So I finally started my official airplane shopping! Went to see a nice Citabria this weekend. 3-4 years and a couple hundred hours ago the engine was topped due to oil consumption (compressions were fine). So time for my question...

During the top, they refurbished their factory cylinders. I always thought this was much worse than buying new cylinders. But then the mechanic started to explain that they did that because most of the new cylinders available have ADs and inspection requirements, where the older factory cylinders have no requirements, and they feel they were made better.

At the time of the top, they said the CAM was in beautiful shape, which I know is important.

I've heard of refurbished cylinders coming apart, but maybe those were ones that were reworked several times over? For those of you that have had cylinders reworked, have you been happy with it? Any reasons to definitely avoid them?

Seems unreal to finally be looking at a plane. The regular small wheels look almost silly now. This site has spoiled me on the great look of decent size tundra tires!

PilotRPI wrote:During the top, they refurbished their factory cylinders. I always thought this was much worse than buying new cylinders. But then the mechanic started to explain that they did that because most of the new cylinders available have ADs and inspection requirements, where the older factory cylinders have no requirements, and they feel they were made better.


I've heard of refurbished cylinders coming apart, but maybe those were ones that were reworked several times over? For those of you that have had cylinders reworked, have you been happy with it? Any reasons to definitely avoid them?

Refurbishing cylinders is a cheaper option if thats what you mean by "much worse than buying new cylinders". New is preferable when it comes to Lycoming-built cylinders but I've seen refurbished cylinders go for years, if they are done correctly.

A friend has a commanche 250 and had all six cylinders refurbished @ about $600 each. He bought the plane with a mid-time motor and wanted to have some security in knowing all 6 had been massaged by an expert (we have one locally) and receive parts and machine tolerances that were close to new. It has worked out well for him.

The mechanic you mention is not correct in saying that newer Lycoming cylinders for 0-320's and 0-360's are having AD's and additional inspection requirements. That may be true of the aftermarket but I'm not aware of problems in the last 10 years with these new cylinders. Lycoming won't re-use cylinders in Factory overhauls but many have had success overhauling a good cylinder and getting good life from them.

You are correct, I should have specified he was talking about ECI and Millennium cylinders (aftermarket) when we was discussing ADs. Not sure why he wouldn't purchase factory new (unless it was a cost decision).

I bought new cylinders when I had an engine overhauled several years ago. If I was just having the top end refreshed on a midtime engine, I would keep the old ones unless a problem was found with them.
BTW I don't believe there is a legal description of a "top overhaul"-- there is an engine overhaul (per the mfr's overhaul manual) & there is cylinder repair. I would think that topping due to excessive oil consumption involved new rings & honing the cylinders. And probably new exhaust guides (definitely, if it had been a continental!) & recut/lap the exh valve seats, maybe intakes too as long as everything was apart. What does the logbook entry for that work say?