No Back Clutch Spring M20-282-0001 Eaton Kit Update Good News

[Pinecone]

3 hours ago, cliffy said:

The failure mode of the spring was one of the "ears" breaking off due to minute cracks in the bend area in a production run of springs. It had something to do with the heat treatment. 

The new springs SEEM to be exact clones of the historical design. Once the failure mode was determined subsequent production runs didn't seem to have any failures IIRC.

Historically, as noted, very few springs failed but if it does you have a real problem in flight. 

From what I have read, they bent the ears after they heat treated the spring.  That is bassackwards.  

Bend THEN heat treat.

Not sure of what the failure mode of the few failures of the springs in the production aircraft was.

[Pinecone]

4 hours ago, Slick Nick said:

But do you buy it to have a spare on the shelf? Or do you have it installed and keep your original as a spare?

What is the failure mode of this spring? Is this design any better / more durable? Is there something about the new spring that precludes the likelihood of failure compared to my stock one? Or is it the exact same design, and it should be more durable simply by the fact that it's got fewer cycles on it?

From all the reading I have done.  I would NOT replace my spring unless there was some indication that there was an issue.  Don Maxwell says you can tell when doing the gear swing during annual that it is having issues.

For the right price, I would buy one and put it on the shelf, just in case mine started making noise.

[MikeOH]

@Pinecone

I'm guessing that $3,000 isn't the 'right price'

Oh, and might I suggest a safety deposit box vs. 'on the shelf' as a secure storage location

[cliffy]

On 10/28/2024 at 10:32 AM, 1980Mooney said:

You just made the case for Lasar to raise the price even more.  Heck it would still be a bargain at $6,000 or even $12,000 for the spring given the price to repair or replace the geared up Mooney. 

But that logic and reality is exactly what is driving Private Equity to buy up general aviation suppliers. and raise prices. Hartzell/Arcline Investment acquisition and price increase has been discussed here.  Vance Street Capital Partners bought McFarlane, Tempest, Marvel-Schebler, AirForms, PMA Parts, Precision Airmotive, Alcor, CFS Fuel Systems, etc and call is VS Victor Sierra Aviation Holdings.  Lesser know is Warburg Pincus's early move to acquire and consolidate aviation avionics suppliers primarily to the Department of Defense  - it is called Extant Aerospace and now owned by TransDigm.  They bought the old Goodrich/L3 Harris line for instance.  They are not shy about jacking prices and screwing everyone including the DOD.  If you have a WX-500 for instance, they are now selling it for $23,000. 

 

No different than the guy who "reserved"  all the short N numbers and now sells them online

One of those "why didn't I think of that" moments

[GeeBee]

I must say, last week I called Lasar and bought a toothbrush.