I went and looked at a super cub a while back that turned out to be more of a mouse nest than a plane. The fuselage didn't appear to have any nests in it but there was definitely "activity". The wings on the other hand, definitely had nests. If I do buy the plane, I would have the wings stripped and covered right away and hopefully wait a couple years before doing the fuselage. What I am wondering is without knowing if there is corrosion on the fuselage (there doesn't appear to be) how much could I pay for it without getting in too deep if it does turn out to have corrosion issues. The motor (o-235) hasn't been run for a couple years, so I'm figuring on it needing an overhaul also. The plane is a 1950 model with flaps. Other than the mice, the plane appears to be in good shape. 2300 hours TTAF.
Mousy Super Cubs
- Thread starter 1934A
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behindpropellers
Registered User
NE Ohio
This is the point where you pay an expert to look at it.
DesperadoPilot
FRIEND
Brazoria, Texas
I have a local friend who bought an old SuperCub several years ago that sat in a hanger without running for almost three years. It had an 0-290 that had about 600 hours on it. He put fuel in it, a new battery, new plugs and wires, changed the oil, and it started up and ran okay. He has since put about 180 hours on it with no problems. You may or may not need an overhaul. I guess it depends on whether it was kept in a controlled environment and what kind of shape the cam is in, etc. I agree that you might want to get an expert to look at it.
Coyote Ugly
MEMBER
Middle of Nevada
Mice love rib stitching.. MMmm delicacy.. Look at it close.
RanchPilot
Registered User
Wyoming
Just talked to a fellow Super Cubber yesterday who landed and got out, only to watch a mouse run down his tailwheel out of the airplane. I guess that mouse wasn't cut out to be a pilot.
All of our tailwheels are propped up on buckets in the hangar today. Anybody have any other helpful tips on how to avoid them (other than poison in the hangar, which didn't keep this little guy from hitching a ride)?
All of our tailwheels are propped up on buckets in the hangar today. Anybody have any other helpful tips on how to avoid them (other than poison in the hangar, which didn't keep this little guy from hitching a ride)?
iancallier
MEMBER
I believe that mice have no bladder-they leave a thin yellow line behind them. I once saw a pair of J/3 wings where the little yellow line had rotted through the aluminium spar webs.(wings stored on edge).
think VERY carefully.....then run away
think VERY carefully.....then run away
DesperadoPilot
FRIEND
Brazoria, Texas
Jim,
Do you know of anything that will keep dirt daubers and wasps out of the fuselage?
Tony
Do you know of anything that will keep dirt daubers and wasps out of the fuselage?
Tony
I was figuring if the plane was in annual in flying condition, it would be worth somewhere in the $50K - $55K range. Just guesstimating what it's gonna take to make it airworthy, $20k for fabric, $5-$10K on motorwork, $5K for miscellaneous, I thought 15-20K would be a reasonable offer if I can't find anything else wrong with it. Does this seem fair, or am I trying to lowball him?
behindpropellers
Registered User
NE Ohio
Unfortunately......a project supercub often costs more than a flying one. Mostly because people think they can get it flying for less than it really takes. Figure 2X your budget and 3X the time.
Cub junkie
Registered User
My Moms basement
The owner of the subject cub is going to be on a completely different price point than an interested buyer. If there is mice nests in the wings you can be almost guaranteed corrosion and that's going to be a lot more than "strip and refabric". Then there will be the fact that the airplane will not be in service right from the begining so a lowball offer is a safety net and all the owner has to do is say yes or no. Behindpropellers already said it, cub projects take a lot of cash.
sjohnson
FRIEND
Boise, ID
Your rebuild estimates look low, unless you most of the work yourself. As a comparison, I bought a tired Cub and rebuilt to better than new for a total of $90k. The Cub cost $30k. The rebuild included an engine upgrade to a low-time O-320 (sold the original O-290), new radios, and the usual STCs (extended baggage, etc.). I did almost all the planning, parts purchasing, most of the paperwork, wiring, and panel work myself. Everything else was done by a mechanic. Not all the work was done at once, so there could have been efficiency gains there.
As others have said, it is simply cheaper to buy a cherry plane than it is to restore a tired plane. It is worth it if you like to rebuild things or have a special connection to the plane.
