Engine lord mounts and hoses cost?

[bxg007]

Got a quote for 33 new hoses for the TIo-540-af1b totaling $3,900. I'm in process of complying with 569A replacing my crankshaft. Engine was installed in '98 and has 780 hrs since factory reman.

The lord mounts are $1,370 and seem in short supply.

Does that seem right? Any lower cost options anyone know of?

Thanks,

-Bill G

[FoxMike]

Bill

I bought a hose kit from PHT about a year and half ago.  As I recall it was about 3K.  I also put in new Lord mounts.  I think those were around 1K.  Some price shopping might be in order.  I also spent extra to have the new crank carefully balanced.  Sure makes a smooth engine.  I sure hated to tear up a perfectly good engine to comply with 569A.  Good Luck!

Walt

[bxg007]

Thanks Walt.  I did find Lord mounts for a little over $1k.  However I suspect PHT prices have gone up in 18 months.  I saw an old pricing sheet from Victor Aviation talking about $1,700 for oil and fuel hoses.  At same time they were asking for $1,800 for mounts.  Anyway, I'll keep shopping...

 

Yes, very sad indeed to rebuild such a low time engine.  Although we were able to catch a number of things that could have been a problem:

1.  crack in crankcase - sent off for repair to OK (I was told by poplar grove this looked like a casting problem)

2.  corrosion in cylinders and on camshaft (sent off for grinding and blasting)

3.  new exhaust valves, springs

4.  new tempest massive plugs (only 1 of 12 passed resistance test) - all were champion massives past 750 hrs, so probably not too bad

5.  fuel pump AD complied with

6.  fuel servo SB complied with

 

It was running very smooth prior to all of this, but I did have some problems with plugs fouling without aggressive leaning.  Even then, I usually had to lean and recheck mags.  I ended up doing IRAN on both mags with poplar grove as well since they were past 500 hr point.  A few parts replaced, especially coils.

 

I'm also doing a dynamic balance once everything is back together.  Is that what you did or talking about something more specific with the crank prior to being put back together?  I believe poplar grove is doing that as well.

[jetdriven]

I wouldnt put anything less than a new cam and lifters in an engine. Otherwise you may be doing this all over again before long.

 

Our engine which had 3 lifters fail had a new cam but reground lifters. They claim they don't grind off the nitrided layer but I dont believe it.

[FoxMike]

Bill,

I had the counterweights installed at a shop near Tulsa.  They balance the crank by switching the counterweights around to improve the balance.  I was not there so I am going on verbal description given.  I also did a dynamic balance on the prop. after 50 hours to give the bearings a chance to wear a little.

[bxg007]

I am getting all new lifters. Apparently there have been a few problems with some suppliers of the part in past. My old ones were pitted and not worth messing with. The cam shaft is fine according to poplar grove. They blast and grind hundreds of these every year and they claim no quality problems like with lifters. Poplar grove is balancing the crank as well. Sounds like I should wait a few hours of break in before doing the dynamic balance. Cost is $250 so I'd prefer to avoid a double hit there. Any advice from others?

[johnggreen]

I wouldnt put anything less than a new cam and lifters in an engine. Otherwise you may be doing this all over again before long.

 

Our engine which had 3 lifters fail had a new cam but reground lifters. They claim they don't grind off the nitrided layer but I dont believe it.

  Hey jetdriven,

 

As you know, "I'm looking" hard.  When you are looking at twins, you are looking at 30+ year old airplanes and that is one heck of a challenge as I'm finding out.

 

A friend of mine who is a professional pilot and manages airplanes for other owners called me to put me on a "high performance twin".  In fact, a little more high performance than I really want, i.e. pressurized.

 

Anyway, the story is the airframe is low time, but the owner got sick and let the mid-time engines sit a little too long.  A friend/broker started flying it, put it up for sale and during a prebuy they discovered rust; lots of it.  It is, by the way, a Continental.  The big problem is that the cam and lifters are rusted and will have to be replaced at a minimum.  My friend tells me, and yes, he is very knowledgeable, that I should buy the airplane, ferry it home, pull the engines and basically IRAN, "inspect and repair as necessary", just honing the cylinders etc.  He pointed me to a very reputable shop that will do the same for a lot less than an overhaul as everything "outside" the engine is in really good shape including new exhausts.

 

I'm a little leery.  What about that rust in the oil and the bottom end?  I know you have had this problem.  What is your take and what questions should I be asking?  I am actively pursuing other airplanes so this may become a moot question.  Still, I'm curious.  It's just something I have never experienced.

 

Jgreen 

[jetdriven]

  Hey jetdriven,

 

As you know, "I'm looking" hard.  When you are looking at twins, you are looking at 30+ year old airplanes and that is one heck of a challenge as I'm finding out.

 

A friend of mine who is a professional pilot and manages airplanes for other owners called me to put me on a "high performance twin".  In fact, a little more high performance than I really want, i.e. pressurized.

 

Anyway, the story is the airframe is low time, but the owner got sick and let the mid-time engines sit a little too long.  A friend/broker started flying it, put it up for sale and during a prebuy they discovered rust; lots of it.  It is, by the way, a Continental.  The big problem is that the cam and lifters are rusted and will have to be replaced at a minimum.  My friend tells me, and yes, he is very knowledgeable, that I should buy the airplane, ferry it home, pull the engines and basically IRAN, "inspect and repair as necessary", just honing the cylinders etc.  He pointed me to a very reputable shop that will do the same for a lot less than an overhaul as everything "outside" the engine is in really good shape including new exhausts.

 

I'm a little leery.  What about that rust in the oil and the bottom end?  I know you have had this problem.  What is your take and what questions should I be asking?  I am actively pursuing other airplanes so this may become a moot question.  Still, I'm curious.  It's just something I have never experienced.

 

Jgreen 

John, I am afraid that is outside my area of expertise, but I will give it that Continental engines have different failure modes, and I rarely hear of a failed cam and lifter set trashing the whole engine. I have even heard of Bonanza owners replacing the lifters and making it to TBO on the camshaft still in the case. Certainly worth investigating.   Thats a good question for the Beechtalk guys, if you can get the airplane right, and plan on spending 10-20 grand a side and the numbers work, you might have yourself a deal.  What kind of plane is it?

[johnggreen]

John, I am afraid that is outside my area of expertise, but I will give it that Continental engines have different failure modes, and I rarely hear of a failed cam and lifter set trashing the whole engine. I have even heard of Bonanza owners replacing the lifters and making it to TBO on the camshaft still in the case. Certainly worth investigating.   Thats a good question for the Beechtalk guys, if you can get the airplane right, and plan on spending 10-20 grand a side and the numbers work, you might have yourself a deal.  What kind of plane is it?

jetdriven,

 

Shhhhhhhhh!!!  Let's see what develops.  Thanks for the input.  i will say that I am inspecting a Navajo next week.  Also,  my Skylane is coming out of the paint shop tomorrow.  I think I found a sleeper with the paint shop in Russellville KY.  Apparently, they did a super job at a reasonable price.  Want to take a look?  Go to www.sunshineaviation.com, click "paint", click "our work" and the "most recent" photos are of N1292M.. Notice the incredible job they did on prep.  It is a  relatively simple scheme which is what I wanted.  It will show more color with the tips and wheel fairings.

 

Jgreen