Engine Vendors

[pilot28906]

Will do Vic, thanks for the info.

On the mid-time side of things: What are some important things to look for or things to avoid? I would imagine needs logbooks, no prop strike, no odd-ball engine model. Any info appreciated.

Thanks,

[Kyle Boatright]

Originally Posted by pilot28906

Will do Vic, thanks for the info.

On the mid-time side of things: What are some important things to look for or things to avoid? I would imagine needs logbooks, no prop strike, no odd-ball engine model. Any info appreciated.

Thanks,

I searched for a while for a used engine or a core for my RV-10. Never found one that met my needs, so ended up sending money to Barrett Precision Engines for a high end rebuild. Before that, I bought and rebuilt a core for my RV-6.

Looking at used engines, I wanted no prop strike, complete logs, and the engine model I needed. Those were the initial filters.

Next, I preferred a first run engine. One that hadn't been rebuilt multiple times. Those are fairly hard to find.

If a first run engine wasn't available, I wanted the rebuild information from the last rebuild. How many TT hours on the engine? How far was the crank turned at the last rebuild? New cam or regrind? How much repair work was done to the case? Stuff like that. I didn't want a worn out case or a "last run" crank. That gets expensive.

If I was looking to bolt the engine on and go flying, I'd look for one that hadn't been sitting for a long time. And I'd borescope it if I could, even better - pull a cylinder, looking for internal rust. Rust would be a show stopper.

[ctennis]

Here has been my experience with a couple of the companies recommended in this thread:

Call for info, nobody answers, leave message. Wait; never get a return call.

Call again next week, someone answers but not who I need. They take a message to give to someone else. Never get a call back.

Send email, never get a response.

Call again a few weeks later, talk to same person again, they acknowledge my message was received the first time and will follow up. Never hear back.

Email again, no response.

Call one last time, FINALLY get the person I need, tons of questions answered. Very helpful. Lots of considerations and some more research to do.

Wait a few months - now ready to actually place order.

Call, call, call, email, call, call - never get any actual response again. Messages indicate I'm ready to place order.

---

I ended up ordering from Vans directly. Was as easy as ordering anything else from them.

[Weasel]

Over 100hrs on the Continental Motors Titan in the RV-10 and over 150 hrs on the Titan in the Carbon Cub. So-far seem to be good engines.

They had the best advertised warranty when I was shopping several months ago.

[vic syracuse]

Originally Posted by ctennis

Here has been my experience with a couple of the companies recommended in this thread:

Call for info, nobody answers, leave message. Wait; never get a return call.

Call again next week, someone answers but not who I need. They take a message to give to someone else. Never get a call back.

Send email, never get a response.

Call again a few weeks later, talk to same person again, they acknowledge my message was received the first time and will follow up. Never hear back.

Email again, no response.

Call one last time, FINALLY get the person I need, tons of questions answered. Very helpful. Lots of considerations and some more research to do.

Wait a few months - now ready to actually place order.

Call, call, call, email, call, call - never get any actual response again. Messages indicate I'm ready to place order.

---

I ended up ordering from Vans directly. Was as easy as ordering anything else from them.

Exact opposite from Thunderbolt and Jeff Schans. I had a call back within a couple of hours and a quote the same day.

Vic

[jdiehl]

As a follow up to Vic, I live 3 miles from the Lycoming plant. Bought new 0-360/prop through Vans with a 'will-call' engine pickup at Lycoming. Backed pickup up to loading dock, signed a few papers, and was home with new engine all within an hour! Great service.

Jim Diehl 7A

[Auburntsts]

Originally Posted by vic syracuse

Exact opposite from Thunderbolt and Jeff Schans. I had a call back within a couple of hours and a quote the same day.

Vic

Ditto from Rhonda at Barrett--both when I did my initial purchase and when I had to send it back a few years later for a complete tear down due to an overspeed. BPE's customer service, along with their motors, is top notch. I can't recommend BPE enough.