Lycoming
 

Open Letter to Our Customers

Todd Stoner
Vice President of Sales and Marketing
652 Oliver Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Tel (570) 323-6181
Fax (570) 327-7101

 

New Core Policy-Effective April 3, 2005

 

Dear Valued Lycoming Customer:

Lycoming is customer-focused and takes pride in listening to any and all customer concerns. A number of our customers have spoken loud and clear about our charge back policy for unusable crankshafts and crankcases, and we have listened. Lycoming has made ordering simpler, procedures clearer and pricing predictable, while maintaining our high quality and safety standards.

Here is what you can expect from Lycoming:

  • No More Exchange Core Charge-Backs!
    When you return a like, complete, operating and active exchange engine core on time, there will be no reductions in core value. There will be no penalties for normal wear or normal field repairs.
  • Elimination of mandatory legal agreement!
    A simple one-page document explains the core return policy.
  • Exchange Core Return Time Extended to 120 Days!
    This provides you with more flexibility in scheduling the installation of your new factory overhaul or rebuild engine.
  • Reduced Exchange Core Late Fees!
    The late penalties have been reduced to $300 a month, if you are unable to comply with the 120-day requirement.
  • Simplified return documentation.
    One Packing Slip, a logbook, and a sticker on the carton is all that is required to assure timely processing of your core credit.
  • Dedicated Core Representative to Assist Distributors!
    Your Lycoming Distributor is there to help you, and Lycoming is there to help its Distribution partner. Every customer and every exchange core gets individual and special treatment to make the return painless and to get the core credit to you fast.

And here is all that Lycoming expects from you:

  • When you exchange a like engine core that has a genuine Lycoming crankcase and crankshaft and is complete, operating and active, there will be no reductions in core value.
  • You have up to a full 120 days from the factory invoice date of the replacement engine to return your exchange engine core. This gives you more flexibility to schedule removal and installation.
  • Late fees have been reduced by up to 86%, to provide you with more viable options when a timely core return is inconvenient.
  • To assist you with the engine exchange process, your Lycoming Distributor has access to a dedicated core representative to help assure that all return core requirements are understood before the core is returned, to facilitate the acceptance of the core at the factory, and expedite a clear and complete core credit.

Be assured that only the policy has changed, not the quality.

  • Although we will no longer charge for unserviceable parts, we have in no way compromised our high quality standards.
  • Lycoming has an FAA-approved quality system. The basis of that system is that parts which do not meet Lycoming’s exacting specifications cannot be used. For example, a “repair” in an area where no repair is permitted by Lycoming renders the part unusable. The same type of quality system is in use at all FAA-approved and regulated OEMs. By definition, under that system, any such part is deemed un-airworthy and must be scrapped.
  • We are aware, as are many of you, that various repair facilities have obtained what are known as “Approved Repair Processes” or “Approved Process Specifications” from various FAA-FSDO offices. In such a case, an FAA representative, not Lycoming Engineering, has approved the repair process. Lycoming has no knowledge of the basis for that approval, testing, if any, to support the approval, nor of the repair process itself, which the repair facility claims is proprietary and not to be disclosed by the FAA to Lycoming. In many cases, however, the repair is in an area where Lycoming would not approve such a repair under any circumstances. In some cases, the part has been stamped by a repair service indicating the part has been repaired using a proprietary repair process of some type and we cannot, from a visual examination, determine exactly what may have been done. That, too, renders the part unusable by Lycoming. If we cannot determine what was done, we cannot verify that it meets our specifications. In short, we cannot stand behind the part. We cannot reuse it and place it back in service. To do otherwise would circumvent our FAA-approved quality system.
  • You, the customer, would not buy a Lycoming engine with parts that Lycoming would not stand behind. Lycoming will not sell such engines or parts. If we put it out there, we stand behind it.

And be assured that the value of a genuine Lycoming factory overhauled or rebuilt engine is as great as ever. You still can expect and get:

  • Exceptional product support and backing, reliable power, and durability
  • Factory backed warranty protection
  • Dedicated aftermarket factory and field based technical support team.
  • Dedicated aftermarket engine production line with processes that mirror the OEM new engine manufacturing assembly line
    • Same guaranteed quality, safety and workmanship, as OEM new engines
    • Same guaranteed production engine testing regiment as OEM new engines
    • Same guaranteed performance standards of a new OEM engine
  • Automatic Engine Upgrading / Updating
    • Factory engines incorporate the latest engine configurations / product improvements automatically-at no additional charge.
    • Every engine is built in compliance with applicable service instructions, service bulletins and airworthiness directives automatically and all parts required for compliance are included at no additional charge.
  • All factory engines contain only genuine Lycoming replacement parts…never PMA or field-reworked / refurbished parts
  • Strict adherence to Lycoming Overhaul manual Specifications
    Every Aftermarket Engine is built per Lycoming Service Bulletin 240 (Minimum Standards) and then some – ALWAYS
  • In addition to the mandatory replacement parts required per Lycoming Service Bulletin 240 every factory engine receives at least the following NEW parts at no additional charge:
    • Cylinder Kits –NEW includes:
      • Cylinder heads and barrels - NEW
      • Pistons and rings- NEW
      • Piston pins and plugs- NEW
      • Intake and exhaust valves- NEW
      • Valve guides, seats, and springs- NEW
    • Valve lifters bodies and hydraulic units – NEW
    • Ignition harnesses and spark plugs – NEW
    • Diaphragm fuel pumps – NEW
    • All interior and exterior hardware and fasteners replaced – NEW
    • Those engines that are sold so-equipped will also include the following parts – NEW
      • Starter
      • Alternator
      • Slick Magneto
      • Bendix Dual Magneto

Lycoming will continue to provide safe, reliable, warranted aftermarket engines, built to strict manufacturing specifications that incorporate product improvements that meet the current configuration. With our improved exchange engine policy, our customers will also be assured of a competitive price and a risk-free core credit allowance.

Sincerely,

Todd Stoner
Vice President of Sales and Marketing

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