What is O-320 Calendar TBO?

AggieMike88

AggieMike88

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The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.
What's the recommended calender overhaul time on O-320?

As I kick virtual tires to find an airplane for our flying club, I come across several aircraft built in the 70's where it is highly likely the bottom end of the engine is the original one.

Price, P&I, and Panel all fit the search parameters, but as I learn about engines in general, I'm real skeptical when I see a listing for an aircraft from the early to mid-70's with less than 2800 TTAF and no mention of a full engine replacement.

(Sure I know about a full pre-buy and engine scoping and more. But my question is more data gathering about the model and applying that toward any possible purchase negotiation.)
 
AggieMike88 said:
What's the recommended calender overhaul time on O-320?

As I kick virtual tires to find an airplane for our flying club, I come across several aircraft built in the 70's where it is highly likely the bottom end of the engine is the original one.

Price, P&I, and Panel all fit the search parameters, but as I learn about engines in general, I'm real skeptical when I see a listing for an aircraft from the early to mid-70's with less than 2800 TTAF and no mention of a full engine replacement.

(Sure I know about a full pre-buy and engine scoping and more. But my question is more data gathering about the model and applying that toward any possible purchase negotiation.)
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So what are you finding? Most haven't been apart for 20 years right and are sitting at 1600 hrs?
 
That being said, I'd build a spreadsheet with time since overhaul and date since overhaul (or replacement) for the following minimum:

#1. Engine (12 years recommended, which includes most accessories such as carburetor, mags, etc)
#2. Magnetos (500hr or {some have like a 4 year limit also} inspection and overhaul at engine TBO)
#3 Prop - 000 hrs or 72 months (guessing)
#4 Rubber fuel & oil hoses (7 years)
#5 Carburetor
#6 Starter
#7 Oil cooler
#8 each cylinder
#9 Crankshaft
#10 Crankcase
#11 Alternator
#12 Fuel Pump

All of this can be used as leverage. It may **** some owners off but it just true.
 
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O-320 160 horse engines are covered under the crankshaft AD 98-02-08 requiring the plug be pulled every X years and checked for corrosion too. I wouldn't accept it without good pics emailed to me or seeing it in person
 
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hindsight2020 said:
Age is just a number :D
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Unless you are talking at least 20-25 years age since OH, I would think a guy is a nob if he was attempting to negotiate my price down on a Cherokee because of age of the engine regardless of my flying it weekly.

When I look for an airplane my #1 objective is to get something not out of annual, that flew 100 hrs last year and the last few years. I would rather fly a high hour flight rental then something so low hours and not flown regularly the last few years.

Even still I bought a Cherokee which only flew 24 hrs each of the two years before i bought it and it worked out well for me.

The Comanche flew 200 hrs a year. My theory if its flying they are finding and fixing stuff. If its not then you will find and fix stuff when you begin to fly.
 
bnt83 said:
O-320 160 horse engines are covered under the crankshaft AD 98-02-08 requiring the plug be pulled every X years and checked for corrosion too. I wouldn't accept it without good pics emailed to me or seeing it in person
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It also applies to the 180hp but not the 150 HP so better go that way instead.

I think the Ideal Cherokee would be 150hp 320 or 180hp with Cerminal rebuilt jugs, power flow exhaust, electronic ignition, cruise pitched prop and doubtful to find these but I would love a wow cowl or LFS cowl and fancy pants. Art Mattsion had a cherokee that did 153 mph across a 800 mile round robbin race with a standard engine just changing out a few wing tips, prop mod and cowl.

It would be too expensive to put that on it but if I found one I would like it.
 
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