Crankshaft troubles

[oldernut]

I'm as mad as a wet hen. Let me explane. I sent my grankshaft down to ECI to be ground. They did the job and sent it back along with the paper work which said the crank had been ground .010 on the rods and .020 on the mains. I bought rod and main bearings from Aircraft Spealties. The bearins rrived and my A7P buddy and I started putting the engine together. All the bearings were the wrong size. The crank had been ground .020 on the rods and .010 on the mains. I payed $ 416 on those bearings and ECI has not been willing to do anything about it. I'm about ready to try to get the FAA in on it. Do you guys have an thoughts?

Dave

[flyguy]

Re: Crankshaft troubles

I've had really good results dealing with such errors with automotive warehouses such as Summit Racing. Maybe you could do an exchange with Aircraft spruce. Then I suppose you didn't find out until the parts were installed. That would probably ruin that possibility.

FAA is rather like the cops. They can't protect you, they can only take vengeance. Maybe the FAA might pressure ECI enough that they would take the parts and cover your cost for replacements.

Small claims court. Their paperwork would be the key to a good outcome there I am sure.

I'm thinking you might get more advice on this if you transferred it to the regular discussion group.
DC

[3Dreaming]

Re: Crankshaft troubles

I just went through a macine shop messing up about $350 in new parts. Not much to do except buy the correct parts and go on. If you didn't mess up the new bearings you might be able to sell them and get some of your money back.

[oldernut]

Re: Crankshaft troubles

I just got an e-mail from ECI they informed me they will replace my bearings. It6 took a week but they came trough.
Dave

[robbie]

Re: Crankshaft troubles

I have a question.
When the crank is ground .020 under, don't you need a STC for the bearings?.

[Robert Lees]

Re: Crankshaft troubles

oldernut:

Is there a USA equivalent of what we have here in the UK "Breach of Contract"?

i.e. You contracted them to provide ABC, and they gave you XYZ. They are in breach of contract.

Further, if their paperwork (yellow tag) states different to the contacted work, then I would suggest it is an FAA case, since surely the FAA provides legislated oversight of their overhaul facility?

Mistakes can & will be made, but if so, they should make reparations for your "out-of-pocket" additional expenses (like your A&P's time, etc).

(As an aside, we also have a "Sale of Goods & Services Act", which states, inter alia, that "goods & services" should be of "merchantable quality" . In reality, this means that suppliers are not allowed to screw up without compensating you. Do you have a similar law?)

(Further aside: we also have "small claims court" as Flyguy says)

[barnstmr]

Re: Crankshaft troubles

I just got an e-mail from ECI they informed me they will replace my bearings. It6 took a week but they came trough.
Dave

Glad to hear the folks at ECi took care of you. My experience with them has always been favorable.. or at least if they do make a mistake, they are good about making it right with their customers.

[M Towsley]

Re: Crankshaft troubles

Rob,

Most of what you have spoken usually would require hiring a lawyer, ($$$), and that does not guarantee you will get what you want. It will take a lot of time to be resolved as well as the fact you may have an issue with jurisdiction. Do you file in your county, or the state and county where the work took place, etc.?

Small claims court can be utilized depending upon the dollar amount of the alleged loss. The plaintiff also has to pay a filing fee to submit the claim. Then, you have to get the other side to show up to testify. Usually there are several times you would have to show up in court, it is not necessarily an issue of both sides showing up and testifying. Then, even if you do win does not necessarily mean you will get your money. There would be a finding for the plaintiff but that does not mean they have to pay. You would then have to somehow garnish wages or income to get your money, which you would probably have to involve an attorney, ($$$), to deal with. Especially if the defendant is out-of-state, etc.

It is not an easy nor guaranteed process you will get what you want.

I put it this way, judges and attorneys all belong to the same club. Though they shouldn't make decisions based upon being in the 'attorney club' they still do, and sometimes detrimental to the common folk. It is all about the money with most of these folks.

PS: I have seen this process take place both in the criminal and civil sides for over 26 years and base my comments upon those observations.