Tom,

I keep a crankshaft in my office to help me in these decisions.  It was
removed (coincidentally also by Air West) from a customer's Glasair a year
and 100 hours after he went through "tall grass"...it is cracked just aft of
the nose seal flange.  The customer asked me if I thought he could get
another
year out of it since it wasn't cracked that bad!

I have a family too, and my test of airworthiness is always, "Would I put
my kids in this plane with the best pilot I know?".  Sorry, but your plane
wouldn't qualify at this point.

Please let Air West go through it again.  The $5K you spend would seem cheap
as you were deadsticking down if the crank ever failed.

Don't shop around for another shop.  My experience is that every shop will
find something the other guy did wrong.  Human nature I suppose.  Air West
is a good shop and they will stand by their previous work.

Lastly, make a LOT of noise, though your EAA lawyer if necessary, to the
airport.  You shouldn't have to tolerate built-in obstacles on the taxiway.

Good Luck,

Dave Saylor
AirCrafters LLC
831-722-9141