OK, my nav122 has died with a stupid mechanical failure in the
frequency-selection gear. Seriously, WTF was Narco thinking when they
put plastic gears in such an expensive box?

So, question the first: Does anybody make aftermarket replacement
parts, or should I buy a dead unit and canibalize it?

Question the second: If I choose not to fix it, what are good options
for a replacement? Does anybody make a clever all-in-one gps or
something that would fit in the same panel hole?

-ed falk
--
-Ed Falk,
http://thespamdiaries.blogspot.com/

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Jim


Seriously, WTF was Narco thinking when they
> put plastic gears in such an expensive box?

It's ocurred to me that a decent machinist could make a living just
making after-market replacement parts for this and other shoddily-built
avionics.

--
-Ed Falk,
http://thespamdiaries.blogspot.com/

Edward A. Falk wrote:

> OK, my nav122 has died with a stupid mechanical failure in the
> frequency-selection gear. Seriously, WTF was Narco thinking when they
> put plastic gears in such an expensive box?
>
> So, question the first: Does anybody make aftermarket replacement
> parts, or should I buy a dead unit and canibalize it?
>
> Question the second: If I choose not to fix it, what are good options
> for a replacement? Does anybody make a clever all-in-one gps or
> something that would fit in the same panel hole?
>
> -ed falk

You could call Narco and ask what they'd charge for putting new gears
in. I've found their factory service to be quite reasonable. The only
caveat is that they will go over the entire unit, bringing it up to the
latest mods and doing a full factory acceptance test on it before they
let it back out. The upside is that you get a 90 day warranty on the
entire unit. From what I understand, whether it is worth it or not
depends on the serial number, earlier ones used different boards and
have more problems with connectors and what not, and may not be
economically repairable. Mine is a "B" chassis, whose synthesizer board
went bad. Narco fixed the synth card (replaced a ROM), repainted the
face and needles, replaced gears that were cracked but had not failed
altogether yet. There was something else they fixed too, but I can't
recall what it was. The total charge was under $250 (this was 2 years
ago this month). That was well worth it in my book, far less than the
cost of any replacement, and less than I got for the NAV 11 on EBay that
this unit replaced. Narco will do a flat-fee evaluation of your unit
and call you with the cost to repair if you choose as well. The flat
fee I think is 1 hour of shop time, which I think was $105. If you
choose to repair, that fee is applied toward your repair.

Edward A. Falk wrote:

> It's ocurred to me that a decent machinist could make a living just
> making after-market replacement parts for this and other shoddily-built
> avionics.
>
In all fairness, the NAV122 is a 20+ year old radio. I doubt Narco
expected them to still be in service this far down the line. Nylon is
lighter and far cheaper to make complex parts (gears) than machined
aluminum. I certainly don't begrudge their choice to use nylon gears
instead of aluminum.

