I have a 1963 172-D with a 220 hp. PZL  from 1996. I fly with edo 2440 floats & a sportman stol kit.  I have better take off performance than a 180 on floats. We fly at about the same speed.

I heard that PZL ceased production of new Franklins a year or so ago, so nobody makes them now. Also, that there is a problem with spare parts.

Can anyone substantiate or dispute this?

A friend of mine has one.
He told me that tech support and spares  are almost non-existent.
To me, that is a major detail!

Tony
C-GICE

Jae Hwang wrote:

> I was also interested in this. I saw a company who specialize
> in Franklin engines and contacted them for the engine, but they
> also didn't have one at the time I contacted. It's gonna be a
> long wait for this Franklin engine to get.

Owning a franklin means if the crap hits the fan, which seems more then often in a Franklin, then you cant just go to the local shop and order up a new jug.

I owned a 172 with franklin and aqua 2400 floats, it was a great bird when it was running, but ended up replacing two jugs in it (1100 hours on engine), ended up selling it a few years latered, upgraded to a 67' 180H which does just as good and you can get parts because its pretty much interchangable with every 180 and 185 out there today.

Back to my orginal paragraph, you really have to be in that 'group' of franklin owners, i often got my jugs out of Franklin Engines in CO and a guy in FL i think it was....he was pretty old and not sure if he still does parts (seemed it was a hobby of his)

One thing i noticed was my franklin hated normal unleaded, even mixed....when a cylinder blew, it blew hard (quarter sized holes though piston)

But it could take a load! living in Alaska, we do alot of big game hunting, i was able to take roughly a half of a moose and guy off no problem.

Would i ever buy a plane with frankin again? prob not simply because of the parts factor. Unless the price of parts on these engines go down and more parts are readily avail, i am sticking to cont/lycom

Parts are still available and the engines are superb performers....and, Bob, ya beat me to it i.e. the "unleaded fuel" comment. Quickest way to grenade a high compression 10.5:1 6A-350-C1R is to but QuickieMart Regular Unleaded in it....sheesh!

My understanding of the franklin cylinders is that they are aluminum, but have a steel sleave inside the aluminum. This is the way heavy duty diesel engine are made.
The piston rides up and done inside the steel sleave.

You might want to ask some of the members of "The Skylark Association" http://www.cessna175.org/
Someone there might know.

Paul Rhyn
Itenhardstrasse 13, Grenchen 5620 Switzerland
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Year / Model  1959 175 Franklin 215 HP (6A-350-C2)
Tail Number HB-CMC

I had a complete overhaul of a 220hp PZL this past summer.
I live in Anchorage, there are lots of Franklins here. Hard to get anyone to work on them. there seems to be parts available the people who know Franklins. All my parts had to be rebuilt cost over $20,000. You could buy a new engine for about $15,000 a couple of years ago. I hope someone starts making the engines again. The performance on floats is great I just hope this one lasts another 1,000 hrs.

The Go-to man these days seems to be Bruce Kown with Classic Aire in Georgia. I have spoken with Bruce on multiple occasions and he has been representing the Polish interests in the US at the last couple Sun N Funs. Also, there is a shop near me here in Oklahoma (Pauls Valley) that is friends with Bruce and they overhaul over 50 Franklin Engines a year. I have visited the shop and looked at their operation myself.

K. Erik Hoopes
Cessna 175 & Skylark Club
www.cessna175.org

Greg Lucas is the guy in Pauls Valley but he has announced that he is not going to build engines anymore. You find his web site on Hanger 9 Aeroworks. I will have a engine mount and baffeling for sale for the cessna conv. I have bought a 180 HP Franklin firewall foward to put on my Stinson so I wont need the mount or baffeling for the Cessna.My email is This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

I was just scanning this site and since I'm not mentioned I thought I would respond.I hope this gets the word out.I've been rebuilding Franklin engines (and cylinders) for over 30 years.I originally was at San Fernando Airport (CA) then moved to Oregon for several years.I am presently located in TX, phone is 903-626-6787. Contact me with any questions.

I am interested in a possible application of the Franklin M4A-235-B31 for my Cessna 150D aircraft.  Does anyone have any information regarding the reliability of that engine?  I know that there is no STC to date, but am particularily interested in pursuing one should the product support and reliability be there.  Any info that anyone might have about this engine, I would greatly appreciate.  Thanks.