What's an O-235 Lycoming worth?

[onetrack]

G'day all - Just happened across a local auction with piles of junk galore - and amongst all the junk is a complete O-235 (rated at 115HP and may be out of a C152).

 

What is one of these worth? Doesn't appear to have any history or certification with it, or even any indication of hours run. The auction house doesn't care, and doesn't want to know, they just want it gone.

 

It's described as complete with carby, starter and magnetos - and it's bolted up to a mobile engine support stand - so I suppose that makes it worth at least $50!

 

 

 

[old man emu]

In that condition, as a usable aircraft engine, it is worth about the same price as a boat anchor.

 

BUT, for someone who was prepared to spend the money to pay for an overhaul, it is a gold nugget if it could be picked up for a song.

 

If you have the Doe,Ray,Me, I suggest you buy it ; put some elbow grease into it to make it look pretty, then on-sell it if you don't have the money to overhaul it. Don't forget that once overhauled, it is a zero time engine and is worth good money.

 

Plus you get an engine support stand!

 

 

[Downunder]

If you buy it, get a quote from About Us - Aero Sport Power

 

Even with international airfreight I think you will find it competitive..... probably hard to get firm quote being of unknown condition though.

 

Don't quote me, but I believe no gst on returning, repaired parts.....

 

 

[kgwilson]

$50.00 for the stand sounds OK, but only if they throw in the engine for free.

 

 

[onetrack]

Thanks for the advice, guys. I wonder if there's any way of tracking down the Lycomings history? Would the engine S/N be traceable anywhere?

 

Judging by the amount of junk in this sale, it's anyones guess where the engine originated from, he probably scored it from a scrap yard!

 

He's also got a Subaru diesel supposedly set up for aviation use?? I was under the impression the Subaru diesel was completely unsuitable for aviation due to its very substantial weight penalty.

 

Then there's the paraglider he's also got - complete with flat tyres, and very-weathered-looking componentry, that looks like it's better off, left on the ground!

 

And if you're missing a 50x21-20 tyre and wheel off your bomber - well, he's got that, too!

 

I kind of get the impression this bloke probably had plans to re-power the paraglider with the Lycoming!

 

Funnily enough, there's no other aircraft, or aircraft components in the sale - making me think this seller spent a lot of money on aircraft dreams, but the money didn't extend to actually owning a useable aircraft!

 

 

 

 

 

[facthunter]

High time Lycomings are not worth fixing generally. There's a lot of different types of 0-235 and you can identify it from the tag which may still be on it rivetted to the case.. That will tell you what type of plane it came from.. I had one in my Citabria and they were a pretty popular and reliable engine.. Later ones have a different engine mount. If the crankcases haven't been decked excessively it might be able to be rebuilt but the cost is over $30 K. plus mags and carby. Lycoming might be happy to trade it in to get it out of the market. They used to do that. Nev

 

 

[old man emu]

The obvious place to start is with an engine number enquiry to Lycoming. That will tell you when it was first built. But that probably does not help tracking its usage.

 

Facthunter is on the mark with an estimate of $30K to get it overhauled, but as I said, that would give you a Zero Time engine, and an engine log book. You never know, once the engine was stripped down, it might be found to have had little or no use and the rebuild could be a lot easier, but I'd still go for a replacement of seals etc. If it turns out to be beyond economic repair, you could always advertise if here

 

https://www.boatsales.com.au as a boat anchor.

 

 

[facthunter]

It looks unmolested externally. I would only rebuild once and when that's out you've had 4,800 hours but the amount machined (Decking) of the faces are limited to maintain a minimum height. You will probably need new cyls at around $14,000. per kit.. It's a lot better than spending money on the old ones. It's considerably wider than the Continental 0-200 which is 15 horsepower less in output.. The later ones run a dynafocal engine mount which is supposed to be better from the vibration point of view.. The crankshaft is nitrided and some types of cylinders are . Camshaft and followers usually need replacing as being up in the top of the motor they get condensation and less oil and usually corrode . For the application they aren't a bad motor. Not particularly prone to throwing bits out the side . Regular use required.. High hours TBO. with one TOP.in the right circumstances. Nev

 

 

[onetrack]

Well, it appears the O-235 was worth a little under $700, because that was the wining bidders total, after 20% buyers premium, and GST, and the raft of other miscellaneous charges, that only auction houses could think up.

 

I wasn't prepared to place a bid on it, because I didn't get a chance to examine it prior to sale, and the seller was essentially a salvage merchant by all appearances, and I would estimate the engine came from a wreck.

 

As a result, it could have had a prop strike, or component fractures - who knows? It could also have been a very old engine, with a lot of hours behind it.

 

I guess the winning buyer is going to get his moneys worth out of the accessories, or he might get lucky, and find it's a very useable core.

 

The paraglider went for around $145 total, and the bomber wheel never got a bid, even though it was on offer for $9 starting bid.

 

I bought the EE20 Subaru engine - and I'll ensure it never goes in any aircraft, because I will only sell it to a car owner who needs a replacement engine - or some other stationary engine use.

 

It appears the EE20 engine has a habit of breaking crankshafts, and that's not a habit you want in any aircraft engine.