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58 172 with 180 hp franklin

J

Jon H

Private Pilot
Joined
May 4, 2019
Messages
612
Location
Arizona
Hello,

my neighbor is interested in a straight tail 172 with a 180 hp franklin engine.

has anyone had any experience with the franklin engines.

it looks like its an estate sale and only has less than 2 hours on the overhaul. and probably been sitting for a few years in montana.
 
They leak oil ALOT...
 
cadcap" said:
They leak oil ALOT...
Click to expand...


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:"]“This is a shame,” says Gregg Horrell, owner of Ryan Aero Service in Tucson, Ariz. Horrell had installed five Franklin engines into older Cessnas under an STC. “The 220 Franklin is a great engine. It’s very smooth and not prone to leaks"[/quote]

Like what was said here in this story..."depends on who you ask." lol
LINK
 
Challenger1" said:
cadcap" said:
They leak oil ALOT...
Click to expand...


<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:"]“This is a shame,” says Gregg Horrell, owner of Ryan Aero Service in Tucson, Ariz. Horrell had installed five Franklin engines into older Cessnas under an STC. “The 220 Franklin is a great engine. It’s very smooth and not prone to leaks"
Click to expand...


Like what was said here in this story..."depends on who you ask." lol
LINK [/quote]

interesting article..
wondering who the stc holder is? also wondering about availability of parts?
 
Only know of two Franklin powered aircraft...both were a challenge to their owners attempt at keeping them oil tight...so that’s the source of my 2 cents...
 
Comparing Franklins in Stinson and Bellancas

To newer versions in not a good idea.

The 180 Frank w CSP was a common conversion package for 172’s 175’s and

Stinson.

In doing Annuals on one for 35 years oil leaks and parts have not been an issue.
 
I once gave instruction to a guy who was a furloughed airline pilot that had gotten into trouble and was going to have to do a check ride with a local FISDO inspector. He had an engine failure on an airplane that was out of annual with a few other violations thrown in. The FAA was fairly accommodating and only suspended his commercial single engine certificate.

The airplane he was using with me was an L model 172 with the 220 Franklin and I think Robertson STOL. I am not sure if we even used a hundred feet on takeoff! He firewalled it and we were climbing... that fast! I started giggling like a school girl. Pretty amazing! The only thing I didn't like about it was how nose heavy it was for stalls and slow flight, I don't think it had enough trim available to keep the nose up hands off. I had to teach him the commercial maneuvers for his check ride (Lazy 8s, Chandelles, etc.). He of course passed with flying colors!

Would I want to try to keep one flying? No way. Parts and replacements have been too sketchy over the years, my O-300 is hard enough. Too bad, because it is a nice engine.
 
I re-read the original post. Two hours on overhaul, if the price is right it could possibly be a good buy.

I am not sure who is supporting the Franklins right now, but I believe parts are still available. A friend of mine had a Stinson with the Franklin and wasn't too worried about support. What I meant by my comment about trying to keep one flying was based on the need for an overhaul or doing the conversion, not on a low time engine already hung. Might be worth taking a closer look!
 
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