Hi folks, I bought a K-B switch-pitch converter about 20 years ago. Blew my engine a few years ago. Had the trans. rebuilt locally by sent out the converter to Burek 2-3 years ago just to have him go through it--freshen it up, as there was nothing wrong with it. He called me and said the stall speed was on the conservative side and asked me if I wanted him to change/broaden it. I said to leave it as is. I know that, while some people have had luck w/ his s-p converters, many consider them "junk." But since this converter originally came from K-B and not Burek, and he only "freshed" it, should I be worried or just install the damn thing and take my chances? Thanks in advance! Best, Ranger Aiken, SC
If he never cut the converter open, just check internal end play, flush it and run it. If he opened it up to make any mods, all bets are off. If I remember right, KB furnaced brazed the impeller and turbine fins, so even if it was opened up by PAE you probably won't have to worry about the shoddy mig welding that PAE used instead of brazing, but they also made some stator changes that are bad news. If you instructed them to leave stall speed alone, your stator may be untouched by them also which would be a good thing. Unfortunately, there's no way to know what was or wasn't done without opening it up again. Devon
Devon, Thanks! Yes, he cut it open and told me that he replaced some thrust bearing(s), cleaned it out, etc. He did not modify the stall speed, even though he wanted to. Yes, I think the converters from K-B were advertised as "furnace-brazed," or something like that. Anyway, never heard of any problems from their converters. So, hopefully he just gave it a cleaning, changed a thrust bearing/washer or two, and sewed it back up. I did not instruct him to modify anthing, so I hope this is a good sign. Best, Ranger Aiken, SC
