Backcountry Pilot

[Flat Country Pilot offline]

Getting ready to retire the blankets I use for engine and prop covers.

Leaning towards buying the Kennon cowl cover for my C170.

What do you guys like and prefer for cowl covers?

Which is easiest to use?

Do you like the bungee and ball straps?

Bill

[mtv offline]

Kennon's engine covers are okay, though the last set of wing covers I got from them were pure junk. Those things disintegrated in a couple of seasons. Their "high tech, anti UV" material wasn't UV resistant at all. Hopefully, that doesn't apply to their engine covers.

I prefer a good fitting cover, and my experience with Cessna 170 engine covers is that the makers don't extend them far enough aft to actually cover that gaping hole in the bottom rear of the engine cowling. The last Kennon cover I saw was like this, by the way, and in fact, every one I've seen is.

I had Cunningham Covers make an engine cover for me that was longer, ie: reached further aft for my 170. It covers the entire lower cowl opening, and holds the heat a LOT better than any other I've seen. Here's a link to Cunningham: http://www.aviationcovers.com/

I believe Kennon will build a custom cover as well, and probably any of the folks that make these covers. Generally, they make them when you order, so it's not a big deal to incorporate some changes. Cunningham modified mine with this and a "stovepipe" vent for $25 extra. I considered that a deal. If you plan to heat with combustion heaters, like a Northern Companion or Red Dragon, you need to have a vent panel up in the front of the cover, where heat can flow OUT of the engine compartment, after its risen up through the compartment. Mine is just a velcro flap at one of the upper cowl inlets, and works great. This works as a stovepipe, and moves hot air THROUGH the cowling and around the engine. Don't go without it, if you're ever going to use one of these heaters.

Alaska Wing Covers makes pretty good stuff as well. Here's their site: http://www.alaskawingcovers.com/

I do like the bungees and tennis balls for fasteners. I find the plastic or metal hooks ugly to deal with when wearing gloves, and stretch one of those babies waaaaaayyyyy out and slip with it, and it'll leave a mark on your face like you can't even believe. Course, I been smacked in the head by a runaway tennis ball as well.....

I really like Cunningham's stuff. I've been boycotting Kennon since my experience with those wing covers.

But, whatever you do, tell whoever builds the cover to make it a good six inches longer (reaching further aft) than they normally do for a 170. And put in a stove pipe vent.

MTV

[mr scout offline]

I have a Kennon engine cover on the Scout, the first one they made didn't fit well and a simple phone call and two days later I had one that fits perfect. I am surprised to hear an articulate guy like MTV is unhappy must be more to the story.
They even asked how they could make it better I sent them some measurements and it now goes all the way past the cowl flap.

I had a Cunningham cover on the Super Cub I cant say it kept in any more heat that the Kennon cover but its been awhile since I had to worry about -40 weather the biggest reason I went with Kennon was they only needed a couple days and Cunningham needed 30-45 at that time.

[mtv offline]

My beef with Kennon was their "sunbrella" fabric, which was supposed to be UV resistant. This was a number of years ago, and they were going to that fabric on a lot of their stuff. To that time, I'd used some Kennon stuff and been pleased with it.

The sunbrella wing covers went through one season, and halfway through the second season, when I was taking them off the plane, they basically shredded, due to the fabric being destroyed by UV.

I called them to beef, and they "Huh", but didn't offer to do anything about it. I bought a set of covers from Lynn Cunningham, and never looked back.

Lynn Cunningham passed away a while back, and I don't know the folks who own the company currently.

I have no doubt that Kennon makes some good stuff. I just got a turkey. If I had pushed it, maybe they'd have made good on it. I didn't.

Any of these outfits will do fine, I'd bet.

BUT, as I noted, and Scout reinforced, EVERY engine cover I've ever met simply does not extend far enough aft to cover that big cowl opening in the bottom of your cowl. To me, it makes absolutely NO sense to design a cover that doesn't cover the dang engine.

When I went through this with Lynn before he passed away, he said he was going to change the design of their 170 cover to cover this cowl opening. Don't know if that was actually done.

This is a common problem with all the manufacturers I've seen covers from, though, so just make sure you point it out when you order.

MTV

[TomD offline]

Lynn did pass away and we that knew him were sad to see him go.

The company was taken over by employees who were doing the covers and are keeping up the quality and custom work.

I was up at their shop this summer and other than Lynn not being there it was very much the same and the folks there are really easy to work with.

My Cunningham cover has been on the plane for about eight years and still looks good and fits tight.

TD

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

I have a Kennon, I like it a lot, no sign of UV problems (yet), but as Mike says it is irritating that it doesn't cover the cowl opening. In my case I have the exhaust stacks sticking out of the cowl opening anyway so WTH.

