Club Homepage Forums Classified Ads Buy & Sell - Everything But Airplanes Some Updates and Questions

I got the pre-buy results the other day, and I'm curious as to your thoughts to these few items that don't surprise me much. I'm wondering if there are any other questions I should be asking.

-Rusty Firewall (I saw that, it will need attention when the engine is done).
-#2 Pushrod housing rusty
-Engine Lord mounts sagging (expected it from the 150 book I got from the site)
-Some surface corrosion in wings (he says "normal amount for California aircraft")
-propeller is corroded and needs paint (I saw that too)

These are the major ones aside from a few minor paperwork discrepencies like 337's and weight and balance not given; but the seller is digging them up and/or getting them so I'm not worried.

He took it for a test flight and said it flies great, and level. I have not flown it since I had a nasty cold the day I looked at it. During this time I requested he pay attention to engine anomolies. He said there were none. The hot oil pressure remained above 40lbs at rpm, and did not vary much cold to warm. I'm inclined to believe that's the best I can ask for checking on a high time engine. If it doesn't drop alot of oil pressure when hot then the main bearings wouldn't be too bad yet. Compressions are all between 75 and 78. Also said #1 comm (the MX-300) is scratchy on transmit, but the other (the icom) worked great, and all instruments are operating fine with no noises.

Hello Matt

1. Rusty fire wall: Shouldn't be to big of a deal provided it is not too deeply bitted. Have your mechanic attempt to buff out with a small (1&1/2") scotchbrite wheel. I did mine 10 years ago and then clear coated it and it lokos great.

2. Rusty pushrod housing: Non-issue. If you want you can scotch brite and repaint that as well. If it is rusted through it can be replaced without to much trouble.

3. Sagging mounts: Sounds like those need changing.

4. Wing corrosion: A little white dust is no biggy but if you see and material de-lamanating or flaking watch out. Especially if any of it is on the spars.

5. Prop corrosion: If it is not to deep to buff out. Any pitting over a 5 or 6 mills deep can be a bad deal. Often leading edge pitting can lead to a prop overhaul and each prop only has so much material you can remove before the prop is too thin to pass. If in question, have a prop shop look at it.

If you haven't already, I'd also check the under side of the dash as well as under the gear leg steps for corrosion. As these planes get older those are the spots I've found to have the most metal lost.

Sounds like it still may be a good one. Just make sure you know what you are buying into.

I changed out the circa-1976 Lord mounts on my Cessna 150 a couple of years ago. The new ones sagged just as much as the originals....

Thanks.

I got word that it's just the dusty type of corrosion in the wings, nothing delaminated etc. at all. There were some paperwork issues too, and the pitot/static was out of cert. A new windshield is going on this coming week.

My instructor and I are planning to fly it home the week after Thanksgiving. Should be fun!

I think that's only required if the plane is IFR-certified.

That is correct. Transponder cert every 2 years if you are flying into Class D or above (or is it C or above), but pitot/static....not required for VFR

Two rules....

1. Have fun!

2. We need pictures of the trip!

Congratulations, Matt. The trip will be stuck in your memory for years to come...so enjoy every minute of it.

Thanks Gary.

The transponder was out of cert also (same time).