KI-209 VOR/LOC/GS Indicator adjustment

[kontiki]

My KI-209 VOR/LOC/GS Indicator is averaging about 7 degrees off of calibration
on VOR checks. Its driven by a KX-155 and I'f like to adjust it to within tolerance.
I don't have a manual for it but I know the adjustment screw is behind one of
the two upper panel mounting screws (I think one is the LOC adjustment and one
is the VOR adjustment).

Can anyone tell me which screw is for the VOR radial calibration adjustment?

Thanks -

[Michelle P]

If you are using it in a certified aircraft take it ot a reputable
avionics shop. especially if you are flying in IMC.
Michelle

kontiki wrote:

> My KI-209 VOR/LOC/GS Indicator is averaging about 7 degrees off of
> calibration
> on VOR checks. Its driven by a KX-155 and I'f like to adjust it to
> within tolerance.
> I don't have a manual for it but I know the adjustment screw is behind
> one of
> the two upper panel mounting screws (I think one is the LOC adjustment
> and one
> is the VOR adjustment).
>
> Can anyone tell me which screw is for the VOR radial calibration
> adjustment?
>
> Thanks -
>

[Denny]

This group is big on saving money by "do it yourself" and I am one of
the biggest proponents of that, HOWEVER this is an item where you are
way in over your head... Pull the indicator and the 155 and drop them
off at the radio shop if you feel that you must get dirt under your
nails..

denny...

[Clay]

RIght on Denny.
I can remove a splinter from my finger, deliver a calf but would not
want to set a broken leg.
I would leave the avionic in the plane and fly to a good shop and let
them use their equipment.
They set things more accurately with their signal generator. Cables
and antennas can also make a difference. Besides, you are now legal.
I fly for some attornies, you want these dogs on your side because
they can bite very hard.

[[email protected]]

On 21-Apr-2005, "Denny" > wrote:

> Pull the indicator and the 155 and drop them
> off at the radio shop if you feel that you must get dirt under your
> nails..

NOT!!!

This adjustment is very easy for a qualified avionics shop to do (takes
maybe 5 minutes), and there is absolutely NO reason to take the radio and/or
indicator out of the plane. In fact, it's possible that the adjustment on
the bench will not be quite as accurate as one done "in situ".

At least one radio shop I know of has a policy that they will align VOR
indicators free, for life, if they sold/installed the equipment.

--
-Elliott Drucker

[kontiki]

Denny wrote:

> This group is big on saving money by "do it yourself" and I am one of
> the biggest proponents of that, HOWEVER this is an item where you are
> way in over your head...

I don't think so.. I'm an electrical engineer and can explain the physics
of why and how a VOR actually works in minute detail. The calibration adjustment
is not rocket science and does not require the magical powers of an aviionics
tech. I just wanted to find out which screw was the VOR adjustment and which
was the Localizer adjustment on the KI-209.

You all make similar calibration adjustments to your altimiter via the Kolllsman
setting beroe and during every flight. Tweaks to the VOR calibration are
required from time to time especially if you have replaced a NAV antenna as I have.

I called a friend who owns an avionics shop and he told me which screw
was the VOR adjustment and I've zerio's it now with a test set another
friend had.

Thanks

[kontiki]

wrote:
> NOT!!!
>
> This adjustment is very easy for a qualified avionics shop to do (takes
> maybe 5 minutes), and there is absolutely NO reason to take the radio and/or
> indicator out of the plane. In fact, it's possible that the adjustment on
> the bench will not be quite as accurate as one done "in situ".
>
> At least one radio shop I know of has a policy that they will align VOR
> indicators free, for life, if they sold/installed the equipment.
>

Exactly... it is not rocket science and no more complicated than calibrating
your altimeter to the local altimiter setting. I would not recommend to
most pilots (nor would I recommend that they repair their own computers)
but for those who have the proper knowledge it is no big deal.

[Montblack]

("kontiki" wrote)
> Exactly... it is not rocket science and no more complicated than
> calibrating
> your altimeter to the local altimiter setting. I would not recommend to
> most pilots (nor would I recommend that they repair their own computers)
> but for those who have the proper knowledge it is no big deal.


Even rocket science isn't "rocket science" if you have the proper knowledge
:-)

"Of course. A child could do it!" - Bones when reinstalling Spock's brain.
But then he had special knowledge from the Great Teacher ...for a while
anyway.


Montblack <g>
http://homepage.mac.com/m5comp/trekbits/trekpics/brain/

[Don Tuite]

So which is which?

Not that I would ever use such knowledge for evil.

Don

[kontiki]

The LH side is for the VOR and the RH is for the Localizer.

Keep the greasy side down. ;^)

Don Tuite wrote:

> So which is which?
>
> Not that I would ever use such knowledge for evil.
>
> Don

[Denny]

Glad it was that easy.. If you actually fly it in hard IFR you may
want to check it on several vor frequencies across the nav band to be
sure the mixers in the 155 are all up to snuff...
denny

[Michelle P]

kontiki,
you never mentioned your quals to work on an aircraft as far as the FAA
is concerned. The very least an Airframe rating would be required or you
will need to have someone with the Rating sign off your work. Otherwise
the aircraft is not legal for Instrument flight.
The appropriate manual and test equipment would be required as well. You
already mentioned you had the equipment.
Michelle (A&P)

kontiki wrote:

> Denny wrote:
>
>> This group is big on saving money by "do it yourself" and I am one of
>> the biggest proponents of that, HOWEVER this is an item where you are
>> way in over your head...
>
>
> I don't think so.. I'm an electrical engineer and can explain the physics
> of why and how a VOR actually works in minute detail. The calibration
> adjustment
> is not rocket science and does not require the magical powers of an
> aviionics
> tech. I just wanted to find out which screw was the VOR adjustment and
> which
> was the Localizer adjustment on the KI-209.
>
> You all make similar calibration adjustments to your altimiter via the
> Kolllsman
> setting beroe and during every flight. Tweaks to the VOR calibration are
> required from time to time especially if you have replaced a NAV
> antenna as I have.
>
> I called a friend who owns an avionics shop and he told me which screw
> was the VOR adjustment and I've zerio's it now with a test set another
> friend had.
>
> Thanks
>

[[email protected]]

Michelle P > wrote:
: kontiki,
: you never mentioned your quals to work on an aircraft as far as the FAA
: is concerned. The very least an Airframe rating would be required or you
: will need to have someone with the Rating sign off your work. Otherwise
: the aircraft is not legal for Instrument flight.
: The appropriate manual and test equipment would be required as well. You
: already mentioned you had the equipment.
: Michelle (A&P)

: kontiki wrote:

Remember... what's safe isn't necessarily legal, and what's legal isn't
necessarily save. I've seen *WAY* too much absolutely frightening **** pulled by
certified repair stations, certified mechanics, and certified, calibrated equipment.
Often, all that stuff does is cost a lot of money and leave a paper trail, but in the
end, Cooter the rookie mechanic does the adjustment with a crowbar.

I'm certainly not advocating self-adjustment of the myriad of knobs in the
guts of the radio without knowing what you're doing and having the appropriate
publications to do so, but there's a reason why the LOC/VOR adjustments are easily
accessible. Minor tweaks are just that... minor tweaks. Zero the needle, test fly it
over a few places in VFR, and call it good.

-Cory

--

************************************************** ***********************
* Cory Papenfuss *
* Electrical Engineering candidate Ph.D. graduate student *
* Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University *
************************************************** ***********************

[[email protected]]

Hi,

Of course, you drew an arc from various folks. This is RAO, after all!

I'd be concerned about WHY the thing shifted 7 degrees. That's a lot,
given that it was probably once correct. What internal component is
shifting?
This is a modern indicator, not one full of old ratty parts.

So even if you tweek the adjustment to take out the 7 degrees, beware.
That adjustment affects ALL the bearings by the same amount. So what
the
shop would do is check every 30 degrees both to and from. Given
the history, they might check it at a couple of temperatures, too.

This indicator needs to be watched!! You should check it at more than
0 and 180. Would you trust it?

Bill Hale