Time for a new Vernatherm

[chrisk]

After two weeks of crappy weather I went for a flight on Sunday in my M20K.  5 minutes into the flight I aborted.   High oil temperatures and dropping pressure.  As soon as I turned back to the field, the temperature drops and pressure starts to comes back up.   

 

I scheduled the plane with the mechanic and told him the symptoms and to check the Vernatherm, change the oil (about 25 hours of use), and to double check the oil pressure regulator.   I just got the call that the Vernatherm is bad.  --It's always nice to find a root for a problem.  It makes me feel much better when I put my family in the plane. 

 

And the bad news:  A new Vernatherm lists for $468.98.  At least airpower sells them for $375.  And please, no stories of how these were $25 10 years ago.  

[Marauder]

And the bad news:  A new Vernatherm lists for $468.98.  At least airpower sells them for $375.  And please, no stories of how these were $25 10 years ago.  

 

We won't certainly do that! They were $25 15 years ago.

[fantom]

A lot more than $25 when I had mine replaced about 15 years ago. They can usually be repaired easily.

[Bob_Belville]

gotta love this forum. we're planning to change oil this week and to check out vernatherm valve after seeing 230 deg oil Friday. What involved in repair? Seat dressing?

[dcastor]

To make you feel better, a friend of mine saw similar symptoms and after attempting a number of fixes starting with vernitherm, his plane (a T-34 Mentor) required a partial engine overhaul which cost him about $10k.

[chrisk]

To make you feel better, a friend of mine saw similar symptoms and after attempting a number of fixes starting with vernitherm, his plane (a T-34 Mentor) required a partial engine overhaul which cost him about $10k.

No, just a bit of whining on my part. --More about the general state of aviation.  For a car, this sort of part cost $15, for a boat $30, for a plane $500.

[OR75]

Just a reminder on how the free market works:

If you buy something that will end up collecting dust in the garage, it will be cheap

If you buy something that you absolutely need, it will be $$$$

But the free market is still what works best

[bumper]

And all this time I thought it all hinged around the "Rule of 3 F's for fiscally responsible toy management"??

 

That would be, "If is Flys, Floats, or (umm) Flirts . . . rent it!"

 

bumper

 

sent from my free Obama phone

[yvesg]

And all this time I thought it all hinged around the "Rule of 3 F's for fiscally responsible toy management"??

 

That would be, "If is Flys, Floats, or (umm) Flirts . . . rent it!"

 

bumper

 

sent from my free Obama phone

Not sure if you heard that one but...

Do you know what it takes to have a small fortune and own your own aircraft? ... A large fortune.

Yves

[Bob_Belville]

Back on thread topic: We removed the vernatherm assembly and I've submerged it in boiling water. Valve closes to the seat when hot and opens full as it cools. I have not disassembled to examine the seat but the valve operation seems to be properly. What else can I do to determine whether valve needs replacing?