The adjustment knob on the lower left of my 302 came loose today. It
was still attached to the metal rod that goes into the instrument and
it appears that a set-screw came loose from the far end of the rod.
Has anyone had this same failure?

Does you know if I can easily repair this or does it require breaking
some quality / calibration seal to get inside the case? I don't want
to take my panel apart thinking I can fix it before I fly Monday, if I
really should plan on sending it back.

Take a small knife and carefully pry the very end of the knob off. The
seam may be hard to see, but there is a cap on the foremost portion of
the knob. Once you get the cap loose that will expose a screw down
inside the knob. Tighten that up and it will probably fix your problem.
No need to dig farther or even remove the unit from the panel.
Careful that the cap is small and can get away from you!

Jamey Jacobs wrote:
> The adjustment knob on the lower left of my 302 came loose today. It
> was still attached to the metal rod that goes into the instrument and
> it appears that a set-screw came loose from the far end of the rod.
> Has anyone had this same failure?
>
> Does you know if I can easily repair this or does it require breaking
> some quality / calibration seal to get inside the case? I don't want
> to take my panel apart thinking I can fix it before I fly Monday, if I
> really should plan on sending it back.

Mark Zivley > wrote in message >...
> Take a small knife and carefully pry the very end of the knob off. The
> seam may be hard to see, but there is a cap on the foremost portion of
> the knob. Once you get the cap loose that will expose a screw down
> inside the knob. Tighten that up and it will probably fix your problem.
> No need to dig farther or even remove the unit from the panel.
> Careful that the cap is small and can get away from you!


I don't think you read what he said. Sorry it's going to be opened up
and that will require factory or dealer re-seal.


Andy

I did read what he said. I think he just might be mistaken as to where
the knob is loose. He may have assumed it was something inside the unit
not realizing the knob is designed to come off for installation....

Andy Durbin wrote:
> Mark Zivley > wrote in message >...
>
>>Take a small knife and carefully pry the very end of the knob off. The
>>seam may be hard to see, but there is a cap on the foremost portion of
>>the knob. Once you get the cap loose that will expose a screw down
>>inside the knob. Tighten that up and it will probably fix your problem.
>> No need to dig farther or even remove the unit from the panel.
>>Careful that the cap is small and can get away from you!
>
>
>
> I don't think you read what he said. Sorry it's going to be opened up
> and that will require factory or dealer re-seal.
>
>
> Andy

Hi Jamey,

If the rod came loose out of the box with the knob you will have to send it
back to Cambridge or a dealer for repair. The repair requires opening the
unit and re-sealing it.

I'm a dealer and I would be glad to fix it for you as long as that is OK
with Cambridge (I think it will be). But sending it back to the factory
would be just as fast and they may even pay the return shipping for you (I'm
not certain).

I've seen the problem only once before on an early 302 in the Ventus I used
to own. It was fixed quickly by Cambridge. If I remember correctly they
fixed it for free while doing the calibration (not free).

You can get the contact data for the factory from their web site here:
http://www.cambridge-aero.com

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"Jamey Jacobs" > wrote in message
om...
> The adjustment knob on the lower left of my 302 came loose today. It
> was still attached to the metal rod that goes into the instrument and
> it appears that a set-screw came loose from the far end of the rod.
> Has anyone had this same failure?
>
> Does you know if I can easily repair this or does it require breaking
> some quality / calibration seal to get inside the case? I don't want
> to take my panel apart thinking I can fix it before I fly Monday, if I
> really should plan on sending it back.

Thanks for your recommendations. The set screw deep inside the
instrument came loose, and the knob and shaft came out as one piece.
I removed the instrument from the panel and could hear the set screw
shaking around inside the case.

Cambridge told me not to operate the instrument while trying to use
the loose rod, if it shifted wrong, it (or the loose set screw) could
short a circuit board and cause damage requiring $$$ repairs. It's
going back to CAI to be fixed and re-sealed.

I'm posting this to warn others if their CAI 302 adjustment knob comes
loose and the shaft is still attached, you need to turn off the vario
to avoid possible damage due to shorting internal components. At
least, carefully remove the knob and rod if you are still flying.

(Jamey Jacobs) wrote in message >...
> The adjustment knob on the lower left of my 302 came loose today. It
> was still attached to the metal rod that goes into the instrument and
> it appears that a set-screw came loose from the far end of the rod.
> Has anyone had this same failure?
>
> Does you know if I can easily repair this or does it require breaking
> some quality / calibration seal to get inside the case? I don't want
> to take my panel apart thinking I can fix it before I fly Monday, if I
> really should plan on sending it back.