Carl is there a market in the Vans community for a good Lycoming -320 which is mid time, but outside the 12 year OH period?
With this silly rule (24 years in parts of Europe) there must be a steady supply of good engines which a home builder might want – and the seller could then use the proceeds to buy a new one from Lycoming?
That’s a good question – one I could not really speak Authoritatively about, as I chose to buy a brand new one from Vans. A recent article in the LAA magazine of another RV-10 owner bought an older engine, then realised how much it would cost to “fix up” – sold it on and bought a new one.
My guess is that there’s a market, but I would imagine it needs to be sensibly priced.
One other comment – I think a O-360 is likely to be a more common fitment, but i’m no expert.
RobertL18C wrote:
is there a market in the Vans community for a good Lycoming -320 which is mid time, but outside the 12 year OH period?
A new engine is very expensive, so a mid-time certified configuration O-320 is in demand anywhere for use in homebuilts like the Vans RV-4 or RV-9A. Some builders would top overhaul the engine before use, which isn’t terribly expensive, just so they could take a look at the internals and perhaps convert the engine to a specific desired configuration. Value is a sliding scale depending on configuration: those O-320 versions with the less robust 4-piece front main bearing are somewhat less in demand because they aren’t really suitable for use with higher compression ratio 160 HP pistons/cylinders. The most value would be for a 2-piece front main bearing O-320 with a non-pitted hollow crankshaft and etc, useable with a hydraulic CS propeller. If its mid-time and hasn’t been previously overhauled, that generally increases value relative to an engine that’s been overhauled once or twice before.
carlmeek wrote:
from the 130 knot Tecnam I had before
130 knot Tecnam?
P2006 twin, I suppose.
No, a P2002 Sierra Retractable.
130 knots all day every day, 20 litres mogas per hour
RobertL18C wrote:
With this silly rule (24 years in parts of Europe) there must be a steady supply of good engines which a home builder might want – and the seller could then use the proceeds to buy a new one from Lycoming?
Actually, while the ELA1 crowd of certified airplanes is now exempt from this due to the EASA mandate, the 24 year rule is quite strictly enforced for everyone else, at least in Switzerland. So 24 year old engines with run time left will not be tolerated in any homebuilt without massive maintenance action (tear down cylinders).
Mooney_Driver wrote:
So 24 year old engines with run time left will not be tolerated in any homebuilt without massive maintenance action (tear down cylinders).
This makes no sense. Surely homebuilders in Switzerland can build their own engines also, and to start with an old certified one is usually the best choice.
