I forwarded the question about the little Lycoming to KR-2S builder Richard Oliver due to his substantial experience with this engine in a T-cart. Below find his thoughts:
TS Jonnie Bradley wrote: > Todd, can you please forward this to those people inquiring about it? > > In reference to the Lycoming 0-145B-2 engine, I have spent about 200 > hours behind the prop of this engine in a 1940 Taylorcraft. The > engine block and cylinder sleeves are cast together and made of cast > iron. Although my engine was zero time and had been built by El Reno > Aviation in Oklahoma (probably the most knowledgable people on this > engine and recommended by Lycoming directly) the engine itself is > unreliable and there were many reasons manufacturing of it was > discontinued in 1948. The engine was notorious for having problems > with the valve seats in the aluminum heads. I personally had three > exhaust valve seats come loose in flight which jams the exhaust valve > wide open, therefore running on three cylinders. It was also fitted > with a small throat, Ma2 Marvel carburetor. Parts are almost > impossible to find for this carburetor. It was also fitted with > Bendix Scintilla (sp?) magnetos, parts also impossible to find. As > far as the starter and generator accessory plate - those parts are > rare and difficult to rebuild. In closing, I had a beautiful, > award-winning, pre-war Taylorcraft with it's original O-145 B2. The > engine was a maintenance nightmare. These engines should be left on > the antiques and in the museums, where they belong. > > Respectfully, Richard Oliver > > Todd Servaes wrote: > >> Richard and Bill, >> >> I thought that you each for your own reasons might find the message >> below from the KRNet entertaining. >> >> TS >>
