TBO IS HERE

[Michael Rath]

Kristen,

I think you are a perfect example of someone that could go well beyond TBO. You fly regularly, you proactively care for the engine and you monitor the engine for the first signs of trouble. I bet you could get 3000 hours out of those babies!

[Kristin Winter]

Michael,

I am not that optimistic, but will if the engine is healthy. It sat some with the previous owner, so there are some potential corrosion issues. I am not sure that the cams will hold out that long. Time will tell.

I do think that you have to be this proactive to safely exceed TBO by significant margins and that not all owners are willing or equipped to do so.

Kristin

[N3322G]

Ditto Kristin's view. My twin sat during intense elder care episodes and at overhaul Charlie Melot said, "they are lovely really." However we did have right engine cam wear - Charlie said likely due to sitting a bit of rust worked on it when it got flying again. At the time of O/H they were running well and not making metal. Charlie also said if we'd waited longer, the cam would not have been able to be saved.

Having written those checks, I get antsy when the twin sits more than a week. Even a two week annual/improvements downtime is concerning to me.

Food for thought.

[Michael Rath]

I do think that you have to be this proactive to safely exceed TBO by significant margins and that not all owners are willing or equipped to do so.

Kristin[/quote]

I agree with that 100%

Pat,

Cams are tough on these Lycomings as you are well aware. I can't find the info but I think that I recently read that a well know engine shop was only able to regrind something like 4 out of every 10 cams.

You should see the cam I pulled out of a C-85 core that I bought for my J-3. The first cam lobe was wore so flat that I was amazed it wasn't running rough. However, the previous owner said that it still ran just fine! It's amazing how tough these engines really are!!