Sticking winter vario

[Ian Reekie]

I have a 10+ year old 57mm Winter vario that has just started sticking when
it reaches its full positive deflection. A gentle tap on the glass
releases the needle.
I guess it will need a trip to Winter this winter (no joke intended).

Out of curiosity, does anyone know what causes this sticking and has
anyone successfully fixed this problem in the past.

Many thanks
Ian

[Jon Marshall[_2_]]

At 17:15 21 August 2013, Ian Reekie wrote:
>I have a 10+ year old 57mm Winter vario that has just started
sticking when
>it reaches its full positive deflection. A gentle tap on the glass
>releases the needle.
>I guess it will need a trip to Winter this winter (no joke
intended).
>
>Out of curiosity, does anyone know what causes this sticking
and has
>anyone successfully fixed this problem in the past.
>
>Many thanks
>Ian
>
>
Ian
Not an answer, but an endorsement of sending your vario to
Winter. We did all our mechanical instruments this year, a
somewhat lethargic 20 year old vario, a hatefully graunchy 20
year old altimeter and an ok ish 20year old asi.

All came back at very reasonable cost £120 each asi and vario
and £160 ish for the altimeter.
All came with a report in german and new form1. Now all work
as if new.

jon

[JJ Sinclair[_2_]]

On Wednesday, August 21, 2013 10:54:52 AM UTC-7, Jon Marshall wrote:
> At 17:15 21 August 2013, Ian Reekie wrote:
>
> >I have a 10+ year old 57mm Winter vario that has just started
>
> sticking when
>
> >it reaches its full positive deflection. A gentle tap on the glass
>
> >releases the needle.
>
> >I guess it will need a trip to Winter this winter (no joke
>
> intended).
>
> >
>
> >Out of curiosity, does anyone know what causes this sticking
>
> and has
>
> >anyone successfully fixed this problem in the past.
>
> >
>
> >Many thanks
>
> >Ian
>
> >
>
> >
>
> Ian
>
> Not an answer, but an endorsement of sending your vario to
>
> Winter. We did all our mechanical instruments this year, a
>
> somewhat lethargic 20 year old vario, a hatefully graunchy 20
>
> year old altimeter and an ok ish 20year old asi.
>
>
>
> All came back at very reasonable cost £120 each asi and vario
>
> and £160 ish for the altimeter.
>
> All came with a report in german and new form1. Now all work
>
> as if new.
>
>
>
> jon

I have ventured inside a sticking Winter vario and found the needle bent just enough to hit the glass at full deflection. A gentle nudge inward did the trick. Also, the needle can be centered by slightly bending the counterbalance located on the other side of the pivot point. I too have had great service from Winter. I packaged up about 10 real old instruments and got back 7 reconditioned instruments at a reasonable price.
JJ

[Ian[_2_]]

On 08/21/2013 07:15 PM, Ian Reekie wrote:

> I have a 10+ year old 57mm Winter vario that has just started sticking when
> it reaches its full positive deflection. A gentle tap on the glass
> releases the needle.
> I guess it will need a trip to Winter this winter (no joke intended).
>
> Out of curiosity, does anyone know what causes this sticking and has
> anyone successfully fixed this problem in the past.

We had the same symptoms in our 57mm Winter mechanical vario, after the
glider had been out of service for maintenance for a month or two. We
ignored it for a while and after 4 or 5 flights the problem went away.
That was a few years ago and the problem has not recurred.

I can only think that there was some condensation in our instrument
during the lay up and that some "internal ventilation" and/or solar
heating on the front panel dried it out again.

So maybe try and fix it by flying it!

another Ian

[Chris Rollings[_2_]]

Try taking it home and putting it in the airing cupboard for a few days.
Doesn't always work but worth a try.

