deuce01 wrote:Any one have any thoughts?
Of course I do!
deuce01 wrote:I know there is alot of hype about the Subaru conversions and specificly Eggs. I understand it is a great package and I'm not disputing it but I do have a question or 2.
The price of a Lycoming and Egg are comparable. The Lycoming is a known commodity..you can get new parts, used, remanufactured...experimental...etc for just about anything. This creates a good supply and a bunch of choices.
Yeah, you can get new, used, remaned, experimental, whatever...at an outrageous price. There are a bunch of choices and a good supply, I won't argue that. The parts prices are just out of sight, and one reason I chose the E-Subie.
deuce01 wrote:Egg engines on the otherhand is another story. There are many parts that are made by Eggenfelner or for him. It's the only place you can get some of the itmes. This could create a problem down the road if someone needs parts. He could go out of business, retire...etc. Then what? There is also no competition to keep price down on parts either.
Well, you are partially correct. There are a couple of parts that are made by or for them. The PSRU, intake manifold, and mount are the three that come to mind. Everything else is pretty much off the shelf Subaru. They do not modify the engine in any way shape or form. They do have a new exhuast system coming available, but that can be duplicated by any exhaust shop. Going out of business is probably not going to happen. The order book is sold out for this year, and getting filled in for next year. If he retire's, he has enough people working for him now, that the business could be passed on, but he is quit young, and loves what he does.
deuce01 wrote:Say for example you have an H6 in a RV 7a. You fly for 3 years no problem. One day you land on a soft field or the nose gear collapses on a bad landing and you have significant damage. Lets say you damage the prop, ok...you can get one from MT or another like one. At the same time the PSRU gets damaged and cracks the motor mount gets bent and a bracket gets driven thru the intake. How do you get parts? Are they available? How long of a wait. Is Eggenfelner still in business. WHAT's it going to COST? These are all custom parts. Obviously the subaru parts are availble from the manufacture and there are sources like dealerships, junkyards, autoparts stores etc to keep prices competitive. But the custom parts ..... are they going to be a problem to get today???? Tomorrow??
Shoulda built a taildragger!
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/wink2.gif)
Just kidding...Well, the nice thing about the Subaru (or even a rotary for that matter) is that while it is an Eggenfellner sold package, if for some reason we can't get parts from him, there are others on the market, and have been for years. A motor mount, for example, is an easy weld job for a mount maker. It will always cost less to replace something on this motor than any comperable part on a Lycoming, regardless of who makes it. There just are not that many custom parts on the Eggenfellner motor.
deuce01 wrote:I only mention this cause I havent seen any questions or answers regarding this important issue. IT seems that many want to jump to alternative engines and I'm one of them....but I also want to spend my money wisely.
I think it's a great issue to discuss, and you're right, it does not get brought up often enough. At this point in time, I don't think that money spent on either engine is bad money. It may change in the future, but we aren't there yet, and I live for today.
Good points!