The Stinson

lwford

lwford

New member
We go to OSH and sure enough one of our boys finds a Stinson 108-3 for sale in the Vintage area. This guy is serious as he sent us the A/C logbooks and all his data for prebuy! The Holy Grail wow. Anyhow the thing is 3 years out of annual but the logs check out. It has a Franklin 165 with 300 hrs. Looks like that engine goes about 700 hrs then overhaul this is on it's third run. I know you Bellanca boys are up on these in Cruiseairs so fill this old toad in for where do you source your Franklin parts? Looks like getting parts for the Franklin a problem and I don't speak Polish. What club best covers the Stinson like the BCC does for us Bellanca boys? Lynn still loves his crate :D :D
 
I've said it once.......I've said it dozens of times. You are not going to be able to go to the "Franklin Store" to buy replacement parts! There are a few individuals who will sell or tell you where to find parts. I've said it before to earlier generations......" If you're into Franklins, you might as well be into Studebakers." I have both. Anyway, Studebaker of South Bend, made their last parts in 1965 or '66. Franklin of Syracuse made their last parts in 1976. Go figure........how much is left for both. PZL never made a thing for the earlier Franklins. The crankshaft they made could be used.......that's about it. Cranks for the 150/165 are very hard to get. A prop strike, especially with a metal prop is certain toast for the crank. The one thing that the Stinson has going for it, is there are several multiple STCs for modern Lycoming and Continental engines. Good luck, boys.......Dan
 
A great place for Franklin Engine info is the Franklin Yahoo group. Go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/franklinengines

Following is a list of the resources I have. Some may be out of date, so you'll just have to check. I have put comments as to what I know.

Franklin Tools – Frank Bailey 1(310) 835-2836 Tools for the engine.

Franklin Parts and Service
Susan Prall Franklin Engine Service 1(903)626-5115 One of the best sources of parts.
Greg Lucas 1(405) 268-3925 Greg is in our group, and could best respond. He is highly regarded in the Stinson community and has been a world of help for me.
Bruce Kown Classic Aire Inc. 1(770)548-2238 He has worked with Greg, advertises in Barnstormers and I have only seen positive things about him.
Jerry DeBallista Deb's A/C 1(903)626-6787 Jerry has worked on Franklins for hundreds of years. He went to work for/with Susan Prall but I guess he is back on his own again. He use to be in OR and has overhauled cylinders for me. They didn't last long. He was VERY slow getting things out.
Phil Davis 1(615)477-5136 I really don't know much about him, though Susan Prall recommends him for overhauls and maint.
Lee Field 1(203)748-7303
Gene Hamilton 1(360)837-1321 Gene is at the point where he really wants to retire. He does great work, OH'ed my engine 18 yrs ago, and has topped some jugs in between. Great guy to work with, but doubt he wants to take on too much more. He is advertising his place/shop/inventory in Barnstormers.
Rick Hoffman Carl Baker Co. 1(541)504-5588 Carl Baker has been selling Franklin parts for hundreds and hundreds of years...ok, so maybe i exaggerate a little. Not sure if Rick is still doing business, but MOST certainly worth a phone call.
Tom LeGrand Nation Aviation 1(866)867-2295
Li'l Red Arrow 1(308)234-1635 A long time Franklin engine place. Haven't really done business with them, but again, worth a call.
Charlie Sullivan 1(815)722-6330

Those that I didn't comment on are not meant as any reflection on their work, I just haven't had any significant contact with them.
Hope this helps.
Larry
 
Lynn
I should have directed you to the Stinson group on yahoo, rather than the Franklin group. Sorry about that.
Also, The Stinson club has a manual put together by one of their deceased members, Gary Murdock. It has a wealth of information both on Stinsons and on Franklins.
Larry
 
UPDATE: The offer now is 25k in Annual pickup at OSH. The owner is balking on the Annual and it has been out of Annual for 3 years what is this moron thinking? Time to walk away from this fool. Lynn the crate :roll:
 
Updated 2: 27K in Annual p/u at OSH. A great deal---both parties unhappy---he paid too much and the seller got too little.I still see there is something wrong here but in this life if you want it and it puts a smile on your face why not! Lynn the crate next to Blakesburg :) :) Flash update the deal is now 27K in Annual p/u at OSH money changing hands! :wink:
 
He bought it and it returned to PA. Now the fun begins :D :D Blakesburg was great and the weather couldn't be better so much for Global Warming nice days very cool nights Lynn the crate :D :D
 
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