Question - Engine for Bearhawk 5

[Pokerpilot]

Hi,
I am looking into purchasing a Bearhawk 5 Kit over the next couple months. I want to go with the IO540 w/ EFII Sys 32 and I am starting to do some research into the best way to purchase one. A IO-540-L15C just came up for sale locally, its from 2007 with 1900 TTSN priced at 35k. My I am wondering if I should consider this engine to get overhauled or if I should just go through Bearhawk to obtain an engine. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[Bcone1381]

Keep an open mind Installing that engine as is with 1900 hours on it. If you go that route you will be storing it and so its got to get pickled and stored in a friendly environment. Filling it with oil for storeage is not unheard of. We can have A discussion of controlling engine humidity later.

I installed a freshly overhauled engine on my Patrol. I wish I had a run out engine because new engine break in is very important to me. No one will tell how many hours it takes to break on in, and so certainty to me as to when its time to stop breaking it in and start test flying was not black and white. So I'm flying at high power settings out of rig, not getting any of the test program done, and when does it end? Will the engine cool properly? will oil temps be ok, Is my cooler big enough? All these uncertainties exist on the first few hours. and its a new airplane and your hanging on to it by the tail. The issues can be fixed but getting all of thing like cooling uncertainties eliminated with a run out engine would be nice rather than have them mess with the new engine break in.

So I now see wisdom in getting an engine like that. Save the overhaul for a period after its rigged and the test flying is completed.

This is the first post and I hope my view does not prevent someone from giving a different view. I'd be interested in hearing what others say.

[FFTravism]

I agree with Brooks getting a broke in engine is great. You can deal with flying the plane and getting airplane issues resolved vs breaking in the engine first. I purchased an engine with 1700hrs on it for mine. I plan to fly it for 100hrs or so and rebuilding. On the flip side you are purchasing an engine with potentially someone else's issues.
If you can find a good deal go with it.
Travis

[TJ_Slice]

I think I will be engine shopping in about 9 months, and you have given me something to think about, so I did a search for IO-540s on barnstormers.

How in the world do you make sense of the different model numbers, or are there ones that wouldn't be suited to a Bearhawk 5? (Other than turbo or backwards).

I can't say that most of the ads give me the warm fuzzies. Would an A&P do a prebuy on an engine?

How would be the best way to safeguard the purchase of a used engine?

[zkelley2]

https://www.meyette.us/LycomingEngineNumbers.htm

[N204jh]

Here's the official Lycoming list from which Brian built his table.

https://www.lycoming.com/sites/defau...520Engines.pdf

[TJ_Slice]

Thanks, those are helpful.

[Bcone1381]

I found the engine codes so volumous that it overwhelmed me. But if we get down to basics, the number of variables are manageable.

The variables that mattered to me off the top of my head..
-Crank that matches the prop choice.
-Crank counterweights to dampen the vibration characteristics of accessories.
-Accessory Case Drive Pads
-Angle Valve or Parallel Valve cylinders.
-Engine Mount Geometry.


Fuel Delivery, oil sump configuration and Ignition variables can be swapped out any time so they did not matter to me.


I did not make this decision on my own. I had help.