Ray Andraka wrote:
> Edward A. Falk wrote:
>
>> OK, my nav122 has died with a stupid mechanical failure in the
>> frequency-selection gear. Seriously, WTF was Narco thinking when they
>> put plastic gears in such an expensive box?
>>
>> So, question the first: Does anybody make aftermarket replacement
>> parts, or should I buy a dead unit and canibalize it?
>>
>> Question the second: If I choose not to fix it, what are good options
>> for a replacement? Does anybody make a clever all-in-one gps or
>> something that would fit in the same panel hole?
>>
>> -ed falk
>
> You could call Narco and ask what they'd charge for putting new gears
> in. I've found their factory service to be quite reasonable. The only
> caveat is that they will go over the entire unit, bringing it up to the
> latest mods and doing a full factory acceptance test on it before they
> let it back out. The upside is that you get a 90 day warranty on the
> entire unit. From what I understand, whether it is worth it or not
> depends on the serial number, earlier ones used different boards and
> have more problems with connectors and what not, and may not be
> economically repairable. Mine is a "B" chassis, whose synthesizer board
> went bad. Narco fixed the synth card (replaced a ROM), repainted the
> face and needles, replaced gears that were cracked but had not failed
> altogether yet. There was something else they fixed too, but I can't
> recall what it was. The total charge was under $250 (this was 2 years
> ago this month). That was well worth it in my book, far less than the
> cost of any replacement, and less than I got for the NAV 11 on EBay that
> this unit replaced. Narco will do a flat-fee evaluation of your unit
> and call you with the cost to repair if you choose as well. The flat
> fee I think is 1 hour of shop time, which I think was $105. If you
> choose to repair, that fee is applied toward your repair.
I've had both good and bad experiences with the narco factory.
The most recent experience was bad. This was a year or two ago.
Sent in my 122 in for a localizer problem. The NAV worked good. I asked
for an estimate and they called me said that it would be $700.00 and the
radio was already repaired.
I asked them what cost $700, and they said that they replaced the whole
gear mechanism and fixed the localizer problem. There wasn't a thing
wrong with the gear assembly. I told them I wanted an estimate and why
they didn't give me one. They didn't have an answer.
I told them for that price I didn't want to get it repaired. They said
that they wanted $700 and that was all. Then they said that I should
give them %300 and they would remove all the pieces they put in and give
me back a bucket of nav 122 parts back.
I asked them WTF an estimate meant. They gave me no answer.
They then said that everything left the shop 100@ and said that quality
control was their driving factor. After a bunch of **** talk I gave them
$700. *******s.
Got the 122 back and it had the exact same problem. QC, Bull****. It was
all money driven.
Sent it back three times and the third time they again charged me $130
COD where I didn't have an option.
I'll never send another radio back to their factory.

I've always liked the Narco stuff and still do, but don't like the way
they treat their customers. My next plane will have other stuff in it.

Dave

On Sep 29, 3:23 pm, (Edward A. Falk) wrote:
> OK, my nav122 has died with a stupid mechanical failure in the
> frequency-selection gear. Seriously, WTF was Narco thinking when they
> put plastic gears in such an expensive box?
>
> So, question the first: Does anybody make aftermarket replacement
> parts, or should I buy a dead unit and canibalize it?
>
> Question the second: If I choose not to fix it, what are good options
> for a replacement? Does anybody make a clever all-in-one gps or
> something that would fit in the same panel hole?
>
> -ed falk
> --
> -Ed Falk,
> http://thespamdiaries.blogspot.com/

This might be of some help....
http://grumman.net/archive/2007/msg01605.html

David

I don't know what your panel space requires, but consider a
reconditioned King KX125 - has a built-in CDI.

Check trade a plane for reconditioned units from major advertisers, or
check J.A. Air Center (northern IL); they frequently have
reconditioned units.

Paul kgyy wrote:
> I don't know what your panel space requires, but consider a
> reconditioned King KX125 - has a built-in CDI.
>
> Check trade a plane for reconditioned units from major advertisers, or
> check J.A. Air Center (northern IL); they frequently have
> reconditioned units.
>

A new one is about 2 large. We got two for the velocity.

AND it can drive an external CDI if you end up needing to.
Think of it as having a back up CDI with radial identifier.

Dave

Ray Andraka wrote:

> Edward A. Falk wrote:
>
>> OK, my nav122 has died with a stupid mechanical failure in the
>> frequency-selection gear. Seriously, WTF was Narco thinking when they
>> put plastic gears in such an expensive box?
>>
>> So, question the first: Does anybody make aftermarket replacement
>> parts, or should I buy a dead unit and canibalize it?
>>
>> Question the second: If I choose not to fix it, what are good options
>> for a replacement? Does anybody make a clever all-in-one gps or
>> something that would fit in the same panel hole?
>>
>> -ed falk
>
>
> You could call Narco and ask what they'd charge for putting new gears
> in. I've found their factory service to be quite reasonable. The only
> caveat is that they will go over the entire unit, bringing it up to the
> latest mods and doing a full factory acceptance test on it before they
> let it back out. The upside is that you get a 90 day warranty on the
> entire unit. From what I understand, whether it is worth it or not
> depends on the serial number, earlier ones used different boards and
> have more problems with connectors and what not, and may not be
> economically repairable. Mine is a "B" chassis, whose synthesizer board
> went bad. Narco fixed the synth card (replaced a ROM), repainted the
> face and needles, replaced gears that were cracked but had not failed
> altogether yet. There was something else they fixed too, but I can't
> recall what it was. The total charge was under $250 (this was 2 years
> ago this month). That was well worth it in my book, far less than the
> cost of any replacement, and less than I got for the NAV 11 on EBay that
> this unit replaced. Narco will do a flat-fee evaluation of your unit
> and call you with the cost to repair if you choose as well. The flat
> fee I think is 1 hour of shop time, which I think was $105. If you
> choose to repair, that fee is applied toward your repair.

