How it's going with my cylinders
Well, as luck would have it, I have 1 cylinder from group "A" and 3 from "B". I discussed it with Sue at Aero Sport. She had Tim Morland get in touch with me. Below is the thread. Kinda long. Short story is they're reconditioning all four cylinders at no charge to me except for shipping the cylinders to them. I'll be removing the cylinders this weekend and sending them in. I'll use the time to get my paper work in order for my inspection. Any tips on putting the cylinders back on would be appreciated.
Almost there,
John Barker
RV-8 N819WB
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John, they are on the way today.
Tim
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From: John Barker [mailto:
[email protected]]
Sent: Wednesday, January 27, 2010 9:01 AM
To: Tim Morland
Subject: RE: ECI cylinders
Good morning Tim,
Thanks for your offer to supply boxes. Please send the boxes to:
John Barker
800 Pinewood Lane
Oceanside, OR 97134
Cheers,
John
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From: Tim Morland [mailto:
[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 12:09 PM
To: John Barker
Subject: RE: ECI cylinders
Answers to your questions:
1- Yes we want the pistons and rings with the cylinders.
2- If you have cylinder boxes use those or some other heavy duty, moving type box. If not I can send you boxes. Let me know if I need to do that and I?ll have some shipped to you.
3- I?m not sure. How does AeroSport handle their warranty when it has been sitting waiting for airframe installation for a couple years? Does their warranty start with first flight?
4- Unfortunately we have no stock to swap you out with so we will have to rework yours.
5- We heat the cylinder to separate the head and barrel so the paint will be discolored.
6- We are reworking experimental cylinders now and will do it on certified cylinders as soon as the FAA approves our rework as an alternate means of compliance to the AD. Communication with them has been poor on this AD and we had applied for it (AMOC) long ago but it was overlooked until the AD was released. As soon as the AMOC is approved we expect to be bombarded with certified cylinder for rework.
Let me know if you have more questions.
Tim Morland
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From: John Barker [mailto:
[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 10:53 AM
To: Tim Morland
Subject: RE: ECI cylinders
Hello Tim,
Thanks for the detailed explanation. I appreciate knowing what the process is and your test results.
I do have a few questions:
1. Do you want the pistons?
2. Do I use my own packaging or do you send me appropriate shipping containers?
3. Will these "re-worked" cylinders have new warranty?
4. Is there any way to speed up the process? e.g. swap the cylinders for ones already done?
5. What about the custom paint?
6. Are you re-working instead of replacing all cylinders affected by this AD? Or are certified installations being treated differently.
As I mentioned in my e-mail, this engine is in my RV-8 that I just completed. I was awaiting final inspection when the AD was issued. Three weeks re-work time will postpone the inspection date by at least a month and a half. I'm sure you can appreciate my desire to speed up the process.
Best regards,
John
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From: Tim Morland [mailto:
[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 9:45 AM
To:
[email protected]
Subject: ECI cylinders
John,
I have received your warranty application assigned you customer number 8642 and the RMA number is 35857. Please write that RMA number on or near the address label of the shipping box when you send them in.
We have developed a stronger head/barrel joint and incorporated that joint into all our new cylinders produced in the last two years. During the development of that joint we ran the cylinders on a fatigue rig until they failed and the final result is that we can take a used Group B cylinder with reworked threads and a new Lycoming cylinder and run them to failure and the reworked cylinder lasts three times longer than the new Lycoming.
We will rework your cylinders at no charge and pay the return freight. Since your cylinders are such low time there won?t be any need to replace valves, piston, etc but we will certainly inspect them to be sure. Expect the process to take three weeks in our plant.
Keep your rocker arms, rocker cover, push rod tubes, piston pin and fuel/primer nozzles; we just want the cylinder. The shipping address is on the warranty application in the lower right corner.
Let me know if you have any questions.
Tim Morland
Western Territory Manager
Engine Components, Inc.