Flightless Bird - Engine Time

[aviatoreb]

Well - it's Engine Time.  I dropped my airplane off at Weber for engine overhaul.  My TSIO520NB is at 2050 hrs - on a 1600hr TBO engine.  It was going ok but I decided enough is enough.

When I bought this airplane in 2010 it had like 700hrs on the engine but the owner I bought it from who had owned it for 1 year had bought it from a widow and it had sat unused for 3 years or so.  So I was worried about corrosion and it wouldn't go the distance.  But I got it for a fantastic price in that post 2007 crash economy.  I was prepared to need to overhaul it sometime in 100hrs or so...but I guess it made it the distance.  Hello Penn Yan.  

Can't wait.  Is it Spring time yet?  I am a flightless bird for the time being.

[wombat]

Was there actually anything going on with the engine at the moment other than hours?  Temps?  Oil consumption or color?

[aviatoreb]

9 hours ago, wombat said:

Was there actually anything going on with the engine at the moment other than hours?  Temps?  Oil consumption or color?

Mostly hours.  I have felt a slight reduction in general power in the last year like getting tired but not drastic.  Sone moderate elevated oil analysis values.  No smoking gun but that and hours I figured ok let’s do it.  In the winter a time of my choosing.

[T. Peterson]

I sure wish the engine I was getting for my 231 was a 520!!

[A64Pilot]

If it’s an Overhaul and not an exchange I think your smart for doing it before you see metal in the oil, If done near TBO my experience is overhauls are far less expensive because nearly all the expensive bits are serviceable. Once one starts making metal it’s probably more cost effective to pony up the big bucks for either a zero time or factory exchange, I’ve seen field overhauls end up costing more by the time a new crank etc are purchased.

I know 470’s, 520 and 550’s are essentially the same motors but I’ve always had better luck with 520’s than most 550 owners I know,,but most of my experience is with them in Cessna’s which run them hard. (300 HP)

[bigmo]

Penn owner here. When I did the pre buy on my F, the first comment from the mechanic was "This engine is absolutely beautiful." Not sure what their overhaul costs are now (PO paid about $21K, but it's been 10 years). Fingers crossed I have LOTS of trouble free hours ahead of me.

Good luck and looking forward to spring!