What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

[DavidB]

At this time there are several similar planes for sale in the 18k range. I would like to know what to look for. For an example I want to compare two planes that are for sale presently.

*I am not wanting to bash on anyone's plane*

First
1946 Taylorcraft BC-12D.
Log books since new.
Low AF Total time <1500TT
Continental A-65 MOH in the last 6 years
12v Generator
New sealed Gill Battery
New Slick mags.
New ELT. Lift struts replaced (AD) with sealed struts
McCauley Prop.
Radio, Mode C Transponder. VOR. VSI. Nav and Landing lights. Strobe.
Wheel pants.
Wing tank.
Recovered with Ceconite & Byuterate in 1985
In annual
Auto Gas STC
Always hangered

Second
1946 Taylorcraft BC12D.
TT >2500
TSMO 923.
In annual
Completely restored 2006.
Electric system with wind driven generator.
Nav lights and rotating beacon.
Communication and VOR antennas.
Always hangered
ADs complied with including new wing struts
auto gas STC

So they both look like really good planes to me. I talked to my local IA and he asked 1. what year was the engine overhauled, 2. how long ago were the wings recovered.

What else should I be concerned with?

Thanks,

David

[barnstmr]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

Ask for a picture of each engine compartment with the cowling removed. A picture says a 1000 words. You'll be able to assess the condition of the exhaust shroud and general cleanliness of the engine... see if it has insulated fuel hoses... does the electrical wiring look nice and neat or a jumbled mess. See if the baffle seals and scat hoses (heater ducts) look fresh. Are there oil stains, exhaust stains? Does the gascolator seem correct. Air box... does it look beat up or worn? Is anything rusty? MAgneto wires look good? You can pretty much see whether there has been maintenance going on or not.

Also ask when the bungees were replaced...

ask for the logbooks for the past 2 annuals and see if they actually work on the airplane or pencil whip it.

Ask how many hours the airplane has flown lately. A sitting airplane deteriorates quicker than a flying one.


OH - and about the fabric... totally depends on the workmanship... a poorly done 2006 fabric job may be worse than a 1985 job properly done. Obviously cosmetics are important.... sometimes more important to some people. Either way... your minimum criterion should be the physical condition. You need to determine if any of the tapes are peeling or delaminating on the edges. Is the finish peeling anywhere? Did they properly document the fabric job when it was done? If not perhaps they weren't too strict on following the procedures. When shortcuts are taken on fabric work, it usually shows up as tapes coming loose on edges and/or peeling of the finish.

Fabric condition can also depend on dings and repairs done since the original job. My airplane was covered in 1984 with Ceconite/Butyrate. It isn't a show stopper - in fact its not really a cosmetic pleaser at all. There are patches that don't match very good. The basic yellow color is faded. But the fabric is in good shape. Tapes are still intact. The problem with mine is that there were very few coats of color applied originally and that is now faded. I am seriously considering rejuvinating mine sometime. and spraying more color coats. But structurally its not a rush. Anyway... all that... to say... you really need to look over a fabric job close to determine its condition. Cosmetics are not necessarily the best indicator of physical condition.

[DavidB]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

Terry,

How often should the bungees be replaced?
Where are the most common-obvious areas to have peeling seem tape? Leading edge of the wings?
All things considered, value wise do you put more value in a recent good quality recover or a recently rebuilt engine by a reputable re-builder?

[barnstmr]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

David,
My answers may be skewed because I work in the engine overhaul industry and have a lot more resources available to get work done and find parts. But I view the expense and trouble of an engine overhaul to be less than the expense and trouble of a fabric job. Bungee replacement depends on the environment, but if it has been more than 5 years, I'll bet they are starting to sag. Peeling tape can be anywhere they weren't glued well.

maybe some others will chime in here.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

Terry,

How often should the bungees be replaced?
Where are the most common-obvious areas to have peeling seem tape? Leading edge of the wings?
All things considered, value wise do you put more value in a recent good quality recover or a recently rebuilt engine by a reputable re-builder?

cover job, it will cost 2-3 times the engine overhaul if done properly.

I change bungees only need replaced when they start to sag, which is usually a couple years.

log books since day one are nice, but not inportant to me as long as current books are correct to what is currently installed and properly documented

make sure the struts have been replaced to eliminate AD

tapes most likely to peel inside prop was area on wing and if it has wing tanks looks for signs of leaks

nice cowling , exhaust and heat muffs

most everything else beside engine overhaul is easily managable cost wise

[Ragwing nut]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

on the engines what is oil pressure at idle? If up around 30, bottom end is nice and tight. If down around 10, case probably has some wear in the front cam journal

[lawheelock]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

#1. Make sure there is a data plate and it reflects all the other info.! Make sure it has a correct airworthiness certificate.
Larry Wheelock

[1938BF50]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

Empty weight.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

That would mean REAL EMPTY WEIGHT, not calculated empty weight! There are stilla LOT of planes out there that have NEVER BEEN WEIGHED. Mine was one of them. I thought it was interesting that my plane weighed EXACTLY the same as the TC. That's because it didn't. All the way back in the logs the same weight had been carried forward. Scales are cheap. If you are going to buy it, WEIGH it.
Hank

By the way, she was right at the aft limit for CG too. Made for nice sensitive control feel, but I am sure glad I never did any spins.

[woodmw]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

When you find a plane you are really serious about, order the CD-ROM of the aircraft records from the FAA. It will contain the registration (chain of ownership), and the airworthiness information. Any undocumented mods could become big headaches down the road. Could be a very good $10 investment. The last one I ordered only took a little more than a week to get.

[magman]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

Title Search?

Correct Prop & RPM as per TC?

Raise Landing Gear off ground on one side & see if gear attach points are worn.

Lot's of folks are unaware of the lube holes.

Check screen & drain oil through a paint strainer to check for metal.

[Tom T]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

This has been a great thred. I am prepping my airplane to sell it and have complied with all of the above. Annual will be complete as of tomarrow after new bungies

[N96337]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

You're selling your Tcraft already Tom???

[DavidB]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

What should I look for as far as weight goes? I am assuming that with time they gain weight and lose payload. What is the ideal weight and payload? Lighter is better?

[Pearson]

Re: What to look for when buying a Taylorcraft

David,

The ideal weight is the weight of all the stuff that is important to YOU. Of the two planes you listed in your original post, the first one had a generator, radio, transponder, and wheel pants. If that stuff is important to you, that is the weight you will need to live with. If you haven't already, you should give some thought as to what type of flying you are going to be doing. Are you going to be running up and down the Willamette Valley and the coastline going to airshows and fly-ins at paved airports? Or are you planning on heading to northern Idaho with a sleeping bag and tent. You won't need that transponder if your going to the Idaho back country. On the other hand, if you plan on picking up relatives at PDX the transponder becomes a necessity. I have a 46 BC12D with the A65 Continental. It works fine for running up and down the Willamette Valley and the occasional trip to the high country. I stay out of PDX airspace, so I don't need a transponder. I have a handheld radio and GPS, so a generator would just be cutting into my useful load. Wheel pants look nice, but they don't increase lift or speed. And if you fly into a muddy strip you will be lugging a lot of mud around. So the best thing is figure out what you want to do with your plane and buy accordingly. If you get a good deal on one with a lot of extras you don't want, take them off and sell them. Before I even go look at a plane, I get both the lien check and the FAA CD. If you get a plane before spring there is always a Taylorcraft Fly-In down in northern California every year, usually Mothers Day weekend.