The overhauling dilemma

[BruceMe]

Hey folks... I need advice,

I have a first run O-320-B2C on my RV-4 with 2050 TTSN & 500 STOH. Compressions are all 74/76, no oil consumption, no metal, good temps. I am selling the aircraft and the high hours are scaring potential buyers.

I have a few options:

- Factory overhaul: Complete waste of money as almost all the parts are very new
- An Overhaul shop (Penn Yann,etc) fixed bid: Almost as wasteful as factory, save a little
- Overhaul shop hourly: Because most parts are near yellow tag, I stand a good chance of saving a lot... but because it's nolonger a fixed bid, I could get bent over.
- Field overhaul ala Bubba the local A&P and engine monkey: Unknown... probably a bad idea, will scare off buyers.
- DIY: I probably _CAN_ do it, will save HUGE $ $ $, but I need to find a bubba and I will likely scare off even more buyers.

Does anyone have a better idea? I'm leaning towards Option 3 above; sending it to an overhaul shop that has great reviews and does honest work. Cause this will require a lot of trust... We're talking engines, I've never seen a jug off a Lycoming that didn't cost $4000 to put back on (pretty please).

-Bruce

[Mel]

Personally I think it would be a real shame to overhaul an engine in this condition. A high time engine fails gradually. A freshly overhauled engine can fail without warning. A properly cared-for engine can run beautifully well past the 2500 hr mark.
When I bought my engine it had over 2500 hrs. I ran it another 300 hrs without problem. When I tore it down for overhaul (for HP increase), everything met "new" tolerances.

[BruceMe]

Originally Posted by Mel

Personally I think it would be a real shame to overhaul an engine in this condition. A high time engine fails gradually. A freshly overhauled engine can fail without warning. A properly cared-for engine can run beautifully well past the 2500 hr mark.
When I bought my engine it had over 2500 hrs. I ran it another 300 hrs without problem. When I tore it down for overhaul (for HP increase), everything met "new" tolerances.

! ! ! 150% agreement ! ! ! Preach to my buyers. This is a beautiful engine just the way it is.

[Sam Buchanan]

It's almost certain you will never get back the overhaul cost when you sell the plane. It would be better to reduce the selling price a little if necessary to catch the attention of an informed buyer.

Sounds like you have a healthy engine with many good hours remaining, an informed buyer will appreciate what you have.

Hang in there and good luck with the sale!

[pierre smith]

A friend has a Skyhawk parked next to my hangar with a 160 Lyc on it and he just went 3,000 SMOH and it had good compressions and very little oil use and probably could have gone a few hundred more hours.

I suggested that since he got 50% more time than the recommended 2,000 hours, to play it safe and go through it. Lyc's can be that good

Best,

[Radomir]

As Sam said, you won't get that money back.. so it makes no sense to do it.. you'd be better off reducing the price some. Buyers don't value local A&P overhauls.. they want factory or a name-shop job (but don't wanna pay for it )

Either way, there's little difference between #2 and 3... and 3 won't be more than 2 (if it is, you're getting screwed). That fixed bid isn't so fixed if you have a bad crank or case Make sure you clearly understand the assumptions before a nasty surprise happens.

It's tough to sell a plane with a runout engine... yet it's nearly impossible to get those 15 grand back if you were to OH it and then turn around and sell immediately.


Good luck!

[BruceMe]

Thanks all, I'll concentrate on all the other stuff and be patient

[JonJay]

My Bucker's 0320 is pushing 2300 hours. Flew it yesterday. Prrr's like a kitten. I only fly it about 30-50 hours a year. I intend to get another ten years out of this engine.
Wait for the right buyer.

[Mike S]

http://www.avweb.com/news/savvyaviat..._195241-1.html

[topgun260]

What would an insurance company do if you ran an engine beyond TBO and the engine fails in flight one day and you ball up your plane landing in a field? Can they use this as a reason to not pay your claim?