Dead DG

Ummm.. make sure the Knob is not loose and turning freely. We had the
same symptoms, loose knob slipped "in" on the shaft hard against the
panel, so could not push the shaft in to uncage the gyro, so it coud
not be "set". Slid knob back out to proper position on shaft, toghten
set screw, fixed..

Maybe?

Dave


On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:33:53 -0600, "mbremer216"
wrote:

Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went for
a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not sticky
at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is engaging
anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.

I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.

What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?

Thanks

Mike

Pack a small amount of paper into the knob's shaft hole so that the knob
can't slide onto the shaft too far. Some DG knobs, if allowed to slide all
the way onto the shaft, will hit the panel when you try to adjust the card.
If there isn't enough "throw" before the knob hits the panel, it won't allow
you to adjust the card. The set screw should hold it, but the paper trick
makes it fool proof and relieves the pressure from the set screw.

Jim


"Dave" wrote in message
...
Ummm.. make sure the Knob is not loose and turning freely. We had the
same symptoms, loose knob slipped "in" on the shaft hard against the
panel, so could not push the shaft in to uncage the gyro, so it coud
not be "set". Slid knob back out to proper position on shaft, toghten
set screw, fixed..

Maybe?

Dave


On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:33:53 -0600, "mbremer216"
wrote:

Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went
for
a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not
sticky
at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is engaging
anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.

I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.

What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?

Thanks

Mike

Thought about that one. The shaft turns with the knob and also goes in and
out. I was, at first hoping it was the knob.

I have recently started some instrument training and when doind timed turns
noticed quite a bit of discrepancy between the clock and the resulting turn
(over 20 degrees). While I may not have been spot on in maintaining the
turn rate via the needle & ball, there's no way I was that sloppy,
particularly since the error was similar with turns in both directions.

I'm just going to change it rather than fix it. Now the challenge is to
find a replacement that won't break the bank.

Thanks

Mike
"Dave" wrote in message
...
Ummm.. make sure the Knob is not loose and turning freely. We had the
same symptoms, loose knob slipped "in" on the shaft hard against the
panel, so could not push the shaft in to uncage the gyro, so it coud
not be "set". Slid knob back out to proper position on shaft, toghten
set screw, fixed..

Maybe?

Dave


On Mon, 20 Feb 2006 22:33:53 -0600, "mbremer216"
wrote:

Well, it looks like my directional gyro just went belly up. When I went
for
a ride today, the setting knob was very sticky, and then suddenly not
sticky
at all as it now rotates freely and doesn't feel like it is engaging
anything. The gyro card does not rotate with the knob.

I have a Cherokee with a heading tracking Autocontrol III autopilot.

What are opinions regarding having it rebuilt as opposed to replaced?

Thanks

Mike

mbremer216 wrote:

I have recently started some instrument training and when doind timed turns
noticed quite a bit of discrepancy between the clock and the resulting turn
(over 20 degrees). While I may not have been spot on in maintaining the
turn rate via the needle & ball, there's no way I was that sloppy,
particularly since the error was similar with turns in both directions.

I'm just going to change it rather than fix it. Now the challenge is to
find a replacement that won't break the bank.

Rmmmm?

Maybe I'm just confused or you were unclear. This reads as if your timed turns
aren't coming out on the right heading, so you're replacing your heading
indicator. I hope I'm wrong.

Dave

I'm replacing the DG because the setting knob will no longer engage the
compass card. The DG is also behind the turns (turned at a rate slower than
the mag compass). Also, it's pretty old and is probably past it's service
life.

Mike


"Dave Butler" wrote in message
news:1140790596.591398@sj-nntpcache-3...
mbremer216 wrote:

I have recently started some instrument training and when doind timed
turns noticed quite a bit of discrepancy between the clock and the
resulting turn (over 20 degrees). While I may not have been spot on in
maintaining the turn rate via the needle & ball, there's no way I was
that sloppy, particularly since the error was similar with turns in both
directions.

I'm just going to change it rather than fix it. Now the challenge is to
find a replacement that won't break the bank.

Rmmmm?

Maybe I'm just confused or you were unclear. This reads as if your timed
turns aren't coming out on the right heading, so you're replacing your
heading indicator. I hope I'm wrong.

Dave

On Sat, 25 Feb 2006 09:18:22 -0600, "mbremer216"
wrote:

I'm replacing the DG because the setting knob will no longer engage the

Valid reason.

compass card. The DG is also behind the turns (turned at a rate slower than

Which could be quite normal. Mine, and most others, will at times even
turn the opposite direction. Just a fact of life and physics.

the mag compass). Also, it's pretty old and is probably past it's service
life.

If it still works it's not past a service life as I don't think they
have one.

Roger Halstead (K8RI & ARRL life member)
(N833R, S# CD-2 Worlds oldest Debonair)
www.rogerhalstead.com


Mike


"Dave Butler" wrote in message
news:1140790596.591398@sj-nntpcache-3...
mbremer216 wrote:

I have recently started some instrument training and when doind timed
turns noticed quite a bit of discrepancy between the clock and the
resulting turn (over 20 degrees). While I may not have been spot on in
maintaining the turn rate via the needle & ball, there's no way I was
that sloppy, particularly since the error was similar with turns in both
directions.

I'm just going to change it rather than fix it. Now the challenge is to
find a replacement that won't break the bank.

Rmmmm?

Maybe I'm just confused or you were unclear. This reads as if your timed
turns aren't coming out on the right heading, so you're replacing your
heading indicator. I hope I'm wrong.

Dave