BeechTalk - BT

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Oct 2025, 13:19

Username Protected wrote:

I had a similar experience, some pitting on the lifters but the cam looked good, so we swapped out all the lifters. A year and a half (and 180 hours later) the engine was making metal and the lifters and cam both looked like crap, so out came the engine.

That being said, if I had to do it all over again, I’d have still swapped the lifters and kept on flying. I figure if I had overhauled the motor 18 mo the ago just cause of the lifters I wouldn’t be in any different situation than I am today, but I would have foregone the chance that the new lifters might have lived happily ever after.

Would recommend keeping a close eye on the oil filters, not just the oil analysis. Hope you’re able to continue enjoying the airplane, and if not, hope someone else is.

Ken

The oil filters have evaluated OK. I have the Challenger filters with the magnet and haven’t seen anything.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 11 Oct 2025, 14:11

The photos are hard to view in that initial post. I would attach 10 or so nice photos that show the airplane posed correctly for the wives in our world. As a aircraft mechanic, that is a super attractive deal. Not for me because I like having a Simple Skyhawk. Somebody needs this airplane.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 15 Oct 2025, 17:02

Username Protected wrote:

As a aircraft mechanic, that is a super attractive deal. Not for me because I like having a Simple Skyhawk. Somebody needs this airplane.

Same here. As an A&P with a family of five, this is the sort of deal I signed up at this forum to find. But at the same time, if I were you I would get a second opinion before selling it at such a low price. 1,100 hours on the engines is not “high time”. Continental’s recommended TBO be damned; Part 91 owner/operators routinely run the IO-470L over 2,000 hours without an overhaul.

That is, unless you have other reasons to sell; too costly at annual, too expensive to feed, no longer fits your mission, etc. Those would be understandable reasons to part with a B55 even though they are awesome airplanes.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Oct 2025, 16:08

The airplane is back together and I have applied for a ferry permit to get it back to E16 and out of the shops clutch. I will update this thread once it is back at San Martin but with the government shutdown, we'll have to see how fast the FSDO moves.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Oct 2025, 18:32

And since the shop felt content to slap me with a $14,500 bill after decimating my airplane, I don't feel bad publicizing their name so that no ever makes the mistake of going there.

Absolute Aero in Hayward has been nothing but an absolute nightmare.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Oct 2025, 18:45

Username Protected wrote:

And since the shop felt content to slap me with a $14,500 bill after decimating my airplane, I don't feel bad publicizing their name so that no ever makes the mistake of going there.

Absolute Aero in Hayward has been nothing but an absolute nightmare.

Wow

Username Protected · **Posted:** 20 Oct 2025, 20:58

Username Protected wrote:

And since the shop felt content to slap me with a $14,500 bill after decimating my airplane, I don't feel bad publicizing their name so that no ever makes the mistake of going there.

Absolute Aero in Hayward has been nothing but an absolute nightmare.

So I can cast an appropriate judgement, what all did they bill you for that added to that amount? Surely thats not just the inspection itself.

Username Protected

Username Protected wrote:

And since the shop felt content to slap me with a $14,500 bill after decimating my airplane, I don't feel bad publicizing their name so that no ever makes the mistake of going there.

Absolute Aero in Hayward has been nothing but an absolute nightmare.

Google says they have a 4.9 rating with no reviews below 4 of 5. Perhaps you should write your own review:

https://tinyurl.com/AbsoluteAeroReviews