[denalipilot offline]

I've been thinking I might try this maker for my next cowl cover. He was pretty responsive when I emailed him with questions a year ago. (The auction is for a 172 cover, but he seemed willing to customize anything for a reasonable fee.) One more feature I'd like for my 170 cover is velcro panel so I can open the engine access for checking the oil etc, without having to slide the whole cover off. Then there's also covers that are safety orange on the inside, for SAR visibility.

Here's the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... 721wt_1047

-DP

[mtv offline]

Any of the cover manufacturers I've dealt with are pretty willing to "customize" your covers to suit you. I've had Cunningham, Kennon, and Alaska Wing Covers do so with various covers over the years, and they've all been quite willing to modify things to suit, and for very little additional $$.

My latest Cunningham engine cover, I wanted several mods. Lynn sent me a "stock" C-170 cover, and a marking pen, and had me mark where I wanted things...sent it back and two weeks later, I had a "custom" cover.

MTV

[GumpAir offline]

I've been thinking I might try this maker for my next cowl cover. He was pretty responsive when I emailed him with questions a year ago. (The auction is for a 172 cover, but he seemed willing to customize anything for a reasonable fee.) DP

I used these folks for the cover on my C172-TD, and was very pleased. No charge for changing configuration from stock C172 due to the lack of nose gear, and he made it extra length on the bottom to cover that gaping hole in the older C172/170 cowling. I'm used to the rubber ball/bungee cord fasteners, but the plastic buckles work just fine. The insulation is plenty thick, and the outer cover seems to be tough stuff.

Due to the high winds where I live now, I don't leave the cover on unless I'm actually heating, so I can't speak to the UV durability of the thing, as for the most part it's only on at night.

Gump

[Hottshot offline]

We have Kennon and Wiggies nose mitten's I like the Wiggies alittle more but am not gunna change anything at this time. Don't have wing covers but have thought about it.

[UP_M5 offline]

i have kennon covers. the engine cover does a great job of covering the huge egress tunnel of the 235 maule. it even has high temp fabric sewn in where it will contact the tailpipes.

my kennon wing covers didn't fit when i got them, due to antenna placement. they paid shipping to take them back and within the week i had them back with the changes, and they fit perfectly now.

my only problem with kennon covers is they are HUGE. very bulky and heavy. they fill the entire baggage area when i have to take them along.
we use alaska wing covers on our entire fleet (beavers, otters, 185s) and they fit well and pack very small to carry in the plane. the AWC are made out of nylon and they seem to be more easily ripped on things like ski cables. the kennon covers are very tough, and i haven't ripped one yet. they are 4 seasons old now.

[onceAndFutr_alaskaflyer offline]

my only problem with kennon covers is they are HUGE. very bulky and heavy. they fill the entire baggage area when i have to take them along.
we use alaska wing covers on our entire fleet (beavers, otters, 185s) and they fit well and pack very small to carry in the plane. the AWC are made out of nylon and they seem to be more easily ripped on things like ski cables. the kennon covers are very tough, and i haven't ripped one yet. they are 4 seasons old now.

Big difference. The Kennon covers are a PITA sometimes (I have wing, tail and engine covers) to take with you - like you say they fill a lot of space in their stuff sacks. But I have VG's and nary a rip in any of them even after being left on during winters in Windy Pass. After looking at the AWCs I'm not sure they would weather one mild wind storm with VG's.

[cabinflyer offline]

My Cunningham cover fits like it was custom made. I should've bought wing and tail covers when I had the chance. Hopefully the quality is the same with the new owners. Has anyone had any experience with them since?

[lowlevelops offline]

I just purchased an engine cover from Kennon for my Husky. Over all I am happy with it. It is big, it fills about half of my extended baggage. I wish it was about 2" longer on the aircraft longitudinal axis, but it does cover the engine area just fine. After 4 hours with below 0 degrees F temp outside, the cylinder temps were still above freezing and the oil temp was around 50 degrees.

[Sue offline]

Post removed by Sue. (No longer employed at Aviation Covers)
Thank you.

[cabinflyer offline]

Thanks for responding Sue. Like I said I sure like my engine and prop covers. Lynn ran the company but maybe it was one of you who actually made them.

[Sue offline]

Post removed by Sue. (No longer employed at Aviation Covers)
Thank you.

[Zzz]

^^^^That's good marketing.
Welcome, Sue.

[Sue offline]

Post removed by Sue. (No longer employed at Aviation Covers)
Thank you.

[mtv offline]

Sue,

Thanks for chiming in here. It's good to hear that Lynn's business is being carried on by knowledgeable folks, and, like Lynn, who are interested in customer service.

I assure you that the next engine cover I order from you, it'll be the thinner material. I'm like you--having applied and removed engine covers four or five times a day much of a winter, a HUGE cover just plain sucks.

The engine cover that Lynn made a number of years ago for me for a Husky was perfect. It rolled up tight, I never used a bag for it, just rolled it up and slid one of the balls under it's own bungee after wrapping it up. It bundled up smaller than a VERY small sleeping bag, and kept the engine plenty warm enough.

Take care, and I hope your business is successful.

MTV