Real-life TBO

[Richard K]

I just found and joined this site, great stuff. I've owned 2 Skymasters with mid-time engines that never caused any problems. I'm looking for another, but after reading all the posts I could find, am still wondering if some long time Skymaster owner(s) could estimate the hours a normally aspirated Skymaster engine will go before overhaul is needed IF it was properly cared for? I've been flying over 25 years, and have owned 11 planes, but never got to the point of needing an overhaul done.(most of my planes had mid-time engines).

Thanks,
Rich

[WebMaster]

Hi Richard. Glad you are here.

When we bought ours, the front engine was 250 past TBO, and compressions were good, but it was making metal, so we replaced it as part of the purchase. Most engines, if taken care of, and used regularly, will go well past TBO.

[FRED-E]

Richard
I am like the painter who never paints his own house, both my engines have over 2100 hours and still have exceptable compressions. I don't like to get a long way from home. I have owned the 337B for 6 years. I purchased an engine from Don Nieser to rebuild but I haven't got started yet. My advice is to start looking for an engine within 100 hours past TBO, depending on how the compression holds up.
Fred N358

[Guy Paris]

Hey guys, why is it that the IO360s in the non turbos is only a 1500 hrs till tbo anyway? Is it because it has to turn up to 2800 rpm for take off? The said engine in other aircraft go in theory to higher hrs before tbo. 1800, 2000 hrs. Guy the old 72 driver..

[Richard K]

Thanks for the info. any other is appreciated. I guess for now the thing to do on pricing is to figure the engine time as per AOPA VREF or TAP evaluator, and if they're past TBO they aren't figured to be worth much. One "seller" I spoke to said his engines were over 1800, but would go quite a bit more since the compressions were still good. I'm really not looking to buy one where the chances are pretty good that I'd have to have them majored, unless the selling price reflected it.

[kevin]

In my opinion, engines at TBO are valueless in aircraft purchase price. The owner is doing well to have gotten that far. I would not major the engines until they tell me they need it, but past TBO you can figure that you are going to find low cylinders, metal in filter, etc sooner or later, more likely sooner. Any major work required will trigger OH, even one cylinder down. So an owner who has been careful with the engines gets bonus value beyond TBO, but I would not pay for it in purchase price.

My opinion only.

Kevin

[Bob Cook]

Tricky Subject !

1) You can hit TBO if you put more than a 250 hrs / yr on them. More you fly the longer the engine life. Training schools will tell you this.

2) lots of oil changes.

3) Hanger Queens do not fair well. Look out for corrosion.

4) Lower RPM's help to some extent.

5) Don't try 50% power takeoffs <G>.

Turbo charged engines ....... not a chance !

my thoughts

Bob

[SkyKing]

Why worry about it? Fly it regularly and treat it right, and it will make music for a l-o-n-g time. All the worry makes it an academic challenge, and no two engines are going to be the same anyway.

SkyKing

[Richard K]

I agree, and if I had been flying it for the last 200 hours or so, wouldn't be concerned, but to buy one with 1800 smoh from a seller that has owned it for about 1 year, and has only flown it for 10 hours naturally has me concerned.

[travis]

Just baut my 337E off my friend after the 4000+ hour front engine threw a rod! Really I think that it would have lasted longer if they had kept the oil changes up!

_travis

[Paul Sharp]

The rear engine on my '67 turbo is just 50 hours from TBO. Still running great, although I consider any time after TBO to be gratis. Will take what I get, though.

[hharney]

1968 337C

REAR ENGINE 2300 HOURS
STILL HAD ACCEPTABLE COMPRESSION
STILL FLYING AND SOUNDED GOOD

AS I CHANGED TO NEW REMAN I KEPT SAYING "IT STILL RUNS GOOD"

MY AP SAID "BUT I DON'T WANT TO WRITE IT OFF ANYMORE"

NEW ENGINE IS DOING GREAT
400+ HOURS NOW

HERB