Fri Mar 12, 2021 11:31 pm
#1832710
Charles Hunt wrote:If it was fuel, what did the other pistons look like?
"Quite"
Charles Hunt wrote:If it was fuel, what did the other pistons look like?
Lefty wrote:There is one major factor that people are generally unaware of. They opt for a “factory reconditioned” engine on the assumption that “factory reconditioned” means “as new”, or very close to. This is a fallacy!
A factory recon engine can, and often is, right at the minimum tolerance to be certified as a “serviceable” engine, and therefore can become unrepairable the first time even a very minor problem occurs.
A (real) new engine is manufactured with a lot of extra material and tolerances to allow for the normal in service maintenance and repairs, for example piston reaming or re-bores, head skimming etc. Over years of operation and repairs this may mean that much of this material and tolerance gets used up or “worn away”. The engine manufacturers will accept these (almost worn out) engine blocks - if they feel that at the end of the factory reconditioned process, the engine will still meet (their) MINIMUM spec. However this MINIMUM spec is a long long way from that of a brand new engine. For this reason, many experienced aircraft engineers recommend that if you have an engine with a known repair history, you are generally better off sending that engine to be overhauled and returned to you.
Many owners however believe that a “zero timed factory recon” engine will enhance saleability - and buying an off the shelf recon’d engine usually gets your aircraft back in the air sooner than getting your old engine overhauled. Just be aware that you will by buying something that has a nice label, but that because of its unknown history, could very easily become scrap within a short time of installation. (Usually just after the warranty expires)!