Cost of Five-Year Rubber Replacement

[Slyfox]

I went to a flyin down in McCall Idaho one year and the FAA was there doing inspections on aircraft with NO action if they found things out of sorts. the aircraft passed ok but my operating limitations were way out of date so to speak. I think it even said in them that I couldn't do any repair as an owner. so when I got back home, I went into the FSDO, the mini FAA office at my airport. At that time the fella inside went and updated all the wording to current which gave me a lot of freedoms for doing repairs and such on the aircraft. you still have to get the annual signed off by an A&P but everything else was super cool. glad I got it done. I'm sure your limitations in this airplane is of vintage.

Operating limitations are a couple pages of things that experimentals have to go by. they also have to be in the aircraft with registration and such.

[Slyfox]

Dave not trying to undermine anything. but 1000 is, I think a little high, but then again if nothing has ever been done, then yes. possibly.

those diaphragms. like anything else, you can remove them and check very carefully for rips. the carb sockets, most likely they are damaged. but get the good ones that have the metal inside, then they will last a good long time.

Yes Dave, you could be right, 1000 dollars. if this aircraft has not been touched. but then again, lets think of all parts hanging on the motor is subject.

I found that the older fuel pump is a whole bunch better than that newer bad pump. I think it has A/C on it or something. the older one is from Germany I think. but that one will start leaking out the vent, then it's time to replace. that thing is expensive. so adding that for the 1000 yup, again you're right

[kitfox5v]

Then and than are two different words and can not be substituted.

[Paul Z]

The Rotax splitter fuel hose is something like $400. I replaced all of my oil lines, fuel lines, and water lines, some are NAPA, the water lines going into the top of the heads, and going out the bottom of the heads I got from Lockwood. I added some fire sleave , an I doubt I spent $600 on the hoses. I sent my carbs to Lockwood to get rebuilt $400 for both. so I have right at $1000 in to the 5 year rubber change. I'm doing my own work on my SLSA, about 8 hours labor. If I charged $100 per hour the total bill would be about $1800. I am a LSRM.

[sotexkitfox]

That's good information Paul. Thank you.

-Will

[kmach]

Hi,
There are a few Rotax part suppliers that help with parts or complete 5 yr rubber replacement kits. You could try LEAF one of this sites sponsors at the left. CPS has a decent breakdown of items and cost, i have personally not got these parts just attaching as an example http://www.cps-parts.com/catalog/rtx...yearrubber.php . I believe in replacing parts with quality parts or not changing them at all, if I remember my cost of all hose and rubber parts was around $1000 , most were from rotax , others were the highest quality auto I could find.

[Slyfox]

Kevin and Paul,
Great information, but the aircraft that was needing the information is a 96 vintage. so most of this information for slsa aircraft does not apply. He has an experimental. So he can use 1/2 jiffy hose 300psi hose for the oil lines. Those have worked very well for me for over 1500 hrs over the years. The fuel system will not have the fuel splitter or anything like that, just hoses from the fuel pump and split off to each carb. There is no firesleeve, no fuel return hose. Now he can put these things on if he chooses, but they're not there right now. On the model 4 that one preformed hose off of no.3 may not be there, reason, the manifolds are reversed for room for the oil tank. At any rate all the information is great and worth looking at. I've thought of replacing my pump with the newer one, not that big a deal. Just the cost at this point. Not only that but the thing has been through some changes and I wanted to make sure they had their stuff together if you know what I mean.

[Peteohms]

The Rotax splitter fuel hose is something like $400. I replaced all of my oil lines, fuel lines, and water lines, some are NAPA, the water lines going into the top of the heads, and going out the bottom of the heads I got from Lockwood. I added some fire sleave , an I doubt I spent $600 on the hoses. I sent my carbs to Lockwood to get rebuilt $400 for both. so I have right at $1000 in to the 5 year rubber change. I'm doing my own work on my SLSA, about 8 hours labor. If I charged $100 per hour the total bill would be about $1800. I am a LSRM.

What did you use for oil hoses Paul?

[Paul Z]

I bought most of my hoses from Lockwood aviation. I had a few fuel lines that were marked with the Logo from a local auto parts, and some with Gates so I replaced them with the same shoes. One thing I will say is Rotax can not mandate regulations on how to maintain the aircraft. The FAA regulations are the driving regulations. According to most A&Ps, the regulations recommend inspection of the rubber hoses and it's up to the A&P if the hoses need to be replaced. In the LSRM training, I was told that I must follow the recommendation of the Manufacturer in the Aircraft maintenance manual, and Rainbow Aviation told us that we must follow the recommendation of the engine manufacturers.
Having worked with my father in the industrial rubber products business selling Raybestos hydraulic hose, Dayton hydraulic hose, I more than one replaced brittle hydraulic hose on Southern Pacific rail cars. For me it's not about the money, it's about safety. Luckily, I have no issues with not having the money available, and for $200 to $300, I don't have an issue with replacing, it's cheaper than having a fuel line break or an oil line brake in flight. I must admit some of the hoses specified an supplied by Lockwood are some of the cheapest crap hose you can buy, especially the water hoses. I personally would prefer to be able to buy a good quality radiator hoses.

[Peteohms]

Spent a career at Southern Pacific engineering dept. until UP bought us. Small world.

Pete