Baron issues

I'd call Autopilots Central. I've talked with Bob Ferguson a couple times
and he's always had good advice for our situations.
Jim

"Viperdoc" wrote in message
...
Well, in three days of flying a long cross country to West Texas from
Wisconsin, my autopilot went nuts in the roll axis- wouldn't capture
flight director or heading bug info, and just tried to do uncommanded
turns. Altitude and pitch worked fine.

Suspected a bad roll servo- could be driver transistors or even a motor.
Was told a new motor (if available) could be up to $3000. Had to hand fly
back from Texas in IMC- not much fun and pretty tiring.

Pulled the back cover off and yes, it sure looks like a servo- but no way
to tell if it works until it gets into the avionics shop.

Any help on testing the unit while still installed? There is resistance to
aileron input with the autopilot on, but the servo won't turn or capture
heading bug or FD input.

Then, in a routine post flight, I tried the strobes- no luck. The tail
flash tube looks a little blackened- does anyone know if the wing tip
units will continue to work if the tail tube is dead?

Or, does this sound like a power supply issue?

All of this is getting to sound expensive as well as being a pain- any
advice or commiseration would be appreciated. BTW the plane is a B-55
Baron.

TIA

Thanks for the tips. The motor and drive transistors were all shot. The
motor is tiny compared to what I expected, and even more so considering the
expense.

The strobe power supply is shot as well. I will check tonight, but if it is
the original Grimes, I plan on replacing it with a Whelen.

You and Jay saw my wingtip strobe cover that cracked due to hangar rash-$450
(plus $150 for the aftermarket one I purchased from an outfit that promised
they were the same as a Bonanza lens, which was incorrect. He never returned
any phone calls or email messages either, after the fact)

So, after a long stretch of maintenance free flying, I am up to around
$3,000. And, my insurance bill just arrived yesterday- but I was
anticipating this expense at least.

This is beginning to get as expensive as golfing at some posh country club!

I know where you're coming from.... I swallowed insurance, annual
inspection, and OSH during the same 2 week period.

Sorry about the after market lens. The more airplane parts I buy, the
easier it is for me to see how each of our flying-mobiles is hand made and
hardly anything fits right out of the box, especially after market parts.
When after market parts are all that are available or priced significantly
less, I try to go into those little adventures with my eyes wide open.
Unfortunately sometimes it's our wallets that end up being opened.

Jim


"Viperdoc" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the tips. The motor and drive transistors were all shot. The
motor is tiny compared to what I expected, and even more so considering
the
expense.

The strobe power supply is shot as well. I will check tonight, but if it
is
the original Grimes, I plan on replacing it with a Whelen.

You and Jay saw my wingtip strobe cover that cracked due to hangar
rash-$450
(plus $150 for the aftermarket one I purchased from an outfit that
promised
they were the same as a Bonanza lens, which was incorrect. He never
returned
any phone calls or email messages either, after the fact)

So, after a long stretch of maintenance free flying, I am up to around
$3,000. And, my insurance bill just arrived yesterday- but I was
anticipating this expense at least.

This is beginning to get as expensive as golfing at some posh country
club!

Viperdoc wrote:


The strobe power supply is shot as well. I will check tonight, but if it is
the original Grimes, I plan on replacing it with a Whelen.


Lots of guys are replacing the strobes with the model from Universal, if
you're talking about the fuselage strobes.

Newps wrote:


Viperdoc wrote:


The strobe power supply is shot as well. I will check tonight, but if
it is the original Grimes, I plan on replacing it with a Whelen.


Lots of guys are replacing the strobes with the model from Universal, if
you're talking about the fuselage strobes.

I'm not familiar with the Universal, but we're thrilled with the Whelen
LED strobe we installed 9 months ago.

"B A R R Y" wrote in message
t...
Newps wrote:
Lots of guys are replacing the strobes with the model from Universal, if
you're talking about the fuselage strobes.

I'm not familiar with the Universal, but we're thrilled with the Whelen
LED strobe we installed 9 months ago.

Ditto


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO (MTJ)