Factory Reman or Major Overhaul

[meritflyer]

Anyone have any thoughts about having an independent mechanic/shop perform the major overhaul on piston engines as opposed to buying a factory reman?

It just appears that a factory reman is a better bet but then again, I am not a mechanic or piston engine guru.

 

[Inverted25]

Factory reman is more expensive but is generally considered to be better. We had our cherokee done by a reputable independent shop and they did it to factory specs and gave use a 400 hr/ 24 month warranty on their work and it was about 25% cheaper.

Where it will really make a difference is if you sell your plane in the near future. Part of the value is based off where your engine was rebuilt if it has been. The factory reman engines get a better price. But if your not planning on selling the bird anytime soon that isnt much a issue after a few hundred hours are run on the engine.

 

[Berkut]

Anyone have any thoughts about having an independent mechanic/shop perform the major overhaul on piston engines as opposed to buying a factory reman?

It depends.

What kind of engine?
Why are you getting it overhauled?
What is its history? By that, I mean is this the first overhaul of a formerly brand new engine, does it have a damage history, etc.

If this is the first overhaul of what was a brand-new engine, there's no way I'd replace it with a factory "0 time" reman.

 

[USMCmech]

First off, I generally oppose overhauling engines that are running perfectly fine, regardless of how many hours are on the tach. I'd MUCH rather fly behind an engine 200 hours past recomended TBO, than one that's brand new.


That said, if I were choosing between factory reman vs field overhaul by a experianced and well known shop. I'd probably go with the shop. The quality will be virtually identical and the price will be lower. The theoritical added value at resale will likely not justify the added cost of a reman.

There are of course many exceptions, but that's where I'd look first.

 

[esa17]

First off, I generally oppose overhauling engines that are running perfectly fine, regardless of how many hours are on the tach. I'd MUCH rather fly behind an engine 200 hours past recomended TBO, than one that's brand new.


That said, if I were choosing between factory reman vs field overhaul by a experianced and well known shop. I'd probably go with the shop. The quality will be virtually identical and the price will be lower. The theoritical added value at resale will likely not justify the added cost of a reman.

There are of course many exceptions, but that's where I'd look first.

I'm always nervous flying engines under 100 SMOH.

We overhaul a lot of engines, have never had a problem, but I'm still wary of them. "Haven't yet" isn't the same as "won't ever".

Factory Reman looks good on the sale flyer but I wouldn't pass buying a plane because it was field overhauled.