Engine Guidance

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Sometimes paying a guy you know and trust for 3 days will be cheaper than the alternative which is paying a guy you don't know or trust half the money. Would you really be getting a bargain? I'm thinking I pay my guy if I can.

Glad to hear the boy is doing fine.

[johneeb]

Important to be sure we are using the proper size master orifice when doing a leak down test. See b. (1) and (2) below.

CompTest02.JPG

[hilltop170]

Sometimes paying a guy you know and trust for 3 days will be cheaper than the alternative which is paying a guy you don't know or trust half the money. Would you really be getting a bargain? I'm thinking I pay my guy if I can.

Glad to hear the boy is doing fine.

I agree, paying a trusted mechanic will be good insurance no matter the final outcome on the purchase, whether it passes or fails. He is working for you, not the seller and feels no pressure to give a good report to encourage you to make the purchase. In fact he will probably feel pressure to look extra closely so there will be no surprises after the purchase.

Airworthiness issue repairs can then be figured into the purchase price or repairs made before the purchase is completed.

Paying my trusted mechanic $800 saved me $4000+ in required airworthiness repairs on the purchase of a C185. The seller's mechanic had already signed-off the annual on the 185 before I showed up with my IA who knew 185s extremely well. The sellers had the problems repaired by their mechanic with my IA supervising and the repairs were paid for before the sale was completed so there would be no subsequent mechanic's lien on the plane due to unpaid repairs. Quite uncomfortable situation for all involved but well worth the anxiety in the end.