The lowly valve lifter used to be the first thing tossed during overhaul. Now, reusable parts are a hot item.

By Jim Cavanagh

Owners buying engine overhauls have more or less adjusted to the idea that cylinders, cams and crankshafts have become a crap shoot. But valve lifters, too? These got added to the list of problem parts last fall when TCM announced that a massive batch of faulty lifters made it into the supply chain. Some

Aircraft Specialties Services is currently the only source of overhauled tappet bodies for TCM engines. Contact ASSI at www.aircraft-specialties.com or 918- 836-6872.

showed failure wear in as little as five hours of operation.

Although only engines built after June 19th, 2009, appear affected, the sudden demand has disrupted the supply chain for lifters to the extent that the industry—and the FAA—are relenting on the standard recommendation that lifters be replaced. Further, the market for overhauled lifters has become red…