I'm having trouble determining whether or not Franklin parts (for the 350) are readily available. Various internet searches have surfaced an outfit in Fort Collins, CO that seems to be for sale [doesn't give me a good warm feeling about its long term prospects as a source], another outfit in NC that apparently bought a Franklin operation that was based in Texas [can't tell if they are actually in business or just planning to enter the field], and finally someone in Poland connected to PZL [who apparently is long on promises but short on results]. Things seem ambiguous and I can't tell with certainty just what the situation is. Are there any experts who can get me up to speed?

Hey
How are ya doin.
Sorry to have not hooked up when I was in Marshall!
What parts are you looking for?
Do a search on here to find the other related strings.
Last I spoke to the new Franklin Engine CO. they sounded pretty good, She is really trying to make it work. Said I might have to wait 6 months for new rings, but she had some at the time.
GT

Not looking for specific parts per se, rather trying to assess the likelihood of long term support for the engine. I'm also interested in hearing about best operating practices that have been proven over time.

Yeah, sorry we didn't connect this summer. Maybe next summer!

PA12

You need to join Yahoo and read the Stinson Group forum. This is the best resource I've seen on operating and maintaining Franklin engines.

Thanks BeeMan, I'll check it out.

On a separate subject, do you overwinter your bees or start over every year? I see bees in BET and ANI from time to time, so I know wild colonies survive here, but there can't be many.

The gal who bought the stock from Texas is the real deal. My dad talked to her a couple weeks ago about a 90hp job we are building up and she had just come into another large lot of parts. Lots of NOS stuff in that latest bunch too. I'd give her a call and feel her out.

Thanks, Clay, I'll give her a call.

I think the NC and Texas folk are the same. Susan Prowel (sp?) and her daughters moved from tx to nc where they are trying to start manufacturing parts and with any luck at all engines. She has a very good amount of parts and has a full set of drawings for the engines.

They are very helpful and have some parts they are making now. Give them a call.

soaringhiggy wrote:I think the NC and Texas folk are the same. Susan Prowel (sp?) and her daughters moved from tx to nc where they are trying to start manufacturing parts and with any luck at all engines. She has a very good amount of parts and has a full set of drawings for the engines.

They are very helpful and have some parts they are making now. Give them a call.

Susan Prall and her daughter (?) April.

I hadn't realized they moved, the phone number I've had for her for years still works when I call it I believe they may be still in Jewett at the moment. I just ordered a new crankshaft seal from Susan and it was at my A&P in Canada three days later (long boring story.)

To the OP: I've owned a 6A-165 for over six years now and I've never had a problem sourcing. Just required more creativity than asking your local shop to put in an order for something from his normal source. Then again I'm a guy who is willing to use yellow tagged used serviceable for almost anything regardless of which engine I have. If you want to put new parts in your engine every time for everything, forget about it get a Continental or Lycoming.

Besides Franklin engine parts in Texas there is a shop in North Carolina that bought out Greg Lucas in Oklahoma who for years was one of the go-to guys, and also bought out Deb's Aircraft. I ordered some stuff from them last year and had great service: http://www.southernaero.com/Southern_Ae ... gines.html

I'm not sure if they are the ones who are partnering with Susan and April in the new venture or if it is someone else.

Univair has a lot too according to their website inventory lists though I don't remember ever ordering something from them due to their prices.

Don Maxwell at L'il Red Aero sold me some tight used serviceable cylinders a few years ago and supposedly does the most Franklin overhauls of anyone.

If you haven't stumbled across this personal website yet in your research it seems to have some reasonably accurate and up to date info:
http://personalpages.tdstelme.net/~west ... tn-src.txt

Also Google "hangar9aeroworks" and look through his Stinson 108 page.

Here is the link to the Franklin engine Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/franklinengines/

Would I buy another? Maybe not. If the new manufacturing startup is successful my opinion might change.

I REALLY like the Franklin 350/220hp. Extremely smooth engine with excellent power to weight ratio. Also, nothing in the small engine category sounds like a Franklin does in my opinion.

As for the parts, they're out there you just have to dig a little harder to find them. If Franklin isn't successful in starting up, then 5-10 years from now there could be parts issues, but people have been saying this for years.

In the end, if you find the right plane for the right price and it has a Franklin in it, I wouldn't shy away from it one bit. After 325 hours flying behind one, I never experienced any problems other than a few oil leaks and oil cap issues.