The death of the A-65?

[mhorowit]

As I understand it, you can grind a scored shaft once and install oversized bearings, but that's the limit of grinding, then you need a replacement.

I believe I"ve seen (sometime in the distant past) cranks offered for sale, but I may be mistaken. Are they getting hard to find?

As the A-65 is no longer made, what does this mean for the fleet of A-65 owners? Do they swap it out for an engine that is still supported? - Mike

[alwaysoar]

Re: The death of the A-65?

In my limited experience, they are not hard to find, just hard to find cheap. There's one on ebay now, but nobody's bidding--it's a pig in a poke, maybe not worth the shipping. Flanged cranks are more desireable than tapered, and I wish I'd paid more for a flanged than have to buy a hub and go through hub hassles. I think 65's will be around for a long time. Bigger and faster and better does not fall into my philosophy and I think many agree with me.

Ed@BTV VT
TF 527

[M Towsley]

Re: The death of the A-65?

Continental made boxcars full of these things and would deliver said boxcars full during the heyday of these small planes. Chet Peek's book on the Taylorcraft even describes these events. Multiply that with the deliveries to Piper, Luscombe and the other multitude of small airplane manufacturers that utilized the A-65 and you can picture just how many there were (are). You just have to dig a little and find a source, or sources, and hang onto that information. Then be prepared to pay the price.

[jgerard]

Re: The death of the A-65?

I have a ton of A65 parts and engines for sale, probably over 100 cylinders and 10+ complete engines. Even a few up exhaust A65's.

Jason
N43643

[Jim Herpst]

Re: The death of the A-65?

I would be a bunch more concerned about the Continental 85s and 90s . Those are the engines that people are replacing the a-65s with and have been for some time. Also there were far fewer of these built in the first place.
I would not worry much about the old 65s for now.

Jim

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: The death of the A-65?

Mike,

Lots of parts offered for sale but how airworthy are they? Best way to know for sure is to have the part inspected by an FAA Certified Repair Facility like Aircraft Specialties in Oklahoma. I know it is pricey, but if they yellow tag it, its ok. These facilities also sell reconditioned yellow tagged cranks for lots of $$$.

FD
N43684

[VictorBravo]

Re: The death of the A-65?

If it becomes an issue, you could probably have one made up under the "owner produced parts" rule. There areplenty of crankshafts being made for different purposes, and I'd guess that an A-65 crank isn't any more complicated or different than any other kind of crank. A company that specializes in making racing crankshafts for cars wouldn't have too much of a problem.

[mhorowit]

Re: The death of the A-65?

If it becomes an issue, you could probably have one made up under the "owner produced parts" rule. There areplenty of crankshafts being made for different purposes, and I'd guess that an A-65 crank isn't any more complicated or different than any other kind of crank. A company that specializes in making racing crankshafts for cars wouldn't have too much of a problem.

Can you imagine the cost? - Mike

[Pearson]

Re: The death of the A-65?

I have seen A-65 cranks listed for sale by what I believe to be reputable dealers on Barnstomers.com for around $1500.

[high time cub]

Re: The death of the A-65?

You can go 020 under......www.aircraft-specialties.com/mach.html

[mhorowit]

Re: The death of the A-65?

You can go 020 under......www.aircraft-specialties.com/mach.html

Right.
I was thinking what happens the next time the crank needs grinding; I think .020 is the limit, then you have a nice looking paperweight - Mike

[alwaysoar]

Re: The death of the A-65?

Aircraft Specialties has the STC and is the only supplier of .020 bearings, plus I think the case has to be modified somehow though that doesn't seem logical. It gets expensive and I don't think folks are doing it yet as long as there is a supply of cranks available. It would make sense if you already had a crank, but to buy a -.020 wouldn't.

[high time cub]

Re: The death of the A-65?

There was a time not long ago that the limit was 010 under. Unfortunately many good shafts were relegated to the scrap heap.

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: The death of the A-65?

The .020 under crank STC from Aircraft Specialties includes a process that hardens the outer layer of the crankshaft. This hardening process is not on the .010 under or standard crank. This hardening process should make the crank last longer under normal use and good maintenance--and for most of us should last as long as we own the airplane. I talked with the techs at Aircraft Specialties and this process requires that the crank be baked in a very hot environment to accomplish the hardening result. Some cranks warp under this heat and have to be discarded.

FD
N43684

[Doc]

Re: The death of the A-65?

Hello: Just had an A-65 flanged crankshaft ground to 0.020/0.020 ($455.00)and camshaft reconditioned ($99.00). I received a 0.020 rod bearing set ($149.00) and a 0.020 main bearing set ($349.00) from American Engine and Accessory (AEA) of Dallas, TX. Parts are readily available for this engine. As you may know, new Superior Airparts Millenium cylinder are also available. J & J Airparts of Pleasanton, TX failed two of my cylinders and the price of repair/replacement of the four cylinders was about $300.00 less than the discounted price of 4 new Milleniums. I believe that ECI of San Antonio, TX may offer new Titan cylinders for the A-65. Complete overhaul service for the crank case and accessory case from ECI was $1,098.00. When I cracked the case, the crankshaft journals and bearings (0.010) were badly scored - the folks at AEA were very helpful and able to salvage the crankshaft with the 0.020 tolerances. Hope that this helps. Doc