engine overhaul shop

[Andreas Riedel]

My O 540 needs an overhaul. Can anybody recommend a good shop out of experience.
Information on this topic would be great
Andreas

[N3322G]

Andreas,

There was a recent thread similar to this. You can find it by searching on the title in the upper right corner of this screen.

Below is one of my posts in the thread.

Re: 0-540 Engine Rebuild Cost

Post by N3322G » 15 Feb 2013 09:19
Wrote and article about our overhaul and it might help. http://www.comancheflyer.com/NS/tech_articles.php

#1 lesson for me - choose who removes and installs carefully. We choose poorly, shop is no longer in business. Cost a LOT in future maintenance.

I've gotten private emails about choosing a shop. In our case we thought we knew enough as we'd done business with the shop for a few years. One of the red flags we missed was that they put on unapproved larger oil filters and filed a part to make them fit - didn't know until years later they had filed part off the governor. In general there was an air of arrogance - they knew more than the FAA and they knew more than the owner so they ignored both parties upon occasion. This led the shop to knowingly placing my aircraft in an unairworthy condition according to the FAA after the engines were put back on. I knew this and asked them to return the aircraft to airworthy status. The shop owner got VERY upset. The next mechanic who did an oil change found 'rampant looseness' and declined to work on the aircraft further. Either through negligence or retribution the Lord Mounts were found to be grossly under-torqued which caused damaging vibration. Over several years due to vibration the following had to be repaired or replaced, both vacuum pumps, alternators, starters, governors. Each of these items took months or years to diagnose and solve the problems. My faith in any mechanic has yet to be repaired.

I share this solely to help others avoid anything close to the above experience.

[Kristin Winter]

Is location a consideration?

[Andreas Riedel]

Thank you for the information Kristin, very helpful. Location is not a problem as the engine needs to be shiped to the shop in any case. It is very difficult to try to make a decision which shop to use for the overhaul and I thought of tapping into the experience of the members. I opted so far for an overhaul as the engine is good and does not need an overhaul but the crankshaft has be replaced because of an AD. (The engine does come out of a 81RG. Doing this is about the same price as an overhaul and the engine now with around 1200 hrs could be 0 timed. This makes sense to me. I decided not to go for a re-build as I know that my engine is good and I do not like the idea not knowing what I am getting.
I have contacted Zephyr who immidiately answered which was a good start. He mentioned that he is not EASA approved. Have to check this if this is necassary for enginge overhaul (the plane is D-registered). Maybe there is some experience with other shops at the ICS?
Andreas

[Andreas Riedel]

Thanks Pat, read your aricle and yes indeed it was very helpful. Not to many articles in the ICS forum about the qualitiy of the overhaul shops though. Have also contacted Zephyr already. Just thought that there would be other shops around to be recommended to give me a better picture.
Andreas

[MULEFLY]

Based on personal experience, I would avoid using Poplar Grove.

Jim

[Kristin Winter]

Penn Yan Aero is a good shop. I have two of their engines on my plane and no complaints after 800 hours. They are EASA approved.

[Randy Johnson]

What is the importance of EASA approval?

[steen]

Jim,
I have used Poplar Grove Airmotive several times and have recommended them to many.
Can you fill me in on what I've missed? Perhaps I should reconsider my choice on the next overhaul. My most recent overhaul
was done in '10. Something changed?
Steen

[Andreas Riedel]

Thanks Kristin, I am in contact Pen Yan. Looking good.
EASA is the European FAA and everything has to be approved by them. Bit of a nightmare but let's not get into this.
Andreas