What do YOU want for Xmas?

You need to fix it again, the enlarge the mounting holes and
not tighten them up so tight, so when the metal of the radio vs the
plastic
gets cold, the can shrink how much they want to, without putting pressure
on
the faceplate.

Yeah, that's what I tried last time. Trouble is, the screws come through
from the *sides* of the audio panel, meaning that they are necessarily too
small for the job, and the plastic that they must go through is too thin.

Worse, one side (where the screws go through) of the faceplate is completely
gone, after breaking numerous times. I have replaced this entire missing
side by building up successive layers of JB Weld (a 2-part epoxy-like
product that is drillable, sandable, and just about indestructible) and then
carving/cutting it to the proper dimensions with a Dremel tool. It was
painstaking work.

It lasted six months or so, until it got cold. The push-buttons for the
audio panel are slightly smaller than the tip of your index finger, which
means when you push them in turbulence, you tend to jam the plastic
faceplate, too. This, of course, puts stress on those four little side
screws, which is what broke the thing in the first place. Add cold
weather, and *pink!* -- it breaks pretty easily.

It's a dumb design, and Narco (incredibly) wants $200 just for the
faceplate!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Have you thought of taking 'it' to a machine shop at your local high
school or tech school and paying the teacher or one of his best kids to
make you one(douplicate) in aluminum? Probably cost you $50.00.

The Monk

Have you thought of taking 'it' to a machine shop at your local high
school or tech school and paying the teacher or one of his best kids to
make you one(douplicate) in aluminum? Probably cost you $50.00.

Been down this road. It's got the marker beacons (itsy bitsy colored
lenses) in the faceplate. Pretty tough to machine those.

Somebody here offered to try and make me one, but I lost track of them... I
don't think it would be possible, sadly...
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

The lenses in the face plates are no problem, ever seen how stained
glass is made? Machine the plate with holes for where the lights will
go and drip colored acrylic in the holes and buff them flush.

"Jay Honeck" wrote

I've repaired it -- twice. When the temperature gets down to near zero,
it
just cracks again...

You are having a problem with different coefficients of expansion.

I don't know exactly how the face mounts, so this suggestion may not be
exactly right. You need to fix it again, the enlarge the mounting holes and
not tighten them up so tight, so when the metal of the radio vs the plastic
gets cold, the can shrink how much they want to, without putting pressure on
the faceplate.
--
Jim in NC

So, I take it the 296 is for sale, then?
Now, if the 396 was for sale, cheap ;-)

-Joe

Jim Burns wrote on 12/16/05 12:08:

Duh... you got a 396 didn't you?
Nevermind
Jim

"Jim Burns" wrote in message
...
"Dan Luke" wrote in message
...
My Bluetooth WxWorx receiver and GPS are for sale--cheap.

Dan
What's the reason Dan? I keep drooling over these systems and am curious
why you would sell yours.

Thanks
Jim

The lenses in the face plates are no problem, ever seen how stained
glass is made? Machine the plate with holes for where the lights will
go and drip colored acrylic in the holes and buff them flush.

Not *that* is a great idea!

Thanks,
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jay-I found a DVD recorder that accepts all kinds of inputs at best buy
for $99.00. Records up to 6 hours on a DVD.

As for what I want, I know I'm getting something from sportys. I know
because saw the packages, and I made sure I circled the video's and
books I wanted in their catalog and showed it to the wife.

now, getting something for my WIFE is a problem. She's too busy being
back in school for hobbies, and she's not into bling, she claims she
doesn't know what she wants for Xmas. About the only thing I am getting
her, at her request, is a foot pedel for transcribing. She also wants a
floor lamp (and most them are junk). Today is my "last chance" to find
something before Xmas.

John

That was me who offered to make you a faceplate.

Still open. Just need to get your faceplate for dimensions.

John

That was me who offered to make you a faceplate.

Still open. Just need to get your faceplate for dimensions.

Ah, thanks John.

Well, if I had *known* we were going to get two straight weeks of snow, and
if I had *known* that the runways were going to be three solid sheets of
ice, and if I had *known* that I wasn't going to fly at all in December, I
coulda sent it to you.

If only I had known!

:-)

How long would the turn-around time be?
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"