Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

[TimHicks]

I've been searching this Forum with little success. I thought that this would have been discussed before and that I could find recommendations. But alas, i'm resorting to starting a new thread.
At annual today, the two rear cyclinders on my C85-12 showed 60/80 on the compression test with all the air coming out of the exhaust pipe.

My IA says time to pull them off and have them repaired. Any recommendations on a shop that can inspect and repair as necessary?

I'm in the New Orleans area. But I assume that I'd ship them anywhere in the continental US.

I'd like to have reasonably quick turnaround so I can make it to the Old Fort Parker Texas Taildragger get-together (April 22).

Tim

[cvavon]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

Tim a lot of the repair shops use this place here in Mississippi they just did 6 cylinders for Turbo Saratoga at our air port 6 day turn a round and good work.

John Jewell aircraft in Holly Springs Mississippi 866 553 9355 email johnjewellaircraft.com

[3Dreaming]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

There are several out there that will do this kind of work. All of them some people will love, and others will hate. I have had some stuff done by Harrison engine service in La Porte Indiana. Gibson is another that I have used before. I think you can find them listed in Trade a Plane.

[Mark Julicher]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

Marshall Gibson might have the cylinders on the shelf. If so, he will inspect yours to determine if they are repairable and then send you his cylinders with yours as exchange. Very quick turn if he has the stuff. Small continentals are often hard for him to obtain, but worth a try.

http://www.gibsonaviationok.com

Maybe you can just pull your jugs and lap the exhaust valves??? That might buy you another year while you save some cash for new cylinders.

We just got several new Millennium C-85 cylinders through Aircraft Specialties Services. That is quick if you can afford new. Possible difficulty is availability! Millennium got a huge back order built up when ECI stopped production. I think they are caught up now, but be sure to call and check, i.e., don't trust to ordering online without talking to someone or you might have a long wait.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

I often will disassemble first and take a look at what is going on. If the valve is not sloppy loose in the guide I will fix it myself. I have a valve seat grinder, and a place in town who will face the valves for me. I also have a valve machine that I bought a year ago, but I have not tried to use it yet.

You might check around. There could be an old mechanic around that can fix it for you.

[TimHicks]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

Ok thanks , Chuck, Tom, and Mark,
This is a good start. I'll start calling around and see what I can find out.
I appreciate your help.
Tim

[Ron Greene]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

Did your IA follow the attached SB?

Ron

[TimHicks]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

Yes, that is the equipment and the process that he used. The one exception is that, after finding the two rear cylinders reading low, and air coming out of the exhaust, we did not fly the airplane for 45 minutes and re-test.
And his boroscope could only see a portion of each exhaust valve.
My boroscope (which we didn't have with us last time), has a smaller head. We think that we will be able to see more using it.
So tomorrow we plan to meet at the airplane and take a (hopefully better) look with my boroscope.
I'll discuss with him the recommended 45 min flight and re-test.
Years ago, I had an exhaust valve failure that resulted in the destruction of my Cessna120. I've got no interest in skirting the possibility of that happening again. I'd like to follow a path that has a large safety margin.
Tim

[TimHicks]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

I talked to John Jewell, near Memphis, they do work on C85's (at first, the lady that I was talking to didn't think that they did). They only do yellow-tag overhauls, not "inspect and repair as needed". Labor cost is $320. They need the cylinders in their shop for at least a week.
I also talked to Gibson, El Reno, OK. Likewise, they only do yellow-tag overhauls (no partial work, for liability reasons, they told me). $365 for overhaul (includes guides, seats, studs as needed). Two day turnaround once they receive it. If I send the piston, they will clean it and inspect it for no charge.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

I had a replacement cylinder supplied by Harrison Engines in Indiana, for my stranded A65 Taylorcraft in Oregon. They came recommended to me by folk on here. So I sent them an email, and when I phoned a few short hours later to check they had received my email, their response to my call (without my prompt) was "Mr Lees? We've already got one put aside for you, what colour would you like it painted?"

Customer service excellent.
The cylinder was duly shipped, installed, and the Taylorcraft has flown (albeit not by me...wait til May ). But I am, so far, impressed with Harrision. I paid $487 including shipping for a +0.015 A65 cylinder with 8130. I don't know it that's a good price, but it certainly appeared a reasonable price for a cylinder outright.

Years ago, I had an exhaust valve failure that resulted in the destruction of my Cessna120. I've got no interest in skirting the possibility of that happening again. I'd like to follow a path that has a large safety margin.

Quite right. "Things Slowly Going Wrong" do not have a tendency to get better on their own.

Just my humble opinion.

Rob

[Mark Bowden]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

http://www.centralcylinder.com/

These guys are the shop that did our overhaul in Dec. 2013 and are on the airport in Omaha. So far so good after 100+ hours. They might be another possible source of repair but a bit far from TX.

Mark

[TimHicks]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

Gibson called to report that my two cylinders were not serviceable. Cracks in the outer fin area and around the spark plug hole (due to years of overtorqued spark plugs, said the Gibson guy).
They sent me to Dart Aircraft for new cylinders. Dart said that Superior is having a tooling problem and the machining of the new cylinders is not keeping up with demand. They said they won't be getting any C85 cylinders until June.
Called Spruce, Harrison, Central Cylinders, Air Power. Same story everywhere. Can't get new cylinders for weeks, can't fix my old ones. I think that I'm gonna order 4 new ones and bide my time waiting if them to arrive.
In the meantime, I'm gonna miss the Texas Taildragger flying at Fort Parker (again). Sigh.

[TimHicks]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

Harrison said that they usually have reconditioned cylinders in stock. But right now, they have no C85, no A65, and no O-200 cylinders in stock.

[mike lutz]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

Tim, try this fellow. Woody Herman- 1-800-279-3168-- I think this is a good number. He maybe has something that will work for you.

[TimHicks]

Re: Where should I send my Cylinders for repair?

Thanks, Mike.
I called. It went to his voicemail. From the outgoing message, I could tell that the number is correct. I left a message asking him to call.
Tim