Aerodon

I've like dinitrol for exterior parts like my floatplane rudders, fittings, hinges etc. It provides a 'dryish' layer onto all the alodined parts and bolts for a little more protection. I would not use it inside the fuselage or wings, because all you are doing is sealing moisture into seams, pits, hard to get places. ACF50 gets in everywhere and displaces water, just what you need it to do. If it bleeds out, or shows loose rivets, I can live with that. Don

JPI do not use the best quality pins and connectors - I far prefer the barrel style crimp pins than the tape style. But I guess when there are so many on each set, they do not want to spend so much. I would definitely look at the connectors on the back of the 900, see if any pins have pushed out of the connector. Don

And don't do it if you ever have any intention of painting the plane in th next 5 years. It gets into every seam, and starts to bleed out. I live with the grime that accumulates, because it is far better than water seeping into the seems. Don

Don, I have spare transducers, send me an email to Supercub180@gmail.com. But I would be concerned if you have two transducers in series in your plane - the JPI can 'piggy back' of a shading transducer, and I'm sure with the hoskins too. Somewhere, I have a diagram, showing how to diode the one that is not providing the power. Don

Try cleaning, but don't blow. You can 'overspeed' and destroy the bearing quite quickly without fuel lubrication and cooling.

I'm usually a fan of backward leaning registrations, but I have to say I would like to see a vertical version to align with the fin? Don

So now the Garmin G5 is certified, hopefully they will actually start shipping. I wonder if Sandia will change their pricing? Don

Paul, several members have installed EDM900's. Post a picture of your panel - lets see if it will fit. If you can put it on the pilots side, then the EDM900 is great. If you are in the second radio column, it will work, but on the far side its getting a bit small, Don

Peewee, I've used JPI gasket probes for years, they have a little diagonal support for the wire. The last set lasted 800 hours, the support breaks first, then the wires break off. I'll go compare them to the EI probe. Where are yours failing? I have some new surplus GEM CHT probes for you, send me an email to supercub180@gmail.com Don

Klystron, Just saying...as a multiple repeat offender buying planes. You need to do a side by side comparison with that other Mooney. Its listed at $80k, so don't be surprised if you could get it for $72-75 and it may be a way better deal? Just looking at the controls and avionics of N241RC - its had a lot of heat and moisture to end up like that. Don't be surprised if you have corrosion issues. Lost logbooks make it hard to sell, even with a discount. Paint? Engine and propeller times? Generally, and a must say I'm generalizing, you can buy plane A.) for $60k, and easily spend $20k on abnormal maintenance items in the first 5 years. And it might still be worth $60k. Or you can buy plane B.) for $80k, and have $5k of abnormal maintenance, or buy plane C.) for $100k and have no abnormal maintenance. I would look at your exit strategy - is this a buy and hold for 10 years? What will it look like in 10 years? Need a paint job in between? Engine overhaul, avionics upgrade etc? Almost always you are better off stretching you budget, getting finance and buying something really nice. Then you use it for 10 years, look after it and still have something good to sell. Alternatively (and I have done this), buy a plane that is fundamentally good and needs paint, interior, engine, etc. and budget accordingly. They are out there, but it is hard to find one that is priced accordingly, and even harder to find one that is fundamentally sound. I have done far better buying planes that have excellent original paint and interior. The 1980 C172 I had is still at the local airport and has good original paint and interior. That's 36 years old, and will still be good in 5 years time. The visible inside condition is a reflection of what you will see when you open up any inspection panel. And finally, if going from $60k to $80k is beyond your means, perhaps neither is the plane for you. A single engine retractible plane with a lot of avionics can eat money like there is no tomorrow. Heck, even good C172's can end up with $5k annual inspection costs. A carb overhaul is $1k, starter $500, alternator, magnetos, gear pucks, tank reseal etc. A seller will have deferred all these items (consciously or subconsciously), and it takes a while for things to settle down for a buyer. Regards, Aerodon

I have several EDM800's if you would rather put the 'repair money' towards an upgrade. Can add fuel flow, MP, OP, OAT, OT, % Power and get all the features of an EDM830. Can also upgrade to the EDM830 if you want. Don supercub180@gmail.com

Navworx, and I have one for you, Don

Cyril, Post a picture of your panel please? I'd be tempted to install a gns430 and a sandel HSI ? They are really good value for money, add a nice moving map with all the airspace boundaries, and a bunch of other features. The footprint is the same as the nsd360, saving a lot on installation costs. But I looked at other m20f's, and you probably have an older audio panel and maybe no GPS? So the scope creep starts, and before you know it you are at 15k, Don

