Looking for a new vernatherm this AM....pricy little bugger. Noticed a few things.
The OEM and Superior (53E22144 and SL53E19600) vernatherms seem to be a product of Rostra Vernatherm:
http://www.vernatherm.com/
It's a core or capsule in a machined aluminum holder. Pull a retaining clip and the core slides out of the holder. We don't need a new holder to replace a bad core, but it looks like every parts source sells you one anyway, as an assembly.
Bashful fellow that I am, I rang up Rostra's engineer and asked him about the cores. He confirmed they are sold to other OEMs, but would not share the Rostra part number for the Lycoming application. My guess is you can buy the same core elsewhere (I dunno, Evenrude, Cummins, John Deere?) for a lot less than airplane prices. Basic outboard motor vernatherms are, for example, about $35. Anybody have a clue about an interchange?
Best price I've seen so fair for a Rostra-made Lycoming assembly is at Aero In Stock and Air Suppliers, both $248. Ouch!
ECI sells a "vernatherm" of their own design (or designed for them), part #AEL19600. I called ECI to confirm; it is not sourced from Rostra. Given that my OEM Rostra just died at 80-90 hours, that may be a Good Thing.
Different appearance is obvious:
http://www.eci.aero/pages/products_detail.aspx?in=529
Anybody have any field experience comments about the ECI unit?
The OEM and Superior (53E22144 and SL53E19600) vernatherms seem to be a product of Rostra Vernatherm:
http://www.vernatherm.com/
It's a core or capsule in a machined aluminum holder. Pull a retaining clip and the core slides out of the holder. We don't need a new holder to replace a bad core, but it looks like every parts source sells you one anyway, as an assembly.
Bashful fellow that I am, I rang up Rostra's engineer and asked him about the cores. He confirmed they are sold to other OEMs, but would not share the Rostra part number for the Lycoming application. My guess is you can buy the same core elsewhere (I dunno, Evenrude, Cummins, John Deere?) for a lot less than airplane prices. Basic outboard motor vernatherms are, for example, about $35. Anybody have a clue about an interchange?
Best price I've seen so fair for a Rostra-made Lycoming assembly is at Aero In Stock and Air Suppliers, both $248. Ouch!
ECI sells a "vernatherm" of their own design (or designed for them), part #AEL19600. I called ECI to confirm; it is not sourced from Rostra. Given that my OEM Rostra just died at 80-90 hours, that may be a Good Thing.
Different appearance is obvious:
http://www.eci.aero/pages/products_detail.aspx?in=529
Anybody have any field experience comments about the ECI unit?
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