4/17/2014

After 12 years with the same machinist manufacturing our entire line of Gascolator parts, Jim Rice at Industrial Support Services has decided to call it quits and is closing his shop permanently. Jim has been with us from the start on the Gascolator line and has helped us over the years in keeping the part cost reasonable so that we can sell the product at a cost that most aircraft owners could afford. He has been a friend for many years. A pilot and Cessna 182 owner, we have known Jim for over 30 years and did his aircraft maintenance for several of those years. He was also my instructor in college for CAD/CAM before he retired from teaching. He will always be a good friend and we will miss working with him. Unfortunately, at 80 plus years old Jim no longer does the machining himself and his hired help has left the shop due to illness and Jim is not up to train another helper. His decision was made within the last week. It is something that we knew was going to happen eventually, we were just hoping not as soon as it did.

Because of Jim’s decision, we are moving all of our Gascolator machining production over to our other machinist that produces our master brake cylinder and oil cooler system parts. Apex Machining in White City Oregon will now be doing all of the machining for all of our products. Apex Machining is a first class machine shop with multi million-dollar equipment and a crew that is top notch in quality and finishing. I know for a fact that the Gascolator line will be produced as the best quality machined parts in the industry.

Unfortunately, the cost of machining the parts will be more through Apex. Because of this, our Gascolator pricing will have to reflect the changeover costs. Starting May 1st, all of our Gascolator line will go up an approximate 10%. As an example, our standard SA3-00 model Gascolator approved for all Piper aircraft from the J3 to the Aztec will increase from $228.00 each to $250.00 each.

In order to keep the costs within reason, we will be upping the quantity amount of component parts that we order through Apex. The more we order from them, the better the cost. This of course means that we have a lot more out of pocket expense when getting the product in. The next couple of months are going to be hard as we figure out our ordering process with Apex as for lead-time and delivery of parts. We may have a time when we are out of product due to machining time. Please bear with us as we go through this change.

My dad and I really do appreciate the business that we have had over the years with everyone in the flying community and hope to keep our customers happy with their purchases. We still maintain a 100% satisfaction guaranty for the first three months after purchase with everything we sell. If for whatever reason the product does not work for you, we will gladly refund the product cost within that time frame.

Thank you for your continued business.

Brian and Steve Pankonin

Good people, good products, good service.

I personally have purchased a Steve's Aircraft gascolator for my Bearhawk and will be reviewing the product in a future BCP article.

Thanks for the update Brian.

I have Steve's gascolator on my Luscombe and it is a great product. If/when I build a bearhawk I will be buying one of Steve's gascolators for it.

Tip o' the hat to Jim Rice. Hope he enjoys retirement.

Got mine on the new conversion!

-DP

I have one on my P172D. Great product, and much more comforting than having a cupful of gas in a glass container right next to a hot engine!

I appreciate the desire to retire. About to do that myself, after 46 years in the lawyering business.

Cary