The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Well got my plane home, and started looking closely at it, since it just had a "fresh" annual in July, and it had only flown 1 hour since. So far: both mags are wrong per the T.C., plus no sign of a 500 hr inspection, and they have a 1000 hours on them. They were installed on a fresh overhaul with 750 hours. Points are bad in both. Fuel lines are hard as a rock, probably 21 years old(when the engine was majored), exhaust had two cracks in it, all intake hoses were badly cracked and very hard, oil drain back hoses are completely gone,prop cable and throttle so stiff I thought I was going to break the dash getting the plane home, right brake pedal takes two or more inches of movement before it begins to apply brakes, cloth covered battery cables badly frayed in engine compartment, starter bendix completely dry, multiple tie wraps on engine mount, with hoses chafing, and that is just the engine part. So I am doing another annual on it myself. Probably upgrade to Slicks, but I happened to have two mags (the correct ones) with less than 300 hours on them, so they will do because comm radios come first. And carpet kit, and side panels, and..............Some people do not deserve to have an I.A.
Not much cost in parts just my labor, so all in all it is still a great deal on a plane.

This is unfortunately not an uncommon experience. My 170A had a fresh annual when I bought it years ago and it had similar problems that took a lot of $ and effort to correct. Once you get it squared away, you will be glad you own this airplane. I can not think of a better single engine airplane anywhere unless your in a big hurry or need to haul a heavy load. Thankfully, everyone who contributes to this forum tries to maintain the planes right and there is a wealth of experience you can access here. Good luck and I don't think you will regret it.

What did you pay for it?

I don't want to sound harsh.....but this is to be expected, if you didn't have a good 170 mechanic check the aircraft out before you bought it! But the real question is.....Did you buy it right?......in that case you have nothing to complain about

25000.00 and I feel It was a fair price for what it is.

Brad Brady wrote:I don't want to sound harsh.....but this is to be expected, if you didn't have a good 170 mechanic check the aircraft out before you bought it! But the real question is.....Did you buy it right?......in that case you have nothing to complain about

Oh believe me, I feel I bought it right, and since I am an A&P/I.A. I can do all the work myself, my point was how shoddy the last few annuals were. The guy does not deserve to be a mechanic.

There is no required 500 hour inspection on the mags.

Then why didn't you do it yourself????

Be cautious learaviato. You won't find much sympathy amongst the C170 owner/mechanics for after thoughts. You have obtained for yourself an excellent aircraft with relatively small problems. The relationship with your C170 begins when you get it home the first time, after initial infatuation has faded, and have the time to see the aircraft for what it is and begin to make it better. Every repair or replacement makes the airplane more yours.

learaviator wrote:

Brad Brady wrote:I don't want to sound harsh.....but this is to be expected, if you didn't have a good 170 mechanic check the aircraft out before you bought it! But the real question is.....Did you buy it right?......in that case you have nothing to complain about

Oh believe me, I feel I bought it right, and since I am an A&P/I.A. I can do all the work myself, my point was how shoddy the last few annuals were. The guy does not deserve to be a mechanic.

Sorry, I had no idea you were an IA......SO you knew what you were getting into......And your right there is a lot of people out there, that ot not have an AP let alone an IA......

There are lots of people that shouldn't have drivers license's

it just had a "fresh" annual in July

Learaviator,

How about the prop? I assume you've got a Hartzell HC-C2YK-1BF? How did the seller comply with AD 2006-18-15? I've got one of those props on my Avcon conversion and am wondering how others are dealing with the AD. The previous owners of my airplane chose to do the 100hr/annual eddy current inspections instead of replacing the hub. That's not how I'd have chosen to comply with the AD, but it's too late now to take Hartzell's "deal" on a new hub.

Dave

Robert Eilers wrote:Be cautious learaviato. You won't find much sympathy amongst the C170 owner/mechanics for after thoughts. You have obtained for yourself an excellent aircraft with relatively small problems. The relationship with your C170 begins when you get it home the first time, after initial infatuation has faded, and have the time to see the aircraft for what it is and begin to make it better. Every repair or replacement makes the airplane more yours.

Ha! Yes, Steve, Robert is offering very good words! It appears that you are sharing your excitement and discoveries of "new" airplane ownership, and that can sometimes be misread, resulting in some feedback critical of one's activities. Don't let that get in the way of sharing the experience with your fellow 170 friends here. Many times the written word fails to convey the inflection or "voice" of meaning. (I know. I've made that mistake many times.)

I will tell you that I recently accomplished my 500 hour Bendix magneto inspections and they passed with flying colors, but I had purchased the point's/condenser basic repair-kits as a precaution.....it turns out needlessly. I didn't install them. Can't decide if I should keep them or sell them. ( http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/e ... repair.php )

mit wrote:There is no required 500 hour inspection on the mags.

Then why didn't you do it yourself????

I am afraid you are wrong with the first statement about there not being a 500hr inspection. I have attached the page from the Magneto Manual that clearly states the inspections required in the top right paragraph.

And as far as the second comment, the annual was accomplished in July, 5 months before I started looking at the airplane.

Robert Eilers wrote:Be cautious learaviato. You won't find much sympathy amongst the C170 owner/mechanics for after thoughts. You have obtained for yourself an excellent aircraft with relatively small problems. The relationship with your C170 begins when you get it home the first time, after initial infatuation has faded, and have the time to see the aircraft for what it is and begin to make it better. Every repair or replacement makes the airplane more yours.

I guess I worded my post wrong?? I was not complaining about the condition of the plane, I knew MOST of the areas that needed attention when I bought it, 25000.00 for a 180 hp C/S prop, STOL equipped,Cessna installed float fittings plane, with 250 since a major, was such a good deal that the pre buy was a quick look through the logbooks, (they are all there), quick look at the airprame for corrosion, and a quick trip to the bank. My true meaning was how an I.A. and an A&P could sign off an airplane that was needing the attention that this one does. I am HAPPY it is in the condition it is in, it made the airplane affordable since I can do all the work myself. Believe you me, there is no buyers remorse here.

DaveF wrote:

it just had a "fresh" annual in July

Learaviator,

How about the prop? I assume you've got a Hartzell HC-C2YK-1BF? How did the seller comply with AD 2006-18-15? I've got one of those props on my Avcon conversion and am wondering how others are dealing with the AD. The previous owners of my airplane chose to do the 100hr/annual eddy current inspections instead of replacing the hub. That's not how I'd have chosen to comply with the AD, but it's too late now to take Hartzell's "deal" on a new hub.

Dave

The prop AD was also accomplished in July of 08, so I have a bit to decide the direction I will go. It will cost 275.00 every year to have it accomplished. I am trying to see if I can have it done on the airplane, so add in a 100.00 hamburger, and it would be 375.00. 10 years worth of that would pay for a hub and an overhaul. I am still undecided.