YAGQ (Yet Another Gyro Query)

It looks like the AI on my Cherokee finally bought the farm. My
friend who just flew it on a cross-country said it laid over and died on
the way.

So, the question is, used, overhauled, or new? Any thoughts on
this? Brands to get/not get? I'm leaning away from overhauling the gyro,
since I don't know how long it's been alive. I'm pretty sure it's old and
hasn't been touched in over 20 years.

Just wondering what folks think. I'm currently finishing my
instrument training and plan to use it for some light IFR cross-country
trips later on.

-Cory

--
************************************************** ***********************
* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
************************************************** ***********************

My AI failed at 300 hours. Had it overhauled and it's running strong at
900. No recommendations here though. Just don't know enough.

wrote in message
...
It looks like the AI on my Cherokee finally bought the farm. My
friend who just flew it on a cross-country said it laid over and died on
the way.

So, the question is, used, overhauled, or new? Any thoughts on
this? Brands to get/not get? I'm leaning away from overhauling the gyro,
since I don't know how long it's been alive. I'm pretty sure it's old and
hasn't been touched in over 20 years.

Just wondering what folks think. I'm currently finishing my
instrument training and plan to use it for some light IFR cross-country
trips later on.

-Cory

--
************************************************** ***********************
* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
************************************************** ***********************

Light IFR cross country can turn into hard IFR cross country. Consider the
importance of the instrument and then decide whether it would be better to
buy a new one or overhaul a 20 year old AI. I think you already know what
you should do.

It looks like the AI on my Cherokee finally bought the farm. My
friend who just flew it on a cross-country said it laid over and died on
the way.

So, the question is, used, overhauled, or new? Any thoughts on
this? Brands to get/not get? I'm leaning away from overhauling the gyro,
since I don't know how long it's been alive. I'm pretty sure it's old and
hasn't been touched in over 20 years.

Just wondering what folks think. I'm currently finishing my
instrument training and plan to use it for some light IFR cross-country
trips later on.

-Cory

--
************************************************** ***********************
* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
************************************************** ***********************

Steve wrote:
: Light IFR cross country can turn into hard IFR cross country. Consider the
: importance of the instrument and then decide whether it would be better to
: buy a new one or overhaul a 20 year old AI. I think you already know what
: you should do.

Well, that's why I'm leaning towards a new one. I'm really not
considering overhauling the one I've got, but possibly purchasing a used
overhauled unit. Most likely not, though... 'tis a rather important
instrument...

-Cory


--
************************************************** ***********************
* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
************************************************** ***********************

wrote:
: Steve wrote:
: : Light IFR cross country can turn into hard IFR cross country. Consider the
: : importance of the instrument and then decide whether it would be better to
: : buy a new one or overhaul a 20 year old AI. I think you already know what
: : you should do.

: Well, that's why I'm leaning towards a new one. I'm really not
: considering overhauling the one I've got, but possibly purchasing a used
: overhauled unit. Most likely not, though... 'tis a rather important
: instrument...

: -Cory

Cory, I would really recommend NEW. Costs twice as much, lasts four times as
long - in my experience. I prefer R.C. Allen - get the one with the lo-vac
flag.

--
Aaron Coolidge (N9376J)

I had a new one fail at 160 hours. Wanna buy it for overhaul?

wrote in message
...
Steve wrote:
: Light IFR cross country can turn into hard IFR cross country. Consider
the
: importance of the instrument and then decide whether it would be better
to
: buy a new one or overhaul a 20 year old AI. I think you already know
what
: you should do.

Well, that's why I'm leaning towards a new one. I'm really not
considering overhauling the one I've got, but possibly purchasing a used
overhauled unit. Most likely not, though... 'tis a rather important
instrument...

-Cory


--
************************************************** ***********************
* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
************************************************** ***********************

I'm as frugal as anyone (c h e a p is the word my bride uses) but, cutting
corners on something that will kill you is not good.. I do not overhaul or
buy a used primary gyro, altimeter, or compass... The savings aren't more
than pocket change, and the downside can be a long ways down...
Now having said that, when it comes to upholstery, radios, gadgets, etc.,
cheap is good!
Denny

wrote in message
...
Steve wrote:
: Light IFR cross country can turn into hard IFR cross country. Consider
the
: importance of the instrument and then decide whether it would be better
to
: buy a new one or overhaul a 20 year old AI. I think you already know
what
: you should do.

Well, that's why I'm leaning towards a new one. I'm really not
considering overhauling the one I've got, but possibly purchasing a used
overhauled unit. Most likely not, though... 'tis a rather important
instrument...

-Cory


--
************************************************** ***********************
* The prime directive of Linux: *
* - learn what you don't know, *
* - teach what you do. *
* (Just my 20 USm$) *
************************************************** ***********************

In article ,
wrote:
So, the question is, used, overhauled, or new?

Whatever you do, get a heading bug. And if you think you'll ever put
an autopilot in it, consider getting one with bootstrap heading output.

--
Ben Jackson

http://www.ben.com/

wrote:
It looks like the AI on my Cherokee finally bought the farm. My
friend who just flew it on a cross-country said it laid over and died on
the way.

So, the question is, used, overhauled, or new? Any thoughts on
this? Brands to get/not get? I'm leaning away from overhauling the gyro,
since I don't know how long it's been alive. I'm pretty sure it's old and
hasn't been touched in over 20 years.

Just wondering what folks think. I'm currently finishing my
instrument training and plan to use it for some light IFR cross-country
trips later on.

-Cory


Back in nineteen and sixty nine, I worked in an avionics & instrument
shop. I would watch George, who was also a watchmaker, overhaul
gyros. The most interesting part was resurfacing and polishing
the tiny rotor journals, and replacing the ball bearings and races.
He would then spin them up, listening closely to an almost imperceptible
ticking sound as each ball would roll up over the top of the journal
then fall down upon the descending ball below! The sound had to
be just-so, or he was not happy. Anyway, I would think a unit properly
overhauled would be as good or better than new. We did lots of
overhauls, but I don't recall ever installing a new one.

Tom Pappano, PP-ASEL-IA

I'd think twice about a new one. There was an intermediate period in the gyro
world where we gave up on the old AN style gyro but still hadn't migrated to the
plastic and potmetal crap that passes inspection for new today. It sounds to me
like you've got one of those good, solid instruments (after all, it ran for
twenty years, didn't it?) and I'd probably opt for getting a good overhaul with
first quality bearings on the old unit.

Jim




wrote:
- It looks like the AI on my Cherokee finally bought the farm. My
- friend who just flew it on a cross-country said it laid over and died on
- the way.
-
- So, the question is, used, overhauled, or new? Any thoughts on
- this? Brands to get/not get? I'm leaning away from overhauling the gyro,
- since I don't know how long it's been alive. I'm pretty sure it's old and
- hasn't been touched in over 20 years.


Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com