cliffy Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 Anyone ever used Gibson Aviation El Reno OK for cylinder overhaul? I had a question come up at the airport about doing a top overhaul on a higher time O-470-R (1200 hrs) wanting to go over TBO on the bottom end. (1500 hrs TBO) I've never had occasion to use them. Looks like they do "Service Limits" stuff but if they last 500-600 hrs seems it might be a choice. They've been around a long time All ears!
LANCECASPER Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 Gibson has been around a long time and they are the cut-rate place. Around here (TX) if someone is selling an airplane they use Gibson. If someone is keeping an airplane they use J & J in Pleasanton TX (https://www.jjairparts.com/?gad_source=1) 2
hammdo Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 Sal’s in Prosper Texas is a very reputable cylinder overhaul/repair shop: https://www.mapquest.com/us/texas/sals-aircraft-cylinders-419158893 -Don
Ragsf15e Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 I don’t know about using Gibson, but I replaced one of their cylinders on my F. My mechanic somehow knew it was a Gibson, told me to prepare to replace it and then the next year, all the chrome plating was falling off the inside of the barrel.
jetdriven Posted January 28 Report Posted January 28 We just got a couple of Gibson cylinders in that the customer supplied for a bonanza, they painted all of the flanges, but they didn’t paint the barrels black, and they also painted the exhaust port. So by the time we stripped the paint under where all the base nuts go, and we stripped the paint off the exhaust flange that takes time to do. And then we had to put the cylinder on the second day to get the paint stripper time to work. The honing looks like it was done with a bottle brush by hand, and the scratches were 45 degrees at the bottom of the barrel and 30 or less at the top of the barrel. We didn’t even have time to check the choke and out of roundness and the bore diameter but I bet you that stuff wasn’t straight either. It looks like a bottle brush hone was used on the cylinder and then they painted it with a rattle can in nine minutes and sent it out. I wouldn’t put a Gibson cylinder on my Neighbors weedeater. 4 3
Jsno Posted January 29 Report Posted January 29 I spoke with them once about overhauling my cylinders. They mentioned that they would install serviceable exhaust valves. Well the sodium filled exhaust valves work harden over time and should be replaced at overhaul. Maybe it will last or maybe it will harden and break. I did not want to take the chance.
Andrew T Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 On 1/28/2026 at 4:37 PM, cliffy said: Anyone ever used Gibson Aviation El Reno OK for cylinder overhaul? I had a question come up at the airport about doing a top overhaul on a higher time O-470-R (1200 hrs) wanting to go over TBO on the bottom end. (1500 hrs TBO) I've never had occasion to use them. Looks like they do "Service Limits" stuff but if they last 500-600 hrs seems it might be a choice. They've been around a long time All ears! I used Gibson for O360 cylinders Very pleased with what I got back
47U Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 3 hours ago, Andrew T said: I used Gibson for O360 cylinders Very pleased with what I got back First post… providing feedback on a vendor. Nice job right there. A (revered) B model… would like to see some pictures. But, no pressure. Welcome!
cliffy Posted February 4 Author Report Posted February 4 12 hours ago, Andrew T said: I used Gibson for O360 cylinders Very pleased with what I got back Thanks for the feed back
201Steve Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 There is so much variance in the field across providers interpreting what an overhaul means. I had no idea this was the case. Engines, cylinders, etc. This isn’t a discussion about regs, because they don’t matter to a lot of people and there is almost never enforcement. So, it’s the Wild West. I would start by asking said shop what kind of honing machine they have. If they don’t tell you some Sunnen XXX model and fumble that question, it’s because they are using a drill with a dingle berry hone. Are drills useful? Sure. For an overhaul, GTFOH. 1
N201MKTurbo Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 The regs don’t say much about overhaul in general or cylinders in particular. And why should they? Cylinders don’t really cause accidents. When was the last time you read an accident report that said a cylinder caused the accident? Even if a cylinder goes completely off line from throwing a valve head or something, the engine will still make enough power to get you on the ground in one piece. Cylinders usually just cost you money, they don’t kill you. The FAA doesn’t care about your wallet.
201Steve Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 It doesn’t make a lot of difference to me what the standard is per the FAA, we as users just ought to stop using the word “overhauled” in general if there is no standard. Too many users think they are getting something for that term. They are instead getting whatever vendors feel like it is. We ought to just do away with the term and start treating all assembly work as an a-la-carte menu.
N201MKTurbo Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 I think as long as the cylinder and its parts are within the service limits specs in the overhaul manual, it is a legal cylinder that can be returned to service.
201Steve Posted February 4 Report Posted February 4 Sure. Call it a repair then. If I’m getting an “overhauled cylinder” I want a fresh cylinder machining, new guides, seats ground, etc. Not that you just measured it and it looks good. That would be a repair in my mind. 2
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