On Thursday, February 6, 2020 at 8:00:10 AM UTC-8, BG wrote:
On Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at 7:35:31 PM UTC-8, soaringjac wrote:
Anyone have any experience with accessing the TE/Pitot line connections in the fin of an Astir CS? Is there anyway to peek at the TE/Pitot lines where the plug into the ports at the back of the tube/ports in the fin? I want to see if the TE line is still attached to the back of the TE prob but can't seem to find anyway to get access to that area.

Also, has anyone ever replaced the TE(or pitot) lines all the way back to the fin in an Astir CS?

Our club has a AStir CS and over the years we have problems with maintenance items on the TE and Pitot port in the vertical stabilizer. You can see the connections after taking off the horizontal stabilizer and use a flashlight. I found it is much easier to see at night or under a blanket in the day time. One of the biggest problems we have had was people were inserting the TE probe to far causing the tubing to push off the connector at the back. Not all probes might not be like ours and allow this to happen, a poor design. Another is both the TE and Pitot port are the same inside diameter and more than once someone has inserted the TE in the pitot port. Needless to say the airspeed was crazy. Another really poor design feature.

Far as testing for leaks, I learned a trick from a local mechanic. Block off the lines at one end and suck on the other end. You can add extra tubing you are OK with putting in your mouth. Afte sucking, put you tongue on the end and see how long it hold a vacuum. A good system will not lose any suction for as long as you care to keep your tongue on the end.

We have never replaced the lines, but I would guess if it is possible, you will need to use the old line to pull new one through. Join the new and old with a good barbed fitting and be careful and patient. Lubing the line might help. Getting it wrong and you might be in for some rather cost repairs.

Hope this helps. IF you have a leak, I hope it will be at the end points and not need to replace the lines. That could be very risking. IN general the static plumbing in the CS is the craziest with 5 ports. 4 static in 2 pairs and one TE.

Buzz Graves

Thanks Buzz, great info. Can you get your hands on the connections in the fin at all with the horizontal off? Im going to take the horizontal off this weekend so i guess we will see. I am also going to do a bit of leak testing as well. Just trying to figure out what options i have and what i have access too. Ideally i would like to just replace the lines and have everything fresh, but yeah that seems risky. Hoping its something simple and easy. Maybe the old winter vario i have in there has a leak in its casing or something. I put in a new flask and all new lines forward of the wheel so everything is new, connections seem great, but leak testing will tell. I was getting these stick thermals before i replaced the lines so that is what is making me think its something rearward of the wheel.