I’ve been flying my RV7 for 20 years with a IO360A1B6 engine. Last week while at 8500’ a cylinder split midway down the bore pushing valve cover out 1”. It kept running losing 3 quarts of oil, running on 3 cylinders. I made normal landing at my 2nd home airport on the Oregon coast. Now the delima, have it rebuilt,a 6 month down time or buy a new engine. Engine has 1440 hrs on a lycoming reman. Question, what are risks with ordering a Vans engine during chapter 11?
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IO360 replacement needed
- Thread starter Mike R
- Start date
PaulvS
Well Known Member
An issue is that the posted lead time for Lycoming engines is 18+ months and a risk is that the upper limit is unknown, so you might be waiting for e.g. 2 years, as others have.
Kit Prices and Lead Times - Van's Aircraft Total Performance RV Kit Planes
Below you will find information regarding current kit prices and lead times, as well as lead times for other items such as aircraft engines and propellers. RV Kit Prices We maintain the current kit prices below for your reference. Prices are subject to change up until the time of the final kit...
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csmith3603
Active Member
Wow. flying with a Lycoming remanufacture engine with low hours was good a good thing! Split the case open, send the case to Divco and Crankshaft out for re-certification and
buy you some new bearing and cylinders and go fly. Grin.
My RV-4 was built with a used engine, and I was under the (wrong?) impression that so long as you haven't yet ordered an engine for that particular plane, you are eligible to order one. It worked this way for a propeller order when getting a C/S installed.
The initial question was related to chapter 11, and as I gleaned from the latest video any customer deposits are held separately from any other operating cash so as to be protected. So I don't believe there to be a risk from this point of view.
If this were my plane, I'd limit to fix what's broken unless the initial teardown found other reasons to consider a new engine.
Desert Rat
Well Known Member
First of all, congratulations to you on keeping your head and getting it on the ground in one piece!
As far as your dilemma, I don't think it's a hard choice. A lot has changed in 20 years, and where supply chain is concerned, it hasn't changed for the better.
Even at the lower discounted rate, a new YIO360A1B6 through Van's is north of $50k. Considering that along with the 18+ month lead time others have mentioned and it seems logical to stick with the one you've got and as long as the overhaul bill is less than $50k call it a win.
As far as your dilemma, I don't think it's a hard choice. A lot has changed in 20 years, and where supply chain is concerned, it hasn't changed for the better.
Even at the lower discounted rate, a new YIO360A1B6 through Van's is north of $50k. Considering that along with the 18+ month lead time others have mentioned and it seems logical to stick with the one you've got and as long as the overhaul bill is less than $50k call it a win.
[email protected]
Well Known Member
Ya right. They say 18 months, But wait that is a long time for sure. Rebuild and move on. Cause the 18 months may be longer
My luck varies FIXIT
My luck varies FIXIT
