BeechTalk - BT - Help Me Think Through This Supercub Thing

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 08:44

Username Protected wrote:

Here's a "Deal or No Deal" twist to this thread:

I'm talking on the phone with a "friend of owner" who has an airplane listed online. The photos look pretty good, the numbers look pretty good, and the price is about what I'm hoping for.

Here's the problem: it was overhauled in 2006 and has been flown less than 120 hours since then and only 25 hours since 2010. The last annual was done a little over a year ago, but "it shouldn't take long to do the annual because it hasn't flown since then."

I've heard that the Lycoming 4's don't have the same problems with dormancy as the Continental 6's. But, 25 hours in the last 7 years? That sounds like an awful lot of sitting around.

Where is it sitting?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 10:20

Username Protected wrote:

Where is it sitting?

In a Midwestern hangar.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 10:49

Do an oil analysis

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 12:16

Oil analysis won't tell you anything. Pull the most furthest forward cylinder and look at the cam.

Tim

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 13:05

Username Protected wrote:

Oil analysis won't tell you anything. Pull the most furthest forward cylinder and look at the cam.

Tim

Tim,

Green means sarcasm. Stuart and I have been "debating" oil analysis here for many years.

Welcome to BT.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 13:10

Username Protected wrote:

Oil analysis won't tell you anything. Pull the most furthest forward cylinder and look at the cam.

Tim

+1
I think they pulled the front cylinder on the pilot's side of the Citabria I looked at.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 13:30

Username Protected wrote:

Oil analysis won't tell you anything. Pull the most furthest forward cylinder and look at the cam.

Tim

Tim,

Green means sarcasm. Stuart and I have been "debating" oil analysis here for many years.

Welcome to BT.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 14:30

Username Protected wrote:

Do an oil analysis

Jesse with the comedy "callback". Well done.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 15:56

Username Protected wrote:

This guy has advertised for a partner for quite some time now. I'd consider asking him if he just wants to sell it.

SUPER CUB PARTNERSHIP NJ • $25,000 • PARTNERSHIP OFFERED • Partners wanted for 1952 Super Cub Special, restored fully 2014, like new, based at Sky Manor, NJ • Contact Dennis K. Johnson, Owner - located Hoboken, NJ USA • Telephone: 2016596329 • Posted July 21, 2017 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad

jh

Where's that ad?

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 21:37

Barnstormers, Doc. All of the planes I posted are on Barnstormers.

jh

Username Protected · **Posted:** 18 Aug 2017, 21:46

Username Protected wrote:

This guy has advertised for a partner for quite some time now. I'd consider asking him if he just wants to sell it.

SUPER CUB PARTNERSHIP NJ • $25,000 • PARTNERSHIP OFFERED • Partners wanted for 1952 Super Cub Special, restored fully 2014, like new, based at Sky Manor, NJ • Contact Dennis K. Johnson, Owner - located Hoboken, NJ USA • Telephone: 2016596329 • Posted July 21, 2017 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad

jh

Something not right about this ad. Is it a super cub or a cub special. Big difference.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Aug 2017, 06:16

Username Protected wrote:

This guy has advertised for a partner for quite some time now. I'd consider asking him if he just wants to sell it.

SUPER CUB PARTNERSHIP NJ • $25,000 • PARTNERSHIP OFFERED • Partners wanted for 1952 Super Cub Special, restored fully 2014, like new, based at Sky Manor, NJ • Contact Dennis K. Johnson, Owner - located Hoboken, NJ USA • Telephone: 2016596329 • Posted July 21, 2017 • Show all Ads posted by this Advertiser • Recommend This Ad to a Friend • Email Advertiser • Save to Watchlist • Report This Ad

jh

Something not right about this ad. Is it a super cub or a cub special. Big difference.

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Aug 2017, 07:12

Username Protected wrote:

I believe "special" means it's the PA-18-105 variant.

Good call, thanks for clarifying that. :thumbup:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 19 Aug 2017, 08:03

Username Protected wrote:

I believe "special" means it's the PA-18-105 variant.

yes, and most of those, which were called "Navy" Supercubs actually have toe brakes instead of heel brakes…

sometimes makes for some interesting situations when you quickly change from a Navy Cub to a later Supercub ( like several times in one afternoon..)….ask me how I know….. :eek:

Username Protected · **Posted:** 22 Aug 2017, 13:26

Username Protected wrote:

Here's a "Deal or No Deal" twist to this thread:
<SNIP>
I've heard that the Lycoming 4's don't have the same problems with dormancy as the Continental 6's. But, 25 hours in the last 7 years? That sounds like an awful lot of sitting around.

Yeah, 25 hours in 7 years would be a significant concern to me for any Lycoming engine.

I believe that the general consensus would be that there a LOT MORE issues with Lycomings that haven't flown a lot than you'll find with Continentals that haven't flown a lot... The camshaft being mounted high in the case in the Lycoming engines means that the oil drains from them and leaves the cam lobes and followers "high and dry" and thus subject to corrosion. Where Continental engines are known for having cylinder issues before TBO, Lycoming engines are known for cam spalling and other internal corrosion issues – especially if they aren't flown.

Now IF all of the previous owners used CamGuard on every oil change, I MIGHT be less concerned about the infrequent flying... But how could you verify the accuracy of such a statement? As it is, I would definitely pull a cylinder and check the cam lobes carefully. I did this one one airplane that was otherwise great, and found the camshaft was a corroded mess. (Dodged a bullet on that one!)