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Date: Wed, 06 Oct 2010 18:46:04 -0400
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Subject: Re: [LML] Performance Engines
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My recommendation to all that have been burned by this individual is to =
contact the FAA and complain about the unairworthy product put out by =
Performance. You might make a difference and save someone's life. start =
with the FSDO in your area or his.

Jeff Edwards

Sent from my iPad

On Oct 6, 2010, at 4:37 AM, Mark Davis <marksdavis@cox.net> wrote:

> The recent posts regarding Performance Engines "issues" caused me to =
again look at my own experiences with them.  These posts proved to be =
the last straw that have now resulted in my losing complete confidence =
in the Performance Engines Lycoming IO-540 installed in my Legacy.  I am =
now in the process of having the engine overhauled, despite the fact =
that it runs very well, with just over 100 hours time on it.  I can no =
longer accept the potential but unknown risks that I must unfortunately  =
admit I've been rationalizing as minor issues for those 100 hours.
>=20
> I originally chose to buy my engine from Performance based on positive =
recommendations and a personal visit to their shop (quite impressive).  =
My first inkling of problems was while flow checking the fuel injection =
system prior to first start.  The fuel side seal of the Romec engine =
fuel pump (listed as overhauled on my purchase invoice) flowed fuel thru =
the seal vent at least as fast as thru the injectors when using the =
electric fuel pump.  I contacted Performance considering it a warranty =
item to which they agreed.  I was told to remove and return the pump and =
they would replace it within about a week.  Researching the fuel pump =
I'd removed found that there was a recurrent AD on the model installed =
on the engine that requiring re torquing the screws on the cover at =
first 25 hours and then 50 hour intervals.  Given the location on the =
engine and the significant hassle of complying with the AD, I first =
asked Performance why I had not been provided a modified AD free pump =
and was told that what I had was considered serviceable and met our =
purchase contract agreement for all parts to be new or overhauled.  I =
offered to pay the cost difference between the AD pump and am AD free =
modified one.  This was verbally agreed to by phone and I was told that =
I could expect to receive a replacement pump shortly.  That was the next =
to last telephone contact I had with them.  I was then faced with no =
further phone contact despite numerous calls which were either not =
answered or not returned over a several week period (apparently similar =
to recent post experience).  I then made a phone call using a friend's =
phone which was answered right away.  After a short unproductive =
discussion about when I might receive a replacement pump, I asked to =
have my original pump returned and that I would deal with the problem =
myself.  The pump was returned within about 2 days and I sent it to a =
well known repair facility in OK.  As part of part of my return of the =
original pump for the core charge, I was informed that, in their =
opinion, the original pump had not, in fact, been overhauled and was not =
serviceable.  This whole process cost me nearly $2K which I felt should =
have been covered under warranty.
>=20
> Since first startup the engine has leaked oil from all 6 cylinder =
bases (heavier from cylinders 1 and 2 and weeping from the other 4).  In =
addition there has been a case seam (parting line) leak forward of the =
sump which is enough that after an oil change without running the =
engine, a small amount of oil appears on the floor or cowling within =
about a day under that area of the parting line.  I have tried some =
sealing efforts on these leaks on the advice of several A&P's with =
little success.  I have not contacted Performance as I will no longer =
attempt to do any business with them.
>=20
> After installing the newly overhauled fuel pump from OK noted above, =
shortly after engine start, I found a few drops of fluid from the same =
fuel pump seal vent line which, in this case, proved to be oil vice =
100LL.  The seal from the accessory case drive to fuel pump continues to =
have a small weep of oil.
>=20
> My Legacy is now down for engine teardown and any necessary repair.
>=20
> Mark Davis
> Legacy N422MD
> San Diego, CA
>=20
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> --
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