I'll have to talk to my AME then, I noticed after getting the books back that the entry was dated three months earlier, when the plane first went in.

All the paperwork had been done the day I picked up the plane; halfway into February.

From my own experience.. I bought an aircraft that had a weak cylinder... 58/80 at pre-purchase on a Lycoming. The previous owner told me he though it was the piston rings which had all alligned. My mechanic warned the the cylinder may be bad, but since the plane hadn't flown recently, he suggested ...

What are the rules (if any) regarding the signoff on maintenance work. is the signoff dated when the work started, when it ended, or when the paperwork was done?

Thanks,