Q: What are the estimated labor times for replacing the carburetor on my Lycoming O-360?
A: Derek, from my past experience, I’d say two hours would be close to the usual time to remove and replace a carburetor on a Lycoming O-360 series engine. This may not include the removal of the cowling, but that’s rather simple on most airframe installations.
I did mine on my PA28-180 (under supervision of an A&P in under an hour.
Okay…….First the mechanic has to order the carburetor, move the aircraft into a hangar, get the log books for the aircraft. Now set up and what i mean is get the tools. get the maintenance manuals and remove the cowl. All this and trouble shooting was done previously to determine the problem in the first place.
To begin removing and replacing a cowl if everything goes well could take and hour or more.
Remove the old carburetor with it’s connections…throttle and mixture control. Don’t forget the old carb needs to be boxed up to be returned for a core credit.
Install the news carb, don’t for get to remove the old gasket completely. reattach the linkages, reinstall the carb airbox and reattach the carb heat linkage. Now roll the plane out and start it up and reset idle and mixture adjustments. Sometimes it goes easy and sometimes it goes hard trying to balance idle and the proper mixture. Do a run up and check for leaks and make sure the proper static RPM is reached……What’s that? it is listed in the TYPE CERTIFICATE DATA SHEETS.
Reinstall the cowl and go for a flight test to make sure all is well. BTW stay in the pattern to make sure all is well. Check for leaks again!
Sit down complete the log book entry and attach carb paper work and make out a bill and sent the old carb back to the overhauled for credit which could take a month or so?
So all this is going to take two hours? Oh the air filter probably should be changed too!
BTW this must be done by an A&P, this is not preventive maintnenance!
TWO HOURS?……..and let’s be sure all goes well and the install goes smoothly!
Done multiple times on my homebuilt. Takes about an hour. Labor cost = $0.00.
Why so many?
Don’t forget to add for the mechanic getting dressed and driving to work..and…and…and.
Maybe this is why an aspirin is $50 in a hospital….the nurse had to talk to the doctor, then had to…then had to…then..😅