Engine rebuild - UK recommendations?
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Location: East Anglia
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Mine came from Lycoming. Maybe they have now certified it for your aircraft. You can search the US TCDS's to find out.
Its only 70 hrs old so no maintenance issues yet. It does use different spark plugs and oil filters.
Otherwise, apart from the extra power and the slightly higher fuel consumption it is the same as the IO360
Its only 70 hrs old so no maintenance issues yet. It does use different spark plugs and oil filters.
Otherwise, apart from the extra power and the slightly higher fuel consumption it is the same as the IO360
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Northampton UK
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Does that mean that if our engine is stripped at themoment it would not qualify according to those criteria?
If the crankcase has been split then I could imagine that would be an issue. You will have to ask Lycoming...
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I have had experience with most of the overhaulers mentioned in these posts in the past twenty years, some have been bad and some have been good. I personally only send my engines to Ronaldson and have done for the last 10 years. The newer companies on the scene I have only tested with component work to see what they are like. I have not being impressed enough to send an engine. I like to be open minded and try new company’s or 'reborn' company’s as they appear to make sure I am getting the best return for my £. I certainly do not believe in the cheapest being the best and certainly a high price doesn’t guarantee quality.
It is interesting to read ‘rumours’ about certain people or organisations. In my experience there does not tend to be much truth in them and they are normally vendetta based. I can only state the facts based on personal experience and as such can state that in approximately thirty engine repairs/overhauls I have only had two problems.
One was a faulty generator and the other a starter that packed up after a few starts. Both of these items were replaced during the repair/overhaul so were not down to Ronaldson. With that in mind, the replacement generator appeared within 24 hours of my call and within 3 hours the starter (delivered by courier). That is a level of service that is rare to find in the aircraft industry. The only negative I can say is that he does not suffer fools gladly (if this is a negative) and I guess he has seen a fair few of those in his time. I have always been up front and paid my bills on time and have never experienced any issues. I do query items when I don’t understand them but I have always found the explanations to be justified.
The other facility I have always found useful is the telephone support, this has been late at night or on weekends on more occasions than I care to remember. The support or delivery of parts has resulted in aircraft flying when owners thought it impossible.
In more recent years there has been a lady called Rachel that answers the phone, she is very good at technical support and chasing down parts at short notice. She also seems to deal with schedules and has made sure that shockloads have been turned around in a week and overhauls in 2 weeks when I have need them. The standard turnaround times are very good and pretty well are always as I need them.
It is interesting to read ‘rumours’ about certain people or organisations. In my experience there does not tend to be much truth in them and they are normally vendetta based. I can only state the facts based on personal experience and as such can state that in approximately thirty engine repairs/overhauls I have only had two problems.
One was a faulty generator and the other a starter that packed up after a few starts. Both of these items were replaced during the repair/overhaul so were not down to Ronaldson. With that in mind, the replacement generator appeared within 24 hours of my call and within 3 hours the starter (delivered by courier). That is a level of service that is rare to find in the aircraft industry. The only negative I can say is that he does not suffer fools gladly (if this is a negative) and I guess he has seen a fair few of those in his time. I have always been up front and paid my bills on time and have never experienced any issues. I do query items when I don’t understand them but I have always found the explanations to be justified.
The other facility I have always found useful is the telephone support, this has been late at night or on weekends on more occasions than I care to remember. The support or delivery of parts has resulted in aircraft flying when owners thought it impossible.
In more recent years there has been a lady called Rachel that answers the phone, she is very good at technical support and chasing down parts at short notice. She also seems to deal with schedules and has made sure that shockloads have been turned around in a week and overhauls in 2 weeks when I have need them. The standard turnaround times are very good and pretty well are always as I need them.
Join Date: Jun 2002
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There's many of us here that have been around long enough and can provide much more than 'rumours' about who not to go to....
True, the end products are good enough but that may be okay if you don't watch the component serial numbers or mind paying for genuine Lycoming cylinders and find out that you've got 6 engines fitted with ECi cylinders that have to be retired at 2000 hrs - potentially 400 hrs early on each engine.
As A&C said - good luck with who you go to....!
True, the end products are good enough but that may be okay if you don't watch the component serial numbers or mind paying for genuine Lycoming cylinders and find out that you've got 6 engines fitted with ECi cylinders that have to be retired at 2000 hrs - potentially 400 hrs early on each engine.
As A&C said - good luck with who you go to....!
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Engine Rebuild
I had a fantastic experience with Norvic Aero Engines (Lycoming TCM Teledyne Continental Franklin Experimental aircraft engine overhaul exchange shock load repair - Norvic Aero Engines). Have had experience of them under Jade and more recently under Norvic and the new owner – dramatically improved. My overhaul came back early, on price and has proved extremely reliable and runs really very well. They used genuine original manufacturer’s parts and have experienced engineers working for them for over 20 years (who else can say that?). Highly recommended
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Just a quick update on my earlier post which, when I wrote it, had my engine in the late stages of coming back together in the hands of Neil Andrews at AEP.
