Zenith 601 XL-B Pre Purchase Inspection Guidance

G'Day folks,

Looking at buying a 601 XL that has had the B mod done. I've enlisted the help of an AME to do a pre purchase. Just wondering if anyone has any guidance re: specific items to investigate during the inspection that I could provide to the AME, who is not familiar with the type.

I dug up this file: 601XL-PRE-FLIGHT-INSPECTION-Feb-2010.pdf from the website, as well as the safety letter re cable tension and what have you. Also, I saw in a youtube video that the gear leg welds occasionally fail, so I figured that would be a good spot to look for cracks / weakness.

It has an O200 and the hingeless ailerons if that's a factor. 

All the best, and I apologize if this has been posted and I didn't find it.

Craig

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Permalink Reply by David Gallagher on April 15, 2024 at 8:51am

Craig,

That is a pretty comprehensive checklist and will serve you and your AME well.  But being experimental in nature, look out for variations from the basic design.  If you are able to meet with the original builder, ask where he has deviated from the original design. They are not necessarily suspect, but any differences should be looked into.  For example, I have seen people divert from the fuel supply design, and not always for the better.  One person I know thought that more fuel pumps was "better."  However, he put a Facet pump in parallel with the engine mounted mechanical pump.  During take-off, a problem with the Facet pump caused fuel to back flow away from the carb and he had a partial power loss.  Fortunately a safe landing was made.  

There is a full listing of 601XL Service Bulletins here if you don't already have the link:

http://www.newplane.com/amd/CH2000_Service.html#AMD%20Zodiac%20CH%2...

Good luck, it is a fun machine to fly,

Dave Gallagher

Permalink Reply by Craig Fettes on April 21, 2024 at 9:13am

Thanks for this David. Much appreciated. 

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