Well, 1 month ago we sent 6 continental 800 hrs since new IO-520 cylinders to ECI for their "freedom" overhaul.

Received an email today telling us the repair station has been closed, certificate surrendered as part of the Continental buyout of ECI. So they're sending the cylinders back to us in an unknown condition for us to evaluate, crazy! At least there's no charge on the invoice.

Any wagers what these things are going to look like? Update to follow...

Maybe they were overhauled on the house! I'm getting my C85 overhauled right now and doing the stroker conversion. When the shop called Aircraft Specialties to check on a kit they were told to go ahead and order the kit right now (6/23) because all orders taken in on ECI parts after the 24th would be cancelled, and all the ECI parts they had in stock would be returned to the factory to be melted down. They were given no timeline on when the Continental parts would hit the shelves.

Well I would hope the same condition you sent them in...or maybe totally overhauled and just need painted. But if not what you sent them or better, I'd be sticking my foot up someone's ass over that way. Helluva way to do business.

Timberwolf wrote:Well I would hope the same condition you sent them in...or maybe totally overhauled and just need painted. But if not what you sent them or better, I'd be sticking my foot up someone's ass over that way. Helluva way to do business.

I share this sentiment, but, is there anyone over there? Is there a there at ECI anymore? Sounds like continental was tired of the competition, bought the company to get rid of it.

I'm thinking any new continental cylinders I buy from now on are going to be made by Superior

Is ECI going out of business ? How will this affect the titan (eci) engines?

I've been right in the middle of this drama too. Nobody really knows how things will shake out but it's pretty clear that ECI won't be making Continental cylinders at all. The Lycoming line will likely continue. The finance department at Continental is talking tough and telling some long time ECI distributors that they need to put up some sort of inventory number minimums and/or letters of credit that Continental will have access to. Then the marketing guys are spending all their time putting out the fires cause by this nonsense. Distributors are quitting right and left, then coming back after talking with marketing. It's a cluster cluck of the first order.

My cylinders were supposedly on schedule and about to leave the shop then my distributor was disqualified then brought back in. Who knows? I'll see them when I see them.

Meanwhile my case was delivered today from Crankcase Services.

ECI was purchased by Continental. A week or 2 ago they closed the repair station. It appears all of ECIs Lycoming product line is still in action but all the continental stuff they were making is no longer available

Well, bummer.

ECI shipped our cylinders back, barrels unscrewed from the heads, no valve gear.

New SUPERIOR cylinders have been ordered.

Continental will be getting as little of our money as I can manage from here on out.

I can't believe they stole your valve gear. As much as I would hate to have to do it, I'd have a lawyer sending in a letter to get my perfectly good valve gear back. If they can't provide, then i want new. Still can't believe how that whole thing went down

Halestorm wrote:Well, bummer.
New SUPERIOR cylinders have been ordered.

Continental will be getting as little of our money as I can manage from here on out.

They don't care! When there is a marketplace company's have to perform. Not now. The marketplace is gone. If I were king of the world I would re-organize FAA something along the lines of the Burning Man gathering. Never mind.

Snakes!!!!

Now that ECI is not in the position to provide data against proposed ADs, does anyone want to take a guess as to how long before new ADs pop up on ECI cylinders that are in the field?