Woodward hands down, but others will do
Woodward is the gold standard, Cadillac if you will. Van's use to sell them new for a reasonable price but than the price shot of sight. Van than went to several other brands and eventually now the foreign Jobie's. Here is a contact:
Wings West Governor Exchange & Overhaul, Inc,
253-848-3188, 206-848-3189, PO Box 1533, Graham, WA, 98338.
My obvious choice is Woodward; A rebuilt (experimental) unit outright is going to cost near but less than a new Jihostrov? Depending on model, yellow tag or not, the price I got a few years ago was $700-$1200.
Being a cheap bargain hunter I found an overhauled 210105 Woodward for $400, yellow tagged. A big prop shop/overhaul facility in OK or KS was selling off its inventory in trade-A-plane. I knew what part# I wanted. I was looking on eBay, trade-A-plane and several prop shops around the country for several months. I focused on a select set of model numbers.
The 210105 is the oldest of the Woodward's that I would use. There are other's, some older and some newer I would stay a way from (see below). The 210105 is off a vintage 60's/70's Lyc O-360 powered Mooney's and Lake's. There have been mods and updates to the unit over the years. The newer Gov's like a 2107xx cost more. New outright they are ridiculous $$. Van had new Woodward's for $1200 years ago but the price was raised and Van dropped them and went to McCauley, than now Jihostrov. Woodward was bought by ONTIC a few years ago.
Nothing wrong with the 210105; it has a smaller pilot valve and suppose to not act as fast as later models? Never noticed doing loops, the RPM is locked in on rails. A older 210105 will be less money than new 210776. They all do the same thing, keep RPM constant as set. I don't care just as long as it works. It does.
WARNING: Be very careful about buying a used Gov core. The warning is
don't pay too much for a core. You should assume it needs an overhaul despite the story behind it. Like used engines (mid-time, ready to fly, only driven on Sunday's by a little old lady pilot), used governors regardless of time or appearance should get a rebuild or a teardown/inspection check, unless you really know the history. Seals get old and so on. Just an inspection and seals still will cost many $100's. You can take a chance and just put it on and hope. You may luck out?
The cost to rebuild a Gov can cost different amounts, depending on parts needed; just like an engine, a bad crank will cost way more than a core with a good crank. Parts are expensive and you don't know what it needs until it's opened up.
Also one last thing about old Gov's. An old Gov on a new engine has direct access to the engines oil supply. You don't know what's in that old Gov. If parts come undone you can have problems. There is a screen gasket, but I would be careful with old govs. Some junk I have seen on eBay looks like it came out of a swamp. At least have it bench tested at a shop to make sure it makes pressure and does not leak.
Recommended shelf life of a Gov after OH is about 5 years I recall. Also AD's, service letters and bulletins may need to be done. So be careful buying overhauled Govs which have been sitting around for a long time. I saw two on ebay and they where pretty, but they where overhauled 25 years earlier!
He wanted too much for them. Good deal? Who knows but its like an engine that was overhauled 25 years ago and put into a baggie and sat. Is the engine still good?
A typical Woodward overhaul? $600-$900 last I checked. So if your core cost $400 and it needs a $900 overhaul, that is $1300. That's not a terrible cost, but it will not be a bargain.
You probably would have been better to just go to a place like Wings West Governor Exchange & Overhaul, Inc. They sell govs for less than what it cost to buy a core and get it overhauled on your own. They buy cores and overhaul them to sell out right to the homebuilders. If they get a bad core, one that needs too much work, they just part it out. Give them a call and talk to them. It has been a year or so, but I am sure they can help you. Nice people and they know what is going on, know homebuilders and what you need and what to avoid.
The
Jihostroj (which I thought was synonymous with MT) are reasonably price new and they are the lightest. The down side seems to be consistent complaints from time to time about surges and other operational anomalies and characteristics. Apparently there have been mods and improvements to address specific complaints. The other is from prop shops I have talked to. They don't like working on them. They find they are often worn out and need to be replaced (ie cheaper to buy a new one the overhaul). Is that bad? Well if you can get 2000 hours and replacement is about what a Woodward overhaul is than it may not be bad. Many people will not put 2000 hours on a plane in +10 years or more? They are pretty and a viable option. I just prefer a used/OH Woodward.
The Hartzell and McCauley are less popular out in the world, Hartzell more so.
Harzell Gov's, at least for small planes are a stagnant line, meaning they don't make new ones and they never where popular. However if you find a good one cheap I think its model F4-4(?). Hartzells I recall are the most chunky and heavy of the Govs.
McCauley are OK but don't know much about them except they work. Again Woodward is the Caddy of govs.
Here is some data I got or research a few years ago, can't guarantee applicability to your engine, but its a starting place.
WOODWARD NUMBERS
210105 (I bought and using)
210776 Van's once sold
210681 or 210490 (possible)
210452 recommended staying away known to be unstable.
210080 (would not recommend any thing less than 210105)
210076 (would not recommend any thing less than 210105)
210195 (converted for single engine use)
Hartzell Gov: F4-4
Another possible gov source: Prop Gov from Southwest Aero, in WA state, 206-575-8732 (not sure may be out of biz, had it written down) -OR- check you local prop shop to see what they have. They may have an old Gov laying around to overhaul and sell you at a reasonable price ($700-$1000). As always be careful of the Spray Paint Can overhaul.