The engine is now in, has done the first four hours, and is running beautifully. So, in short, the engine has turned up on time, on budget and works straight out of the box. Respect!
As with all service industries, the 'consumer' can be quick to complain and slow to praise and I'd just like to break that mould.
(And just to say I have no connection to Neil's business whatsoever!)
The engine is now in, has done the first four hours, and is running beautifully. So, in short, the engine has turned up on time, on budget and works straight out of the box. Respect!
As with all service industries, the 'consumer' can be quick to complain and slow to praise and I'd just like to break that mould.
(And just to say I have no connection to Neil's business whatsoever!)
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Join Date: Jan 2006
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If memory serves, Brian Mills dresses rather unconventionally when working. A friends wife was reportedly rather taken aback, on a visit, to find him in his workshop labouring over a Lycoming, wearing nothing but a short skirt and no pants (or anything else, for that matter)....
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The UK engine and accessory overhaul scene has a lot of stuff going on in it which is thoroughly unsavoury.
I've just seen a pretty shocking example of such, where the CAA and a solicitor will be the next step.
That's why I normally get stuff done in the USA.
I've just seen a pretty shocking example of such, where the CAA and a solicitor will be the next step.
That's why I normally get stuff done in the USA.
Join Date: Oct 2005
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I don't think Lyco are the only firm which can zero time an engine in any meaningful sense.
Regarding "zero timing" the engine, if it has had a major overhaul does this not "zero time" the engine to all intents and purposes (regulatory / performance)?
Overhaul means to inspect and find within tolerances. A common misunderstanding is the belief that overhaul means to make like new or refurbish. The fact is that an engine inspected and found within tolerances is considered overhauled, and engines are often sold as "overhauled" when many of the same used parts are put back into the engine. Be careful when making assumptions about what's been done to the engine based on an "overhaul," or confusing terms such as "zero-time," "rebuilt," and "overhaul." These have very different meanings that don't interchange.
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IO540
UK or USA you have to be careful who you use, I have done a lot of flying in the USA and seen that there is a big difference between the best and the worst.
I am sure that Silvaire1 & SNS3Guppy could tell a few tails about who not to go to in the USA just as they could recomend some reliable workshops who will do a good job at a fair price.
I know that you have the ear of a few people in the UK maintenance business, they can tell you who will do the job to a high standard and have the paperwork to back it and more impotant those who don't and can't.
I am sure that Silvaire1 & SNS3Guppy could tell a few tails about who not to go to in the USA just as they could recomend some reliable workshops who will do a good job at a fair price.
I know that you have the ear of a few people in the UK maintenance business, they can tell you who will do the job to a high standard and have the paperwork to back it and more impotant those who don't and can't.
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There are good people everywhere and there are bad people everywhere, and everything in between.
The thing which I have found, during my 9 years of aircraft ownership, is that it is almost impossible to find a UK company about which there is a consensus on them being good. It is extremely easy to find a company on which there is a strong consensus of them being dodgy. For the USA, OTOH, it is not hard to find a company with a good reputation. You have to ask on US pilot forums, etc.
I would never suggest the USA doesn't have d*ckheads in the business; there are loads and I think their avionics business is just as hit and miss as the UK scene is on the whole. The USA has just the same % of avionics shops capable of delivering a new HSI installation with the glideslope reversed; the main difference being that it is a lot cheaper to get work done out there
However the undeniable thing is that a US engine shop (e.g.) will be 10x bigger than a UK engine shop and this means they are going to be doing any given type of engine a lot more often, and it also means that if they screw up there will be many more owners writing about it. So due diligence is much easier to do.
The thing which I have found, during my 9 years of aircraft ownership, is that it is almost impossible to find a UK company about which there is a consensus on them being good. It is extremely easy to find a company on which there is a strong consensus of them being dodgy. For the USA, OTOH, it is not hard to find a company with a good reputation. You have to ask on US pilot forums, etc.
I would never suggest the USA doesn't have d*ckheads in the business; there are loads and I think their avionics business is just as hit and miss as the UK scene is on the whole. The USA has just the same % of avionics shops capable of delivering a new HSI installation with the glideslope reversed; the main difference being that it is a lot cheaper to get work done out there
However the undeniable thing is that a US engine shop (e.g.) will be 10x bigger than a UK engine shop and this means they are going to be doing any given type of engine a lot more often, and it also means that if they screw up there will be many more owners writing about it. So due diligence is much easier to do.