At 20:55 24 August 2013, Ian wrote:
>On 08/21/2013 07:15 PM, Ian Reekie wrote:
>
>> I have a 10+ year old 57mm Winter vario that has just started sticking
>when
>> it reaches its full positive deflection. A gentle tap on the glass
>> releases the needle.
>> I guess it will need a trip to Winter this winter (no joke intended).
>>
>> Out of curiosity, does anyone know what causes this sticking and has
>> anyone successfully fixed this problem in the past.
>
>We had the same symptoms in our 57mm Winter mechanical vario, after the
>glider had been out of service for maintenance for a month or two. We
>ignored it for a while and after 4 or 5 flights the problem went away.
>That was a few years ago and the problem has not recurred.
>
>I can only think that there was some condensation in our instrument
>during the lay up and that some "internal ventilation" and/or solar
>heating on the front panel dried it out again.
>
>So maybe try and fix it by flying it!
>
>another Ian
>
>

[Mike the Strike]

The OP says it sticks after full deflection - I doubt that rarely happens in the UK. (..and you had better explain to our US readers what an airing cupboard is!) - perhaps 30 seconds in a microwave oven would do the trick?

Mike

[John Firth[_4_]]

Try putting it in a sealed jar with dry silica gel (blue).
If there is condensation this should dry it out.
JMF



At 05:54 25 August 2013, Chris Rollings wrote:
>Try taking it home and putting it in the airing cupboard for a few days.
>Doesn't always work but worth a try.
>
>At 20:55 24 August 2013, Ian wrote:
>>On 08/21/2013 07:15 PM, Ian Reekie wrote:
>>
>>> I have a 10+ year old 57mm Winter vario that has just started sticking
>>when
>>> it reaches its full positive deflection. A gentle tap on the glass
>>> releases the needle.
>>> I guess it will need a trip to Winter this winter (no joke intended).
>>>
>>> Out of curiosity, does anyone know what causes this sticking and has
>>> anyone successfully fixed this problem in the past.
>>
>>We had the same symptoms in our 57mm Winter mechanical vario, after the
>>glider had been out of service for maintenance for a month or two. We
>>ignored it for a while and after 4 or 5 flights the problem went away.
>>That was a few years ago and the problem has not recurred.
>>
>>I can only think that there was some condensation in our instrument
>>during the lay up and that some "internal ventilation" and/or solar
>>heating on the front panel dried it out again.
>>
>>So maybe try and fix it by flying it!
>>
>>another Ian
>>
>>
>
>

[Frank Whiteley]

On Sunday, August 25, 2013 8:05:29 AM UTC-6, firsys wrote:
Used bag of rice with a wet cell phone the other days. Back to normal in few hours. Rice was around. Not enough little bags of silica gel.

Frank

> Try putting it in a sealed jar with dry silica gel (blue).
>
> If there is condensation this should dry it out.
>
> JMF
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 05:54 25 August 2013, Chris Rollings wrote:
>
> >Try taking it home and putting it in the airing cupboard for a few days.
>
> >Doesn't always work but worth a try.
>
> >
>
> >At 20:55 24 August 2013, Ian wrote:
>
> >>On 08/21/2013 07:15 PM, Ian Reekie wrote:
>
> >>
>
> >>> I have a 10+ year old 57mm Winter vario that has just started sticking
>
> >>when
>
> >>> it reaches its full positive deflection. A gentle tap on the glass
>
> >>> releases the needle.
>
> >>> I guess it will need a trip to Winter this winter (no joke intended).
>
> >>>
>
> >>> Out of curiosity, does anyone know what causes this sticking and has
>
> >>> anyone successfully fixed this problem in the past.
>
> >>
>
> >>We had the same symptoms in our 57mm Winter mechanical vario, after the
>
> >>glider had been out of service for maintenance for a month or two. We
>
> >>ignored it for a while and after 4 or 5 flights the problem went away.
>
> >>That was a few years ago and the problem has not recurred.
>
> >>
>
> >>I can only think that there was some condensation in our instrument
>
> >>during the lay up and that some "internal ventilation" and/or solar
>
> >>heating on the front panel dried it out again.
>
> >>
>
> >>So maybe try and fix it by flying it!
>
> >>
>
> >>another Ian
>
> >>
>
> >>
>
> >
>
> >

[bumper[_4_]]

On Sunday, August 25, 2013 8:47:44 PM UTC-7, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> On Sunday, August 25, 2013 8:05:29 AM UTC-6, firsys wrote:
>
> Used bag of rice with a wet cell phone the other days. Back to normal in few hours. Rice was around. Not enough little bags of silica gel.
>
>


I know rice has been pressed into service as an emergency desiccant, but I don't think it's anywhere near as effective as silica gel. Do a Google search for more.

bumper