I had both of my MK12Ds R&R a couple of years ago and I, too, thought
the factory did a nice job for a reasonable price. Narco gets hammered a
lot here, but the tech manager I talked with was good and I enjoy the
radios.
--

Regards, Ross
C-172F 180HP
KSWI

I bought a used Cherokee 180 back in 1985. It had a Nav12 and a Nav11. Both
had been OHC by Narco right before I bought the plane. I never had a problem
with either unit. Of course, I don't know what the previous owner paid
Narco....
"Ray Andraka" > wrote in message
...
> Edward A. Falk wrote:
>
> > OK, my nav122 has died with a stupid mechanical failure in the
> > frequency-selection gear. Seriously, WTF was Narco thinking when they
> > put plastic gears in such an expensive box?
> >
> > So, question the first: Does anybody make aftermarket replacement
> > parts, or should I buy a dead unit and canibalize it?
> >
> > Question the second: If I choose not to fix it, what are good options
> > for a replacement? Does anybody make a clever all-in-one gps or
> > something that would fit in the same panel hole?
> >
> > -ed falk
>
> You could call Narco and ask what they'd charge for putting new gears
> in. I've found their factory service to be quite reasonable. The only
> caveat is that they will go over the entire unit, bringing it up to the
> latest mods and doing a full factory acceptance test on it before they
> let it back out. The upside is that you get a 90 day warranty on the
> entire unit. From what I understand, whether it is worth it or not
> depends on the serial number, earlier ones used different boards and
> have more problems with connectors and what not, and may not be
> economically repairable. Mine is a "B" chassis, whose synthesizer board
> went bad. Narco fixed the synth card (replaced a ROM), repainted the
> face and needles, replaced gears that were cracked but had not failed
> altogether yet. There was something else they fixed too, but I can't
> recall what it was. The total charge was under $250 (this was 2 years
> ago this month). That was well worth it in my book, far less than the
> cost of any replacement, and less than I got for the NAV 11 on EBay that
> this unit replaced. Narco will do a flat-fee evaluation of your unit
> and call you with the cost to repair if you choose as well. The flat
> fee I think is 1 hour of shop time, which I think was $105. If you
> choose to repair, that fee is applied toward your repair.

In article m>,
Paul kgyy > wrote:
>I don't know what your panel space requires, but consider a
>reconditioned King KX125 - has a built-in CDI.

Nice unit, but I only have the 3" hole to fill. Also, the Nav122 had
glide slope and marker beacon as well. AFICT, *nobody* makes anything
with near the capability as that old 122. Too bad.

Anywy, it seems I have a number of options available to me; thanks
for all your help.

--
-Ed Falk,
http://thespamdiaries.blogspot.com/

Edward A. Falk wrote:
> In article m>,
> Paul kgyy > wrote:
>
>>I don't know what your panel space requires, but consider a
>>reconditioned King KX125 - has a built-in CDI.
>
>
> Nice unit, but I only have the 3" hole to fill. Also, the Nav122 had
> glide slope and marker beacon as well. AFICT, *nobody* makes anything
> with near the capability as that old 122. Too bad.
>
> Anywy, it seems I have a number of options available to me; thanks
> for all your help.
>

Can you find a spot for a marker beacon receiver/display or replace your
audio panel with one that has a MB rec in it? If you can, I think the
best bet might be a new Nav122D, which has the VOR/LOC reciever
functions of the older Nav122 without the MB receiver. Most audio
panels these days have an option for an integrated MB receiver.

If not, then maybe try to find as late a model of a used 122B as you can
in hopes of getting the decent circuit boards & connectors and then
refurbishing it if needed. I think you can still get refurbished 122B's
from Narco.