Hah, a CAD operator who is afraid of facing the reality of his own work? I've got a CNC machine and am slowly working through my way of making a C172 panel. The cutting and materials are relatively inexpensive - the hardest part of the learning curve has been the design. The perimeter and mounting holes were correct on the first cut. Then you find that Mfg's drawings are not accurate enough. Then individual instruments have their quirks. Then interference between the instruments behind the panel, and between the instruments and existing stuff. If you have a bit of time on this and are able to do the drawings, I can cut them for you several times over until we have a workable panel? Don (supercub180@gmail.com)

Bump, JPI rebates are over, but I have 1 new system in stock ready for shipping, Don supercub180@gmail.com

We're supposed to be a bunch of smart people, but it always amazes me of the amount of ignorance and illogical thinking. I have done a lot of work on remnant life assessment, life cycle costing and reliability based maintenance. Maybe this biases my outlook, but the same principles apply to airframes, engines, avionics, paint, hoses etc. Everything ages, wears out, depreciates, just at different rates. I think avionics do pretty well in comparison to other electronics like TV's and computers. I don't see any 5 year old computers worth turning on in my house, even if they do still work. And i'm not going to throw $1000 flat rate repair on my 5 year old Macbook - money better spent on a new one. Frustrating for sure, but at least I don't have to pay a $5000 installation fee like new avionics. I don't have one, but a G430 is amazing. How many electronic products out there that were in production for around 15 years an then still have 10 years of ongoing support? And sure, we're probably in the last 5 years of this support, so plan accordingly. I look at it like this: 1) Use straight line depreciation over 20 years and plan and price accordingly. 2) I would pay top dollar for a 5 year old unit, and almost nothing for a 20. Cross your fingers with the 5 year old unit, budget a factory update for a 20 year old unit (almost better, because your now have an almost new unit)? 3) It amazes me that the market pricing has very little differential for new and old units, yet we wouldn't do this with cars, TV's, computers etc? Uneducated or unrealistic buyers, bonus for sellers. I have taken advantage of this, bought nearly new SL30's and sold perfectly good but 15 year old ones for not much less. Full disclosure on the age and status, but huge difference in 'remnant life'. 4) And there are avionics that have been used for thousands of hours and parked in the sun, vs. others that have done 500 hours and parked in a hangar. Once again, pay a premium for something nice and you have way less risk. 5) Yes, its frustrating when you get to the sunset years of many avionics items, but you can still find good 35 year old Cessna RT385 radios for a slide in replacement for less than the repair cost. Same for KX155's, G430's GX50's etc. 6) when that all runs out, at least there is a nice plug and play solution like Avidyne for 430/530 users. 7) support the manufacturers that have better long term customer support. I look after my equipment, hangared, not used very much, never any broken knobs, scratched screens etc. So I hate flat rate repairs. Flying schools on the other hand love them? Excuse me if I'm rambling... Aerodon

I have a couple of these on the shelf from trades. The EDM800 is probably one of the most underrated engine monitors, it has everything you need in a compact panel space. Assuming you already have an EDM700 with FF and OAT, this is all you need to upgrade to an EDM800 with % Power, RPM, MP etc. EDM800 'Head' with MP sensor, RPM sensor and MP/RPM harness $800 outright, might take your 700 in trade. And I have enough new parts on the shelf to build this up into a complete new system. Aerodon, supercub180@gmail.com

Hi Guys, I sold this EDM700 with Fuel Flow and the USB pigtail (download data straight to a USB stick, then carry to your computer) and have recently taken it back in trade on an EDM900 system (lesson there?). This would make a really nice upgrade for someone who needs fuel flow, or just the USB option. Or I can build it up to a complete 4 or 6 cylinder system with new probes, harnesses and transducers? EDM700 with FF and USB, no transducers or wiring $500 EDM700 with FF, USB, new FF transducer and FF harness $800 Don supercub180@gmail.com

Hate to be a spoiler, but i think there are limitations or at least recommendations on how close GPS antennas can be? Don

I've got two Apollo SL15's (Same as PS7000MS) with marker beacon, stereo and relatively intact harnesses, send me an email to supercub180@gmail.com, Thanks, Don

Windshields are not that expensive in comparison to the labor to install. And they are one of the more perishable items on a plane, much higher risk of a second hand screen cracking during removal or reinstallation. The get scratched and age, its one of the items I cringe where I see one for resale - I would not do it. Don

No, the KI208 or 209 won't work with the GX65. There are some mid continent indicators with annunciators required for IFR enroute. Or something like a KI206, MD200, or collins IND350/351. The GX60 had vertical deviation, coupled to the 'descent assist' mode. Don