

I'm honestly curious (and maybe this is obvious to most here), but what exactly is the threshold for using an alternative part? 
I've read discussions here about AMOC (approval for alternative compliance) and also owner-produced parts (seems like it could be a wide range). Another thread involves people just re-relaying their electrical systems to make them simpler, all with sound rationale but different from spec and no mention of any approval. All of this seems more than "preventive maintenance". 

Is it essentially down to the judgment of the A&P and what he/she feels comfortable with bolting on? I have had several conversations with a conservative but very experienced Mooney IA, and he said, "well if it fails it's a blowtorch pointed at your firewall", also mentioned the non-welded clamps have a limited # of approved torquings to boot.  A local A&P who I don't know as well yet but with lots of years commented to me he had potentially found an alternative clamp. From first principles, it would seem that there should be functionally-equivalent non-aviation parts, given all the turbos out there in the world (most not on airplanes). But... how might one tell what are the key criteria? Or is this possibly all much ado about nothing. Using unicorn hide when vinyl would do, or at least suede...

 

[N201MKTurbo]

11 minutes ago, dkkim73 said:

I'm honestly curious (and maybe this is obvious to most here), but what exactly is the threshold for using an alternative part? 
I've read discussions here about AMOC (approval for alternative compliance) and also owner-produced parts (seems like it could be a wide range). Another thread involves people just re-relaying their electrical systems to make them simpler, all with sound rationale but different from spec and no mention of any approval. All of this seems more than "preventive maintenance". 

Is it essentially down to the judgment of the A&P and what he/she feels comfortable with bolting on? I have had several conversations with a conservative but very experienced Mooney IA, and he said, "well if it fails it's a blowtorch pointed at your firewall", also mentioned the non-welded clamps have a limited # of approved torquings to boot.  A local A&P who I don't know as well yet but with lots of years commented to me he had potentially found an alternative clamp. From first principles, it would seem that there should be functionally-equivalent non-aviation parts, given all the turbos out there in the world (most not on airplanes). But... how might one tell what are the key criteria? Or is this possibly all much ado about nothing. Using unicorn hide when vinyl would do, or at least suede...

 

I have wondered the same thing. My plane is old enough to comply. 

I have a friend who fabricates turbo systems for race cars. I asked him if he has ever heard of a V-band clamp failing. He said he has not. He has heard of just about everything else failing.

[MikeOH]

5 hours ago, hubcap said:

Wonder what the difference is, other than the price?

Paperwork, of course!

[shawnd]

Link for curious folks: https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/exhaust-clamps/product-line/summit-racing-interlocking-v-band-exhaust-clamps

Wondering if the lock nut being used is of the nylon insert kind from the looks of it? See below...

 

 

as compared to:

[N201MKTurbo]

4 hours ago, shawnd said:

Link for curious folks: https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/exhaust-clamps/product-line/summit-racing-interlocking-v-band-exhaust-clamps

Wondering if the lock nut being used is of the nylon insert kind from the looks of it? See below...

 

 

as compared to:

I can change the nut out.

[N201MKTurbo]

Luckily, my STC calls out an RJ0193 clamp. They are available for $260.

[dzeleski]

5 hours ago, shawnd said:

Link for curious folks: https://www.summitracing.com/search/part-type/exhaust-clamps/product-line/summit-racing-interlocking-v-band-exhaust-clamps

Wondering if the lock nut being used is of the nylon insert kind from the looks of it? See below...

 

 

as compared to:

If that clamp has nylon it is meant for the cold side of the turbo system. Intercooler, intake, etc.

They also make clamps for the hot side as well. It could also just be the wrong display photo.

That being said that nut looks more like a notched and crushed nut rather than a nylon locker.

I have a box of these clamps in various sizes from building turbo kits and exhaust systems. The fact that these are anything more than $50 is what really frustrates me about GA.

[Pinecone]

3 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I can change the nut out.

Hmm, would that make it an owner produced part????

I cannot imagine that the aircraft clamps are made in a different factory or in a different manner than the auto ones.

[jetdriven]

Given as there is an AD on these, and how critical they are when they fail. it better be an exact copy or better than the OEM part. I bet the Amazon version is not made with the proper metal or a cheaper stud, or something else. Theres also batches of items made and presumably some of them have been tested.  Im all for owner produced parts and substitutions but this is the jesus nut of a turbocharged airplane.

[shawnd]

8 minutes ago, jetdriven said:

but this is the jesus nut of a turbocharged airplane.

Couldn't have captured it better! Maybe they test the aviation ones for repeated heat cycles and tolerance up to certain temperature ranges. I tried looking at tech specs on the Summit Racing site but couldnt find it on their site. On a race car - if you don't already have a fire restraint system, you can still pull over, unlatch your harness and jump out. Up in the air, we are SOL'ed and can't just crash the plane to "get to a quick exit".