Original Posted By: "John Dilatush"
Years ago, when I was teaching a high school aircraft maintenanceprogram, several airboat engines were brought in for fixing.Without exception, they were JUNK! A couple were coaxed into anextension of their life of drudgery and neglect by replacing a cylinderor two with units that were beyond serviceable limits for aircraft use,plus installing some other unserviceable parts. The others were be-yond help.One cylinder we removed had the wall so deeply scored that compres-sion couldn't be restored and another (not on the same engine) hadaluminum from the piston smeared and bonded to the wall. Don't askabout the condition of the rings! Hydraulic lifters all gummed up andworn crankpins and bearings from no oil changes were the norm. Andburned valves, etc. probably were the result of using any kind of fuel that was handy and running too hot. Ugh!If you do find an airboat engine disassembled, you will have a chance to check its condition; if it is together, you must assume the worst.But you could get lucky. I was when I got an A 65 for my Piet that was briefly on an airboat. It was removed when it "didn't run right". After I got it and removed the cylinders, the reason was immediately apparent: the positions of the exhaust and intake valves of one cylinder had been reversed. Luckily it hadn't been run much and the valves and seats were still OK. The rest of the engine was fine, also.Cheers,Graham Hansen________________________________________________________________________________