Skykingbob

Skykingbob

Well Known Member
Sponsor
I used B&C for buying a lot of my electrical supplies for wiring and big items like 2 voltage regulators, two alternators, and the starter. I love the quality of their products
which in my opinion are top of the line. But I have seen companies with top of the line products relegated to the "out of business" heaps because their customer service
didn't match the quality of their products. B&C is a company that excels in both arenas.

While building my RV8 B&C had upgraded the regulator modules from -C to -D. They let customers know if they would pay for shipping they would upgrade them for free. I
jumped on the chance and received the regulators back timely and upgraded. Well in the final stages of my build myself and another spark chaser were running some test
on the regulators and managed to damage both in the circuitry. I called and spoke with TJ and gave him my mea culpa. He said to send them in and put a note that they would
be repaired at no charge per TJ. I sent them in they were repaired but requested a credit card for the shipping. I got the bill and in addition to the shipping was $177.00
repair fee. It really didn't bother me because I was the knucklehead that broke them......so I shrugged my shoulders and moved on in life.

I received an email from B&C yesterday stating that upon auditing their books they charged me for a repair after I was told by TJ that it was to be done free of charge. They
sent me the original invoice with the note that it was free of charge and sent the $177.00 back as a credit on my credit card. What a mind blower that is when scams come
a dime a dozen in our present day. I would have NEVER known the difference if they would have just blown off the refund but instead I got the surprise email and
the character and reputation of B&C shot through the roof in my opinion.

I HIGHLY recommend using them for your build needs. Thanks Nathan, TJ, and team for putting high customer service back into practices that many companies have forgotten exist.
 
I completely agree, Bob. I also used B&C Specialty Products for two voltage regulators, two alternators, the starter, and all the miscellaneous switches, circuit breakers, connectors, and wiring I needed. You can easily find what you need on their website, and if you don’t see it there, their customer service is just a phone call away. Throughout the electrical phase of my build, I called Nathan many times, and he was always very knowledgeable and happy to help. He explained and clarified issues while providing best practices. They truly embody the spirit of a small-town shop with their helpfulness.
 
I can't comment on their after-the-sale customer service, because after 20 years of working with them I've never had a piece of B&C equipment fail. I did get a lot of good info when ordering from them. Always nice to talk to them.
 
B & C alternator and external regulator for me. Used them on my -3, -4 and now the -8 and the bottom line is they just work. Customer service at B & C is top notch and I’ve never had a lick of trouble with any of their products over the years.
 
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Ezburton said:
I can't comment on their after-the-sale customer service, because after 20 years of working with them I've never had a piece of B&C equipment fail. I did get a lot of good info when ordering from them. Always nice to talk to them.
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Same experience as here. Not needing customer support in the first place is the best customer support!
That said I asked for some modifications to one of the alternators for my RV10 and they couldn’t have been more attentive or responsive.
5 stars all round.
 
Ezburton said:
I can't comment on their after-the-sale customer service, because after 20 years of working with them I've never had a piece of B&C equipment fail. I did get a lot of good info when ordering from them. Always nice to talk to them.
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Well put! 😀
 
I've had to go back to B/C for a few misc install items for my build, and have had the same experience. The crew there is fantastic!
 
I am REALLY wanting a B&C starter for my RV-8 but it runs into the snorkel. Methinks it'd be worth doing some fiberglass work just to accommodate it, as I've had nothing but bad luck with the SkyTecs.
 
PandaCub said:
I am REALLY wanting a B&C starter for my RV-8 but it runs into the snorkel. Methinks it'd be worth doing some fiberglass work just to accommodate it, as I've had nothing but bad luck with the SkyTecs.
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I have the B&C starter. The snorkel needed some fiberglass work to clear the starter. I'm far from being a fiberglass expert and I managed to trim out the snorkel then using part of a tin can, mold a new curve for the snorkel around the starter.
 

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PandaCub said:
I am REALLY wanting a B&C starter for my RV-8 but it runs into the snorkel. Methinks it'd be worth doing some fiberglass work just to accommodate it, as I've had nothing but bad luck with the SkyTecs.
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John,

I have an -8 with the standard horizontal induction snorkel and my lightweight Skytec starter was challenged with the engine after I had it overhauled with 9:5:1 pistons. I was lucky enough to get a 149NL high torque starter from Kahuna but was concerned about it fitting. I made some detailed measurements and discovered that it was worth the gamble to buy it and try it. Well it just fits with no modifications to the snorkel and starting is a non issue now. I did have to take the snorkel off to install the starter but it fits so maybe this is an option for you too.

I agree that the lightweight starters from Skytec aren’t the most robust and I did have one eat itself once.

Worth a try, good luck!
 
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riseric said:
I have the B&C starter. The snorkel needed some fiberglass work to clear the starter...
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You mentioned you were able to install a B&C starter in your RV-8 by modifying the snorkel with a tin can. We're now trying that here, but find the B&C also interferes with the mixture linkage on my Lycoming IO-360-M1B. Did you have this issue with your engine and if so what did you do about it?

Thanks for your insight here,


John Newkirk

N34PB-Throttle=BC.jpg
 
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PandaCub said:
You mentioned you were able to install a B&C starter in your RV-8 by modifying the snorkel with a tin can. We're now trying that here, but find the B&C also interferes with the throttle linkage on my Lycoming IO-360-M1B. Did you have this issue with your engine and if so what did you do about it?

Thanks for your insight here,
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John, Give B&C a call. I had a similar problem where the starter wouldn't fit, hitting the FI servo, a few years ago on an RV8 build and spoke with them at Oshkosh. From my horrible memory, I seem to recall them saying they had a shorter body and the starter could be converted, or something like that. In the end I swapped the starter out for a SkyTec, which fortunately still works as of today.

I need a B&C LX60 boss mount for my Rocket build if anyone has a working one laying around. I already have the regulator. B&C starter is installed.
 
PandaCub said:
You mentioned you were able to install a B&C starter in your RV-8 by modifying the snorkel with a tin can. We're now trying that here, but find the B&C also interferes with the throttle linkage on my Lycoming IO-360-M1B. Did you have this issue with your engine and if so what did you do about it?

Thanks for your insight here,


John Newkirk

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John,
I have the System 32 throttle body and its linkage is different from yours.
The starter does not interfere.
 

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