engine overhaul & autopilot question

[CriticalMass]

Tony Woolner wrote:

>I saw a Warrior. It had a Mattituck engine overhaul. After the overhaul
>they had to replace two cylinders. Why was that? Also there was a
>Century 21 autopilot.You set the heading bug and it flys the plane to
>the vor and approaches.
>


Oh? Thought those "Century 21" autopilots automatically flew you to
desirable neighborhoods.

[James M. Knox]

Tony Woolner > wrote in
:

> I saw a Warrior. It had a Mattituck engine overhaul. After the
> overhaul they had to replace two cylinders. Why was that?

There could be any number of reasons why two cylinders had to be
replaces soon after an overhaul (if that is indeed what you are asking).
The rings may not have seated in properly, in which case they usually
just re-hone them and re-install. There might have been a problem with
the valve seating, or even a potential problem where it was discovered
that some parts were not properly hardened.

Mattituck is a quality shop, but problems do still get past, and of
course the installation can be faulty as well.

> Also there was a
> Century 21 autopilot.You set the heading bug and it flys the plane to
> the vor and approaches. I fought the control to to right and the
> autopilot was still on! How do you turn it off.You have to push the
> switch to turn it off?

I'm confused. Are you saying that you took off with the autopilot still
on? Checking the autopilot (and verifying it's off) is part of the
checklist. I believe you can download a free operator's manual for the
Century 21 autopilot from the factory.

http://www.centuryflight.com/


-----------------------------------------------
James M. Knox
TriSoft ph 512-385-0316
1109-A Shady Lane fax 512-366-4331
Austin, Tx 78721
-----------------------------------------------

[Ron Natalie]

"Tony Woolner" > wrote in message ...
> We were flying along with the autopilot on. I tried to turn the plane to the
> left but it was fighting the controls. How do you disconnect the autopilot?
> A friend told me when you turn the plane it should disconnect automatically.
> I guess you just have to turn the switch off to stop the autopilot?
>
You really need to read the manual before attempting to fly a plane with an
autopilot. Your friend is full of it. Most autopilots do not disconnect when
you turn the wheel. They have no clue you are turning the wheel rather than
the aircraft being out of trim.

[Tony Woolner]

I saw a Warrior. It had a Mattituck engine overhaul. After the overhaul
they had to replace two cylinders. Why was that? Also there was a
Century 21 autopilot.You set the heading bug and it flys the plane to
the vor and approaches. I fought the control to to right and the
autopilot was still on! How do you turn it off.You have to push the
switch to turn it off?
Thanks, Tony

[Tony Woolner]

We were flying along with the autopilot on. I tried to turn the plane to the
left but it was fighting the controls. How do you disconnect the autopilot?
A friend told me when you turn the plane it should disconnect automatically.
I guess you just have to turn the switch off to stop the autopilot?

"James M. Knox" wrote:

> Tony Woolner > wrote in
> :
>
> > I saw a Warrior. It had a Mattituck engine overhaul. After the
> > overhaul they had to replace two cylinders. Why was that?
>
> There could be any number of reasons why two cylinders had to be
> replaces soon after an overhaul (if that is indeed what you are asking).
> The rings may not have seated in properly, in which case they usually
> just re-hone them and re-install. There might have been a problem with
> the valve seating, or even a potential problem where it was discovered
> that some parts were not properly hardened.
>
> Mattituck is a quality shop, but problems do still get past, and of
> course the installation can be faulty as well.
>
> > Also there was a
> > Century 21 autopilot.You set the heading bug and it flys the plane to
> > the vor and approaches. I fought the control to to right and the
> > autopilot was still on! How do you turn it off.You have to push the
> > switch to turn it off?
>
> I'm confused. Are you saying that you took off with the autopilot still
> on? Checking the autopilot (and verifying it's off) is part of the
> checklist. I believe you can download a free operator's manual for the
> Century 21 autopilot from the factory.
>
> http://www.centuryflight.com/
>
>
> -----------------------------------------------
> James M. Knox
> TriSoft ph 512-385-0316
> 1109-A Shady Lane fax 512-366-4331
> Austin, Tx 78721
> -----------------------------------------------

[gross_arrow]

"Ron Natalie" > wrote in message >...
> "Tony Woolner" > wrote in message ...
> > We were flying along with the autopilot on. I tried to turn the plane to the
> > left but it was fighting the controls. How do you disconnect the autopilot?
> > A friend told me when you turn the plane it should disconnect automatically.
> > I guess you just have to turn the switch off to stop the autopilot?
> >
> You really need to read the manual before attempting to fly a plane with an
> autopilot. Your friend is full of it. Most autopilots do not disconnect when
> you turn the wheel. They have no clue you are turning the wheel rather than
> the aircraft being out of trim.


ron is exactly right.

in addition, if you'll check out century's website, you'll find no mention of
a century 21 autopilot (hence the earlier responder's quip about the
neighborhoods -- century 21 is a real estate firm.)

the website lists the century i, iib, iii, 41, 2000 and the triden autopilot
systems (the iib and iii are no longer in production, since 2001.) it is
difficult to guess which one is meant when it is called the 21 -- most
likely the iib (since many warriors had this available from the factory as
an option), but it could be the 41 (one digit wrong) or the 2000 (starts
with a 2). without knowing which one it was, and possible other details
about the installation (some have a yoke-mounted quick-disconnect
switch or button), it is nearly impossible to answer the question.

g_a

[Dave Butler]

gross_arrow wrote:

>
> in addition, if you'll check out century's website, you'll find no mention of
> a century 21 autopilot (hence the earlier responder's quip about the
> neighborhoods -- century 21 is a real estate firm.)

If you'll check out my aircraft's panel, you'll find it has a Century 21
autopilot, Century's web site notwithstanding.

Dave
Remove SHIRT to reply directly.

[gross_arrow]

thanks to dave butler, who pointed out my ignorance.

i have now seen pictures (on the web) of the century 21
autopilot. it must have been a very short run, because it
seems odd to me that century lists the iib and the iii, which
appear much older designs than the 21 (showing them as
discontinued), but have no product listing for the 21. they
do, however, show a service manual for one at $200.

apologies for my ignorance.
(dave, i tried to email you, but it bounced.)

g_a


(gross_arrow) wrote in message >...
> if you'll check out century's website, you'll find no mention of
> a century 21 autopilot (hence the earlier responder's quip about the
> neighborhoods -- century 21 is a real estate firm.)
>
> g_a

[Ron Natalie]

"gross_arrow" > wrote in message om...
> thanks to dave butler, who pointed out my ignorance.
>
> i have now seen pictures (on the web) of the century 21
> autopilot. it must have been a very short run, because it
> seems odd to me that century lists the iib and the iii, which
> appear much older designs than the 21 (showing them as
> discontinued), but have no product listing for the 21. they
> do, however, show a service manual for one at $200.
>
Their tech ref index actually does list the 21 as a model.