electric gyros

[Jones, Michael]

hi ken

do you get mail from aeroelectric website ?
was coment about electric gyros needing constant use or they are junk, do
you know anything about this, copy of comments are below

mike#007


I am building my panel all electric and have been in search of used gyros.
They
seem to disappear faster than my cable connection can get the initial
message
to me, so I decided to do some research on the instrument repair scene. I
called
The Gyro House and Kelly Instruments and in both cases spoke the the person
in charge. Here's what I've learned.

Do not buy non tso'd instruments like Falcon and UMA if you expect long life
and
want to be safe in IFR ops. Most non-tso's instruments and gyros cannot be
repaired. Neither house will repair Falcon gyros. We have heard reports of
Falcon
gyros drawing excessive current as well as mechanical noise on the
aeroelectric
list. Also, I was shocked to learn that RC Allen, in the past, also
manufactured
gyros that are not repairable, as key parts were bonded in place instead
of screwed! The way to tell that is to ask the seller the model number.
ONly buy model numbers 26BK or 26AK, all others are not deemed good model
numbers
to overhaul.

Cost: overhauling a vacuum gyro is anywhere from $200-$450 depending on the
repair
station and condition of the instrument. Overhauling an electric gyro is
$600-$800 with the same caveats. That being said, it begs the question of
how
much is a used electric gyro worth? I was shocked at the answer, based on
the
prices most guys are routinely getting for used on the internet
($900-$1200).
Gyro houses, if they buy 'cores' will not pay more than $300 for a core
electric
gyro. According to Sigma Tek and RC Allen, if the gyro has, at any time
in it's life sat dormant for 90 days without spool up, even if it sat in
it's
box, it is a core. Even if it runs in the present, it will fail in the
future.
So, if you buy a used electric gyro for, say $1000, and it needs an
overhaul?
You're out $1600-$1800 already, may as well buy a new one with a warranty.
Also, if the seller is unsure if the gyro is an 8 degree tilt, do not buy,
as the RV-8 requires an 8 degree tilt and to change it requires a complete
teardown
( overhaul, again for $600-$800)

So, what I've learned today is that a used gyro is not necessarily a great
deal
unless:

1) It's an RC Allen 26BK or 26AK; and:
2) I personally know the seller to be fastidious in his/her running the
gyro regularly
(preferably daily); and:
3) It's also an 8 degree tilt: and:
4) The price for acquisition plus overhaul is under the new price by a few
hundred.

Or

4) I can get it for $300

Oh, one more thing, I asked both repair proprietors that if their life had
to depend
on it, which gyro would they prefer to fly behind? Their answer: SigmaTek
or REA Vacuum, hands down. Why? They are looking thru the glasses of
repairmen.
To them, vacuum gyros are a simpler assembly, and they see few vacuum
gyros returned for repair prematurely as compared to electric. Me? I'm
still
going all-electric with an EFIS as primary and a TSO'd AI for backup, which
based
on the above, will be new.

-----Original Message-----
From: klehman@albedo.net [mailto:klehman@albedo.net]
Sent: Friday, September 19, 2003 10:51 AM
To: murphy-rebel@dcsol.com
Subject: engine storage dehydrators


Hi

I uploaded a pic but the description was cutoff. Anyway the complete
description is below in case anyone is interested. I decided that I
didn't want to lose any more engine parts to rust. ;(


Lee Valley mail order www.leevalley.com sells color coded re-usable
dessicant crystals (flower drying crystals) part no. GM450 cdn$14.95 for
2 kg. I like to put some in a plastic bags with elastic bands over all
the intakes, exhausts and vents of my engine while it is in storage. I
know one guy who also does this between flights. This photo shows some
simple spark plug dehydrators that I also made up. I haven't tried it
yet but I'm told that the crystals can be very quickly dried in a
microwave as well as the normal method in a conventional oven.

Ken




*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
To unsubscribe from this list go to:
http://www.dcsol.com:81/public/code/html-subscribe.wcx
Archives located at http://rebel:builder@www.dcsol.com:81/default.htm
To contact the list admin, e-mail mike.davis@dcsol.com
*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*




*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
To unsubscribe from this list go to:
http://www.dcsol.com:81/public/code/html-subscribe.wcx
Archives located at http://rebel:builder@www.dcsol.com:81/default.htm
To contact the list admin, e-mail mike.davis@dcsol.com
*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*








-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[klehman]

Hi Mike
Yes it was a good post. Not my field but there has always been
assertations that the grease dries out if not used periodically. There
is probably a little bit of truth to it. I am fairly sceptical though
and certainly haven't bothered spinning up my vacuum gyro periodically.
I have certainly seen small motor bearings dry out and get tight but
that is proportional to heat and use not room temperature storage time.
Synthetic lubes seem to help that. Wonder if synthetics are even allowed
in TSO'd instruments? I can see an overhaul shop saying this sort of
thing to escape warranty claims but I wouldn't worry about it myself.

Now I have had problems with electrolytic capacitors loosing their
dielectric insulation after a couple of years of storage. So I do try to
energise my electronics such as strobes a couple of times a year. Leave
an old TV unused for for a year or two and it is unlikely to work again.

Ken

Jones, Michael wrote:

hi ken

do you get mail from aeroelectric website ?
was coment about electric gyros needing constant use or they are junk, do
you know anything about this, copy of comments are below

*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
To unsubscribe from this list go to:
http://www.dcsol.com:81/public/code/html-subscribe.wcx
Archives located at http://rebel:builder@www.dcsol.com:81/default.htm
To contact the list admin, e-mail mike.davis@dcsol.com
*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*








-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Legeorgen]

Anyone interested in a gyro should check out Dynon Avionics electronic flight
information system. This is a complete state of the art;

altimeter
attitude indicator
angle of attack
air speed
vertical seed
compass
turn coordinator
voltmeter
g-meter
and clock/timer

All in and instrument that fits in a standard 31/8" hole. I checked one out
at Arlington and was very impressed. This is the future of general aviation
instrumentation.

www.dynonavionics.com

check it out.
Bruce 357R



*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
To unsubscribe from this list go to:
http://www.dcsol.com:81/public/code/html-subscribe.wcx
Archives located at http://rebel:builder@www.dcsol.com:81/default.htm
To contact the list admin, e-mail mike.davis@dcsol.com
*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*








-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------

[Legeorgen]

Oh, i forgot to mention this instrument cost less than $2000 US

Bruce 357R



*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*
To unsubscribe from this list go to:
http://www.dcsol.com:81/public/code/html-subscribe.wcx
Archives located at http://rebel:builder@www.dcsol.com:81/default.htm
To contact the list admin, e-mail mike.davis@dcsol.com
*-------------------------------------------------------------------------*








-----------------------------------------------------------------
List archives located at: https://mail.dcsol.com/login
username "rebel" password "builder"
Unsubscribe: rebel-builders-unsubscribe@dcsol.com
List administrator: mike.davis@dcsol.com
-----------------------------------------------------------------