THIS is Why GA Will Die...

[Rotorhead]

$100 for these 2 barrel nuts... It's time like these that make me strongly reconsider jumping to the  experimental world at least.

[M20F]

I can understand as a rotor head why you would think these parts too cheap.  Don’t worry it’s ok and the manufacturer is making enough to not kill GA.  

[laytonl]

Perhaps an owner produced part is a better option.  Lee

[Rwsavory]

 GA has been "dying" for 50 years. I guess all the young folks buying airplanes didn't get the news.

[M20F]

20 minutes ago, Rwsavory said:

 GA has been "dying" for 50 years. I guess all the young folks buying airplanes didn't get the news.

Having been a young person once myself, got to say they ain’t that bright. 

[N201MKTurbo]

When I needed one, I asked the machine shop manager at the place I worked to make me one. 5 min later he brought me one.

I have made one before, just get some 5/16 rod, drill and tap a hole in the side, cut to length and put a screwdriver slot with a Dremel cutoff wheel.

[takair]

OP is right, crazy expensive.  I’ve made my own as well.  I’m surprised nobody has these as a PMA part….hmmm?

[Yetti]

I don't understand, but I did just spend 2 hours price shopping between Aircraft Spruce and Amazon.  

[EricJ]

3 minutes ago, Yetti said:

I don't understand, but I did just spend 2 hours price shopping between Aircraft Spruce and Amazon.  

The other day somebody on FB was looking for a replacement alternator belt and said they couldn't find the one they needed at aircraft spruce.   They posted a pic of an installed Gates belt with the PN showing...and several people noted that you can get those at many auto parts stores, amazon, etc., etc.   

[N201MKTurbo]

FWIW, the last time (and it was the last time) I paid for one of those was about 20 years ago. It was about $35. So the good news is they haven't gone up that much....

[Coachella Bravo]

As I recall back in the 80's the legal begals got a hold of the aviation industry.  They figured that product liability was a field worth pursuing.  Thats when aircraft prices spiked, along with tort lawsuits, etc, etc.

The problem is that the USA, especially here on the Left Coast, the gen pop has become so litigious. Why the lawyers can barely keep the lights on!!!

[Yetti]

1 hour ago, N201MKTurbo said:

FWIW, the last time (and it was the last time) I paid for one of those was about 20 years ago. It was about $35. So the good news is they haven't gone up that much....

My bigger concern is I don't know where these are on the engine.    With such and expensive piece of tapped rod stock, I really should know where it goes.

[N201MKTurbo]

1 minute ago, Yetti said:

My bigger concern is I don't know where these are on the engine.    With such and expensive piece of tapped rod stock, I really should know where it goes.

They hold the baffling on the corners of the cylinders. If they fail, you are not going to die.

[Utah20Gflyer]

I just bought a whole bunch of hardware from Aircraft spruce for 30 dollars - a small box worth.  Yes, occasionally a piece of hardware will be expensive but for the most part it really isn’t bad.  Let’s not get melodramatic about it.    
 

I’ve spent well into six figures on my plane over 4 years but only spent a couple hundred dollars on “expensive” hardware.  It’s just not a significant part of the cost of ownership.  

[Yetti]

3 hours ago, Utah20Gflyer said:

I just bought a whole bunch of hardware from Aircraft spruce for 30 dollars - a small box worth.  Yes, occasionally a piece of hardware will be expensive but for the most part it really isn’t bad.  Let’s not get melodramatic about it.    
 

I’ve spent well into six figures on my plane over 4 years but only spent a couple hundred dollars on “expensive” hardware.  It’s just not a significant part of the cost of ownership.  

Cheap bastard card revoked.

[Utah20Gflyer]

4 hours ago, Yetti said:

Cheap bastard card revoked.

LOL!

Yeah, I was always pretty borderline on CB status.  My maintenance philosophy is I want to spend the minimum I can to have a very useful and reliable airplane.  I save enough doing owner assisted annuals and working with my mechanic on repairs that I can throw parts at the plane and occasionally buy a couple pieces of expensive hardware and it doesn’t bust the budget.   
 

In my opinion it’s paying the mechanic 125 dollars to install that 100 dollar hardware that’s the bigger kick in the financial crotch.  

[Paul Thomas]

There is a price to quality and traceability. I was just at Sun N Fun and saw some AN fitting. The price immediately caught my attention and I picked some up and put them back down soon after. They weren't the right color of blue, didn't have the right markings, and didn't feel the right weight... It may work, it may not and that's not something I'm willing to play with. I'll begrudgingly pay 5x in that case for the right fittings.

[cliffy]

On 4/5/2025 at 12:50 PM, EricJ said:

The other day somebody on FB was looking for a replacement alternator belt and said they couldn't find the one they needed at aircraft spruce.   They posted a pic of an installed Gates belt with the PN showing...and several people noted that you can get those at many auto parts stores, amazon, etc., etc.   

The alternator belt is one of the items you can buy "off the shelf" according to the FAA as long as it has the green "GATES" label. \Its probably also covered under VARMA now. 

[laytonl]

On 4/5/2025 at 1:42 PM, N201MKTurbo said:

When I needed one, I asked the machine shop manager at the place I worked to make me one. 5 min later he brought me one.

I have made one before, just get some 5/16 rod, drill and tap a hole in the side, cut to length and put a screwdriver slot with a Dremel cutoff wheel.

I did the same thing when I needed one.  Not difficult.  Lee