Dco65

[mdachs]

Hello All,
I am new to this forum and to T-crafts in general. I am looking to buy my first plane and am leaning towards a DCO 65 that i like. The only question i have is can an 85hp engine be put in one and have the certified max gross weight remain under 1320lb? I have 250hrs, but its all in planes with a starter and i am very nervious about hand propping.
Any help on the subject would be great. Thank you

[M Towsley]

Re: Dco65

First you will have to find a DCO-65 that is grossed under 1320, which would be the L-2 (DCO-65), L-2A and the L-2B at 1300 lbs. The L-2M is grossed at 1325, therefore would be outside the Sport Pilot, 1320lb, realm. The good/bad news is there are some around every now and then, but they made more M models than anything. They only made 490 B's, I'm not sure how many A's but I hardly see any of those around. As to the 85hp engine, I know my friend has one in his M, but I haven't seen any B's setup that way. Also try searching for the L-2 Liaison site on MSN. A lot of the guys there are here also, but you will find more L-2 specific info over there, though it is hit and miss on the message board. Sometimes you get questions answered, and sometimes you don't. I am sure more folks will chime in after me on this thread. You might also have some problem with finding one with a starter, as they were all originally non-electric, hand-propped. Hand-propping is not all that bad once you learn to do it safely. Good luck, I love my L-2B with all of it's 65 h.p.!

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Dco65

You can put an 85 on if you can find copies of 337's. I only visit the MSN site every few months it moves so slow and the people that know about L-2's mostly are on this site anyways. (Forest Barber, Dick Huish, myself, for starters). Putting an 85 on does not affect the cerified gross weight, but will affect the empty weight by adding about 75 lbs. I have built 2 L-2's with 85's, have another that had a C-90 on it, and I am trying to get ahold of paperwork with one that had an O-200 on it. I really enjoy flying the L-2's. they are a very nice well balanced airplane.

Mike

[mdachs]

Re: Dco65

Thanks for the rapis response. There is another question I ment to ask:
The plane I'm looking at looks like an L-2M, but has an enclosed cowl (not sure yet if it has the spoliers) and says L-2M on the side. I know people dress up their planes and makr them as something they are not somtimes, but i looked up the N-number through the FAA, as well as the serial number and both came back as DCO65, so i figure i should be safe. if anyone has any info to the countrary, i would love to hear it (I also plan on taking it to a guy who restores a lot of rag and tube planes and is an A&P to get it fully checked). Thanks again guys.

[lawheelock]

Re: Dco65

You need to verify the model number by actually looking at the airframe data plate and the airworthiness certificate. The FAA records are not always correct, I know, from bad experience! And, getting the FAA to correct errors that they made, sometimes years and years ago, can be difficult.

[Dick Huish]

Re: Dco65

It's really simple. If the serial number is between 4000 and 5165 then the gross weight is less than 1320 pounds. Dick

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Dco65

Quick way to spot an actual "M" fuselage is to check if there is a small tube above the door for the emergengy door release cable to go through, and opposite the parking brake on the left side would be the spoiler handle bracket if the mechanism has been removed. There would also be a pulley bracket upper left hand corner of the front carry though and a place for the spoiler bellcrank in the middle of the upper carry through.

Mike

[M Towsley]

Re: Dco65

Don't be fooled by the DCO-65 nomenclature. Almost all of the L-2's are so listed. Very few carry their original L-2, A, B, M status in the FAA records. Mine didn't carry the DCO status until the 90's. I would say on face value it is an M, but the serial number will tell for sure. Like I said before, lots more M's out there than anything. Good luck with your search.