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**Dusty** · 12-03-2006, 12:41

Re: Maintenance

Ditto for annual inspections on a Taylorcraft?

I pay $300 for an owner-assisted annual. I open it up, my mechanic inspects everything, I fix whatever squawks he finds, and put everything back together. Not much mechanical aptitude required, other than lefty-loosey/righty-tighty and the desire to learn more about your own airplane. The total bill generally comes to under $1000 after I replace gear bolts, fix a little paint, replace that {pick a widget} that's been bugging me, pay a little shop rate to replace something that I don't feel comfortable messing with, etc. And I always leave knowing more about my airplane than I did. The secret is finding a mechanic that can work with YOU.

What is the group's experience on how long things last? Bungee cords, brakes, wires, etc.?

Depends how you use your airplane. I replace bungees every couple years, all gear bolts every year, brake pads on the Champ every couple years, etc. because I use the airplanes pretty hard (about 300 hours - mostly all off-airport - per year). If you're flying around the patch on nice days, I'd not expect to replace anything regularly.

How often to change oil

When it needs it! I schedule a change at 20 hours. When I'm trapping (~30 shutdowns/takeoffs per day in the cold) it gets black around 15 hours and I change it. It still looks like new past 30 hours if I'm flying long trips at lower power settings.

What parts need regular owner lubrication? With what?

Your mechanic should be able to better answer that. All airplanes are a bit different.

**Ragwing nut** · 12-03-2006, 13:07

Re: Maintenance

Don't know any shops in the area, but a good overhaul will start around $6500 and go up.

Finding an IA that knows old airplanes is getting harder and harder. Find one that knows them and works with them daily, don't find the cheapest guy. Ones that allow owner assist are a great way to go if you can. You learn alot and makes you a better pilot as well.

Bungee cords every couple years, I never use brakes to stop a tcraft so once they are in top condition, they should last many years with out replacement barring rust or damage issues.

Sources for consumable parts are Wag Aero, Aircraft Sruce, Wicks, etc. Sources for Taylorcraft parts are little harder to find. Univair, ebay, this forum, and a few other places.

25 hour oil changes without an oil filter and straight weight oil. If you are running staight 100LL, be careful of sticking valves.

On ebay occasionally you will find an Esso lube chart for T-craft. Also the flying manual gives you lube points as well. Try not to use anything that will attract dirt as it will prematurely wear the part out. I like to use LPS 1 or 2, whichever is the greaseless lubricant.

Mike

**fearofpavement** · 12-03-2006, 13:21

Re: Maintenance

I don't think you will find any certified plane that costs less to maintain than a T-craft. There are lubrication charts available that tell what, when and with what to lubricate things. A lot of it is common sense. If something is stiff or squeaky lube it. The lube chart uses motor oil for many places but not surprisingly some developments have taken place in the lubricants area over the past half century or so. There are better, more convenient products out there but oil does the job too! For flight control hinges I use ACF-50 because it does such a good job of getting itself everywhere. It costs a lot for an aerosol can (like maybe $12.00) but it will last for a long time if used sparingly. (couple years)

On oil changes we do it about every 25 to 35 hours plus or minus. (O-200, no filter)

Regarding other items there is the occasional dope touch up, replacement of a gauge, air filter replacement (and just complied with the Brackett AD by replacing the housing assembly)

mags, plugs, harness, carb, exhaust etc get worked on when they need it (your experience may vary...)

Overall, we probably put about 40 to 100 hours per year on the plane and I would guess the maintenance costs are on average $200 to $300 per year. (parts and materials, we do our own work and annuals)

Insurance (liability only) now with Avemco is about $400 per year (three named high time pilots and an open policy for any private pilot with a tailwheel endorsement) We are based at a private grass airstrip a half mile long.

We burn auto fuel (unless away from base) and use about 4.5 per hour) O-200 burns a little more on x-c flights.

Not having avionics of any sort and very few gauges and instruments really helps keep the costs down. No transponder or altimeter certifications. Just a very simple plane that gets one in the air for very few bucks (relatively)

I have a hand held Icom A-4 that I rarely carry. A GPS 95 that I rarely carry and a David Clark portable intercom with a pair of David Clark headsets that we use on every flight. The DC intercom has very low power consumption. It holds two nine volt batteries but only uses one at a time. If the battery goes low in flight just flip a switch and you're on the other one. The battery can be changed with the unit in use with no tools. I don't have the need for this as one battery will usually last us more than 20 flight hours.

We do keep the plane under roof and that is certainly an advantage in several maintenance areas.

**mhorowit** · 12-03-2006, 13:53

Re: Maintenance

Dan - if my A-65 needs O/H, I plan on discussing it with my A&P, but what I'd like to do is dissassemble and clean everything at home, bring parts he specifies to him for inspection, and then begin assembly, getting his OK on things he wants to do. Probably some A&P at Lee Airport would be willing to do that with you - MIke

**alwaysoar** · 12-03-2006, 19:08

Re: Maintenance

Dan--I sent you a private message. Ed Scott

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