The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Time to shop for new cylinders for my C-145-2H rebuild. Been about 15 years since I shopped for cylinders. I seem to remember there were more chooses. I've only been able to finds Continental and Superior and it seems that all that is offered from these two companies are steel cylinders.

Have I missed any? What happened to the others? I feel so uninformed.

Continental says they have original design and a new design cylinder. What's the difference?

What is are the current thoughts on the best cylinder for the money (which BTW is about $350 per cylinder higher than I remember)

Thanks

The new design has the new pushrod housings.

ECI got bought out by Continental, who promptly shut down most if not all of the PMA parts for Continental engines......

The new design Continental cylinders don't come with the new push rod housings, you have to buy then extra. At least thats the way it looks to me. Is that how everyone sees it?

I'm also getting the impression Superior cylinders are in short supply. Is that really the case?


Continental new design has Valves (Installed), Piston, Piston Pin, Ring Set, Rocker Shaft, Gasket & Seal Kit. Airpower has them for $1031 per cylinder plus $238 for pushrod conversion kit. or $1269

Continental origal design has Valves (Installed), Piston, Piston Pin, Ring Set, Rocker Shaft, Gasket & Seal Kit. Airpower has them for $1030.

Superior Millenium has Valves (Installed), Piston, Ring Set, (piston and rings are note assembled in cylinder according to Spruce) Gasket & Seal Kit. Piston Pin, Rocker Shaft, are extra. Spruces price $1061 Piston pin $51.50, rocker shaft $22.00, Total $1135.30 A few places have Superior cylinders listed lower but are, but out of stock.

Who's got the best deal. Looks like Continental original design at $1030 from Airpower.

Have a look at both companies and that's why I only fit superior cylinders these days . Continental have improved but have a long way to catch up with superior,

My personal favorite supplier for either mfr is http://www.jjairparts.com/
Their website lists Superior at $900.
(or if you still want reman cylinders $749)

Bruce Fenstermacher wrote:I'm also getting the impression Superior cylinders are in short supply. Is that really the case?

I think that Superiors have become so popular that it's difficult for anyone to keep them in stock (especially with the elimination of ECI). When I replaced my #5 a year and a half ago, I bought a Superior from my IA. He did a lot of work on C-150's and always kept at least one in stock he said because of the long lead times. When he used one, he would then buy another usually on backorder from the least expensive source.

It's been only 1 1/2 yrs, but I am happy with my Superior.

BTW, I just looked on Spruce's website and they are selling them for $958, but they are out of stock.

gahorn wrote:My personal favorite supplier for either mfr is http://www.jjairparts.com/
Their website lists Superior at $900.
(or if you still want reman cylinders $749)

I bought Superior cylinders for my Lycoming from J&J a couple years ago. They had the lowest price, were in stock, shipped promptly, and no problems.

We've learned a lot about cylinders and how to build them in 50 years. Staying with the original design is a tough sell.

Steel vs. Chrome? Buy steel, fly often, and don't worry about it!

DEM

We rebuilt six motors last year. All of them got Superior cylinders. I am also putting Superior on mine. I got them from Aircraft Specialties only because they were the only supplier who could get me six of them at the time when I ordered them. The parts guys there tell me they sell more Superior's than Continental by 3:1. If that means anything.
Steel cylinders are the only ones available for the O-200/300 that I am aware of.

I inquired about the "new style" cylinders from Continental when I bought mine but could never really get a straight answer as to the difference. You still have to purchase the pushrod kits so I don't know why that would matter. Is the design of the cylinder different? I am going with the original style pushrod tubes.

Never buy remanufactured cylinders .nobody knows their history. Cylinder overheats ? SHock cooling. they might look good but at the end of the day ,there isn't much difference in cost over a new one . Superior has a lastest design in fin cooling and the lack of hot spots on the cylinder .

When I replaced my C-180 engine in 2015, I checked all the usual sources and found A.E.R.O. to have the best prices on parts and shipping. They put their AirBoss brand on Continental and Lycoming factory parts.

http://aeroinstock.com/air-boss-cylinde ... i-engines/