MooneyBob Posted March 2, 2014 Report Posted March 2, 2014 My Cenruty IIB autopilot didn't work today for some reason. It worked few days ago. After I landed I try it again without engine running and could hear in the quiet hangar environment that servo is moving as I turned the roll knob. It looks like the clutch doesn't engage or something. There is no resistance on the yoke. