Dead DG

[mbremer216]

Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went for
a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not sticky
at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is engaging
anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.

I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.

What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?

Thanks

Mike

[Denny]

Lethal instruments, i.e. things that can kill me if they go toes up in
IMC are always replaced with new, not rebuilts... Non lethal
instruments can be rebuilts, used, whatever... The lethal instruments
on the panel to me are the AH, speedo, T&B, altimeter, whiskey
compass... Most everything else is in the nice but not lethal
catagory... Your DG is a grey area... If you feel you MUST have the
autopilot in IMC, then the DG becomes a lethal instrument... Your
call...

denny

[[email protected]]

That's a little extreme.
Either rebuilt or exchanged with one from a good shop will be fine.

Denny wrote:
> Lethal instruments, i.e. things that can kill me if they go toes up in
> IMC are always replaced with new, not rebuilts... Non lethal
> instruments can be rebuilts, used, whatever... The lethal instruments
> on the panel to me are the AH, speedo, T&B, altimeter, whiskey
> compass... Most everything else is in the nice but not lethal
> catagory... Your DG is a grey area... If you feel you MUST have the
> autopilot in IMC, then the DG becomes a lethal instrument... Your
> call...
>
> denny
>

[Newps]

The DG is in the grey area but the whiskey compass is lethal? That's
hillarious.

Denny wrote:

> Lethal instruments, i.e. things that can kill me if they go toes up in
> IMC are always replaced with new, not rebuilts... Non lethal
> instruments can be rebuilts, used, whatever... The lethal instruments
> on the panel to me are the AH, speedo, T&B, altimeter, whiskey
> compass... Most everything else is in the nice but not lethal
> catagory... Your DG is a grey area... If you feel you MUST have the
> autopilot in IMC, then the DG becomes a lethal instrument... Your
> call...
>
> denny
>

[Jay Honeck]

> Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went
> for a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not
> sticky at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is
> engaging anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.
>
> I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.

We have the same set up, and had ours rebuilt by the Gyro House.

It still processes more than I would like, but it hasn't changed since
installation, so I guess it's "normal". All things considered, it was
money well-spent. (But I fly VFR, so YMMV...)
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Matt Barrow]

"mbremer216" > wrote in message
...
> Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went
> for a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not
> sticky at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is
> engaging anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.
>
> I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.
>
> What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?
>
A bit off, but this is a good summary:

http://www.avionicswest.com/articles/know_your_autopilot.htm

[Mike Noel]

I had my DG rebuilt about a year ago and it has worked very well. It was
done by Ducasse Insrument Service.

--
Best Regards,
Mike
http://photoshow.comcast.net/mikenoel
"mbremer216" > wrote in message
...
> Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went
> for a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not
> sticky at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is
> engaging anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.
>
> I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.
>
> What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike
>

[Jim Burns]

EdoAire Autopilot DG
Overhauled Aug. 2004
Tits up Dec. 2005 (out of warranty)
IRANed Dec. 2005
Operated properly for 7 hours then started spinning, wouldn't erect
IRANed Dec. 2005 2nd time
No problems found
Re installed, worked fine on the ground, failed during initial
takeoff
Replaced with overhauled unit after talking to Century Instruments

For the price of what we paid for removals, reinstalls, and IRAN's, THEN for
an overhauled unit, we could have bought a new unit and had it installed
then sold our core to a rebuilder.

Lesson learned.

Jim

"mbremer216" > wrote in message
...
> Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went
for
> a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not
sticky
> at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is engaging
> anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.
>
> I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.
>
> What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike
>
>

[Denny]

Well, let me take you into IMC and fail everything but your altimeter,
speedo, T&B and compass and I'll have you kissing that compass when you
are back down...
A DG is nice but it's nothing that will kill you if it goes bad in hard
IMC...




denny

[Newps]

Denny wrote:

> Well, let me take you into IMC and fail everything but your altimeter,
> speedo, T&B and compass and I'll have you kissing that compass when you
> are back down...
> A DG is nice but it's nothing that will kill you if it goes bad in hard
> IMC...

Who will ever look at the compass? The GPS runs on batteries. Just fly
a ground track instead of a heading.

[Doug]

There is no magic here. It is a bit of a crap shoot. Generally you pay
more for new, and you get more, but sometimes rebuilt outlasts new.
Vacuum powered instruments are notoriously unpridictable so far as how
long they last. If you are on a budget, rebuild. If the account is fat,
buy new. If you can't decide, flip a coin. It's not going to
matter.....much. Well, it might, but there's no way of telling ahead of
time.... Sorry I can't be more specific....

[The Visitor]

When you were learning to fly, were you happy with the dg's? They were
probably always repaired. If you fix it though, tell them to overhaul it.

John

mbremer216 wrote:
> Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went for
> a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not sticky
> at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is engaging
> anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.
>
> I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.
>
> What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?
>
> Thanks
>
> Mike
>
>

[Mark Hansen]

On 02/21/06 08:18, Jim Burns wrote:
> EdoAire Autopilot DG
> Overhauled Aug. 2004
> Tits up Dec. 2005 (out of warranty)
> IRANed Dec. 2005
> Operated properly for 7 hours then started spinning, wouldn't erect
> IRANed Dec. 2005 2nd time
> No problems found
> Re installed, worked fine on the ground, failed during initial
> takeoff
> Replaced with overhauled unit after talking to Century Instruments
>
> For the price of what we paid for removals, reinstalls, and IRAN's, THEN for
> an overhauled unit, we could have bought a new unit and had it installed
> then sold our core to a rebuilder.
>
> Lesson learned.

First of all, I'm very sorry for your bad experience. It sounds like a
nightmare.

However, what lesson? That 'overhauled' will always cost you more in the
long run? I don't see how that results in a lesson being learned, unless
of course, I'm missing something (which is probably the case... ;-) )

It seems to me you had an atypical experience. The same could happen with
a new component, couldn't it? Even if it's not as likely with new, the
chance in either case of serious problems like this must still be pretty low.

Might some argue that the reconditioned equipment is a safer bet, because
the non-wearing parts have already been tested by in-service use, etc.?

>
> Jim

--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane
Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
Sacramento, CA

[Jim Burns]

After it was inspected and repaired, then reinstalled I should have junked
it or went the rebuilt route (which we ulimately did) rather than pulling it
for another inspection/repair.

I wasn't satisfied that the DG only lasted 16 months after a overhaul before
it's problems started. That should have been my first clue. Then I had it
inspected and informed that it was "just out of balance" and "everything
else looked good". I should have only reinstalled it after convincing
myself that if anything happens, the unit is history. Well, "anything"
happened and instead of junking it, we stuck more $$ into it, only to be
told that "everything looks good, doesn't tumble on our vibration table, I'd
stick it back in".

Round 1: $400
Round 2: $300
Round 3: Overhauled Exchange $663

Jim






"Mark Hansen" > wrote in message
...
> On 02/21/06 08:18, Jim Burns wrote:
> > EdoAire Autopilot DG
> > Overhauled Aug. 2004
> > Tits up Dec. 2005 (out of warranty)
> > IRANed Dec. 2005
> > Operated properly for 7 hours then started spinning, wouldn't erect
> > IRANed Dec. 2005 2nd time
> > No problems found
> > Re installed, worked fine on the ground, failed during initial
> > takeoff
> > Replaced with overhauled unit after talking to Century Instruments
> >
> > For the price of what we paid for removals, reinstalls, and IRAN's, THEN
for
> > an overhauled unit, we could have bought a new unit and had it installed
> > then sold our core to a rebuilder.
> >
> > Lesson learned.
>
> First of all, I'm very sorry for your bad experience. It sounds like a
> nightmare.
>
> However, what lesson? That 'overhauled' will always cost you more in the
> long run? I don't see how that results in a lesson being learned, unless
> of course, I'm missing something (which is probably the case... ;-) )
>
> It seems to me you had an atypical experience. The same could happen with
> a new component, couldn't it? Even if it's not as likely with new, the
> chance in either case of serious problems like this must still be pretty
low.
>
> Might some argue that the reconditioned equipment is a safer bet, because
> the non-wearing parts have already been tested by in-service use, etc.?
>
> >
> > Jim
>
> --
> Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane
> Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
> Sacramento, CA

[A Lieberman]

On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:33:53 -0600, mbremer216 wrote:

> Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went for
> a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not sticky
> at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is engaging
> anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.

Mike,

I went new on my DG in my Sundowner and have not looked back.....Same
symptoms you described....

Allen

[Jim Carter]

Denny,
You're fighting a losing battle my friend. I was also taught the
critical basic instruments as you've pointed out, however a great many
of today's pilots place tremendous faith in their electronics. Dead
reckoning seems to be a lot art, which may be a good thing considering
the airspace we live in today.

I'm with you on the criticality of the compass, and I also seem
to remember that it used to be part of the minimum equipment list but
the DG wasn't. That used to be a question asked on the CFII oral years
ago.

But times have changed so we have to understand the new
environments.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Denny ]
> Posted At: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 12:34 PM
> Posted To: rec.aviation.owning
> Conversation: Dead DG
> Subject: Re: Dead DG
>
> Well, let me take you into IMC and fail everything but your altimeter,
> speedo, T&B and compass and I'll have you kissing that compass when
you
> are back down...
> A DG is nice but it's nothing that will kill you if it goes bad in
hard
> IMC...
>
>
>
>
> denny

[Ronnie]

I too have had bad luck with overhauls. I made several attempts to
get an overhauled vaccumm AI to work right from a local shop and
finally replaced it with a new unit. The old King electric powered
remote DG gyro and King HSI in my Aztec made two trips to the
overhaul shop before it worked and the flags in the HSI still didn't
work after the 2nd trip. The company made it good under warranty
but the removal, shipping, and re-installed costs add up.

If it is a simple AI or DG that you can buy a new replacement for,
buy a new one and sell the core. If it is some old, odd ball unit that
requires a bunch of labor to replace and/or the replacement option
is expensive (a newer version of the King KCS55A or the Sandel HSI
is many thousands of dollars) our HSI, then attempting an overhaul may
be worth a try, but may or may not work out.

Beyond gyro overhauls, a simple thing like resealing a compass is a
trying experience. I thought a wiskey compass would be a simple thing
to install a seal kit in. Boy was I wrong. After 3 attempts I finally
gave up and went to a local instrument shop. Their advice was, "Buy
a new unit, we can never get the resealed units to hold up. We just ship
the cores back to the factory for repair." I didn't feel so inept after
they
told me that.

Ronnie


"Jim Burns" > wrote in message
...
> After it was inspected and repaired, then reinstalled I should have junked
> it or went the rebuilt route (which we ulimately did) rather than pulling
> it
> for another inspection/repair.
>
> I wasn't satisfied that the DG only lasted 16 months after a overhaul
> before
> it's problems started. That should have been my first clue. Then I had it
> inspected and informed that it was "just out of balance" and "everything
> else looked good". I should have only reinstalled it after convincing
> myself that if anything happens, the unit is history. Well, "anything"
> happened and instead of junking it, we stuck more $$ into it, only to be
> told that "everything looks good, doesn't tumble on our vibration table,
> I'd
> stick it back in".
>
> Round 1: $400
> Round 2: $300
> Round 3: Overhauled Exchange $663
>
> Jim
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Mark Hansen" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 02/21/06 08:18, Jim Burns wrote:
>> > EdoAire Autopilot DG
>> > Overhauled Aug. 2004
>> > Tits up Dec. 2005 (out of warranty)
>> > IRANed Dec. 2005
>> > Operated properly for 7 hours then started spinning, wouldn't erect
>> > IRANed Dec. 2005 2nd time
>> > No problems found
>> > Re installed, worked fine on the ground, failed during initial
>> > takeoff
>> > Replaced with overhauled unit after talking to Century Instruments
>> >
>> > For the price of what we paid for removals, reinstalls, and IRAN's,
>> > THEN
> for
>> > an overhauled unit, we could have bought a new unit and had it
>> > installed
>> > then sold our core to a rebuilder.
>> >
>> > Lesson learned.
>>
>> First of all, I'm very sorry for your bad experience. It sounds like a
>> nightmare.
>>
>> However, what lesson? That 'overhauled' will always cost you more in the
>> long run? I don't see how that results in a lesson being learned, unless
>> of course, I'm missing something (which is probably the case... ;-) )
>>
>> It seems to me you had an atypical experience. The same could happen with
>> a new component, couldn't it? Even if it's not as likely with new, the
>> chance in either case of serious problems like this must still be pretty
> low.
>>
>> Might some argue that the reconditioned equipment is a safer bet, because
>> the non-wearing parts have already been tested by in-service use, etc.?
>>
>> >
>> > Jim
>>
>> --
>> Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane
>> Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
>> Sacramento, CA
>
>

[Denny]

You're fighting a losing battle my friend.
************************************************

Yah, I'm a bit slow but I'm catching on....

denny

[A Lieberman]

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 11:41:55 -0700, Newps wrote:

> Denny wrote:
>
>> Well, let me take you into IMC and fail everything but your altimeter,
>> speedo, T&B and compass and I'll have you kissing that compass when you
>> are back down...
>> A DG is nice but it's nothing that will kill you if it goes bad in hard
>> IMC...
>
> Who will ever look at the compass? The GPS runs on batteries. Just fly
> a ground track instead of a heading.

and if you travel w/o a GPS or even better yet, your trusty 296 lithium
battery goes TU? I'd be wanting that DG real quick!

Allen

[Dave]

Ummm.. make sure the Knob is not loose and turning freely. We had the
same symptoms, loose knob slipped "in" on the shaft hard against the
panel, so could not push the shaft in to uncage the gyro, so it coud
not be "set". Slid knob back out to proper position on shaft, toghten
set screw, fixed..

Maybe?

Dave


On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:33:53 -0600, "mbremer216"
> wrote:

>Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went for
>a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not sticky
>at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is engaging
>anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.
>
>I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.
>
>What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?
>
>Thanks
>
>Mike
>

[Jim Burns]

Pack a small amount of paper into the knob's shaft hole so that the knob
can't slide onto the shaft too far. Some DG knobs, if allowed to slide all
the way onto the shaft, will hit the panel when you try to adjust the card.
If there isn't enough "throw" before the knob hits the panel, it won't allow
you to adjust the card. The set screw should hold it, but the paper trick
makes it fool proof and relieves the pressure from the set screw.

Jim


"Dave" > wrote in message
...
> Ummm.. make sure the Knob is not loose and turning freely. We had the
> same symptoms, loose knob slipped "in" on the shaft hard against the
> panel, so could not push the shaft in to uncage the gyro, so it coud
> not be "set". Slid knob back out to proper position on shaft, toghten
> set screw, fixed..
>
> Maybe?
>
> Dave
>
>
> On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:33:53 -0600, "mbremer216"
> > wrote:
>
>>Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went
>>for
>>a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not
>>sticky
>>at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is engaging
>>anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.
>>
>>I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.
>>
>>What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>Mike
>>
>

[mbremer216]

Thought about that one. The shaft turns with the knob and also goes in and
out. I was, at first hoping it was the knob.

I have recently started some instrument training and when doind timed turns
noticed quite a bit of discrepancy between the clock and the resulting turn
(over 20 degrees). While I may not have been spot on in maintaining the
turn rate via the needle & ball, there's no way I was that sloppy,
particularly since the error was similar with turns in both directions.

I'm just going to change it rather than fix it. Now the challenge is to
find a replacement that won't break the bank.

Thanks

Mike
"Dave" > wrote in message
...
> Ummm.. make sure the Knob is not loose and turning freely. We had the
> same symptoms, loose knob slipped "in" on the shaft hard against the
> panel, so could not push the shaft in to uncage the gyro, so it coud
> not be "set". Slid knob back out to proper position on shaft, toghten
> set screw, fixed..
>
> Maybe?
>
> Dave
>
>
> On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:33:53 -0600, "mbremer216"
> > wrote:
>
>>Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went
>>for
>>a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not
>>sticky
>>at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is engaging
>>anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.
>>
>>I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.
>>
>>What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?
>>
>>Thanks
>>
>>Mike
>>
>

[Dave Butler]

mbremer216 wrote:

> I have recently started some instrument training and when doind timed turns
> noticed quite a bit of discrepancy between the clock and the resulting turn
> (over 20 degrees). While I may not have been spot on in maintaining the
> turn rate via the needle & ball, there's no way I was that sloppy,
> particularly since the error was similar with turns in both directions.
>
> I'm just going to change it rather than fix it. Now the challenge is to
> find a replacement that won't break the bank.

Rmmmm?

Maybe I'm just confused or you were unclear. This reads as if your timed turns
aren't coming out on the right heading, so you're replacing your heading
indicator. I hope I'm wrong.

Dave

[mbremer216]

I'm replacing the DG because the setting knob will no longer engage the
compass card. The DG is also behind the turns (turned at a rate slower than
the mag compass). Also, it's pretty old and is probably past it's service
life.

Mike


"Dave Butler" > wrote in message
news:1140790596.591398@sj-nntpcache-3...
> mbremer216 wrote:
>
>> I have recently started some instrument training and when doind timed
>> turns noticed quite a bit of discrepancy between the clock and the
>> resulting turn (over 20 degrees). While I may not have been spot on in
>> maintaining the turn rate via the needle & ball, there's no way I was
>> that sloppy, particularly since the error was similar with turns in both
>> directions.
>>
>> I'm just going to change it rather than fix it. Now the challenge is to
>> find a replacement that won't break the bank.
>
> Rmmmm?
>
> Maybe I'm just confused or you were unclear. This reads as if your timed
> turns aren't coming out on the right heading, so you're replacing your
> heading indicator. I hope I'm wrong.
>
> Dave

[Roger]

On Sat, 25 Feb 2006 09:18:22 -0600, "mbremer216"
> wrote:

>I'm replacing the DG because the setting knob will no longer engage the

Valid reason.

>compass card. The DG is also behind the turns (turned at a rate slower than

Which could be quite normal. Mine, and most others, will at times even
turn the opposite direction. Just a fact of life and physics.

>the mag compass). Also, it's pretty old and is probably past it's service
>life.

If it still works it's not past a service life as I don't think they
have one.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com

>
>Mike
>
>
>"Dave Butler" > wrote in message
>news:1140790596.591398@sj-nntpcache-3...
>> mbremer216 wrote:
>>
>>> I have recently started some instrument training and when doind timed
>>> turns noticed quite a bit of discrepancy between the clock and the
>>> resulting turn (over 20 degrees). While I may not have been spot on in
>>> maintaining the turn rate via the needle & ball, there's no way I was
>>> that sloppy, particularly since the error was similar with turns in both
>>> directions.
>>>
>>> I'm just going to change it rather than fix it. Now the challenge is to
>>> find a replacement that won't break the bank.
>>
>> Rmmmm?
>>
>> Maybe I'm just confused or you were unclear. This reads as if your timed
>> turns aren't coming out on the right heading, so you're replacing your
>> heading indicator. I hope I'm wrong.
>>
>> Dave
>

[Newps]

Roger wrote:
> On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 11:41:55 -0700, Newps > wrote:
>
>
>>
>>Denny wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Well, let me take you into IMC and fail everything but your altimeter,
>>>speedo, T&B and compass and I'll have you kissing that compass when you
>>>are back down...
>>>A DG is nice but it's nothing that will kill you if it goes bad in hard
>>>IMC...
>>
>>Who will ever look at the compass? The GPS runs on batteries. Just fly
>>a ground track instead of a heading.
>
>
> GPS? You rely on a battery powered GPS?



Only after ships power stops working, then yes.

[Roger]

On 22 Feb 2006 07:55:53 -0800, "Denny" > wrote:

>You're fighting a losing battle my friend.
>************************************************
>
>Yah, I'm a bit slow but I'm catching on....

The problem is that relying on all that new stuff can get you killed
as can relying on any specific piece of technology, old or new.
Over-the-years I've had just about any thing on the panel that can
fail, do do. The only thing I've not had to have fixed has been the
old compass and oil pressure gage. Mine happens to be a vertical card
compass.

I use GPS, but I maintain those "old" reliable skills.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
>
>denny

[Roger]

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 14:17:42 -0600, "Jim Burns"
> wrote:

>After it was inspected and repaired, then reinstalled I should have junked
>it or went the rebuilt route (which we ulimately did) rather than pulling it
>for another inspection/repair.

I have close to a 1000 hours on a rebuilt AI. The DG was rebuilt
before I purchased the plane so I'd have to check the books to figure
out how much time is on it. Still I lost it on one flight due to the
filter.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com
>
>I wasn't satisfied that the DG only lasted 16 months after a overhaul before
>it's problems started. That should have been my first clue. Then I had it
>inspected and informed that it was "just out of balance" and "everything
>else looked good". I should have only reinstalled it after convincing
>myself that if anything happens, the unit is history. Well, "anything"
>happened and instead of junking it, we stuck more $$ into it, only to be
>told that "everything looks good, doesn't tumble on our vibration table, I'd
>stick it back in".
>
>Round 1: $400
>Round 2: $300
>Round 3: Overhauled Exchange $663
>
>Jim
>
>
>
>
>
>
>"Mark Hansen" > wrote in message
...
>> On 02/21/06 08:18, Jim Burns wrote:
>> > EdoAire Autopilot DG
>> > Overhauled Aug. 2004
>> > Tits up Dec. 2005 (out of warranty)
>> > IRANed Dec. 2005
>> > Operated properly for 7 hours then started spinning, wouldn't erect
>> > IRANed Dec. 2005 2nd time
>> > No problems found
>> > Re installed, worked fine on the ground, failed during initial
>> > takeoff
>> > Replaced with overhauled unit after talking to Century Instruments
>> >
>> > For the price of what we paid for removals, reinstalls, and IRAN's, THEN
>for
>> > an overhauled unit, we could have bought a new unit and had it installed
>> > then sold our core to a rebuilder.
>> >
>> > Lesson learned.
>>
>> First of all, I'm very sorry for your bad experience. It sounds like a
>> nightmare.
>>
>> However, what lesson? That 'overhauled' will always cost you more in the
>> long run? I don't see how that results in a lesson being learned, unless
>> of course, I'm missing something (which is probably the case... ;-) )
>>
>> It seems to me you had an atypical experience. The same could happen with
>> a new component, couldn't it? Even if it's not as likely with new, the
>> chance in either case of serious problems like this must still be pretty
>low.
>>
>> Might some argue that the reconditioned equipment is a safer bet, because
>> the non-wearing parts have already been tested by in-service use, etc.?
>>
>> >
>> > Jim
>>
>> --
>> Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Airplane
>> Cal Aggie Flying Farmers
>> Sacramento, CA
>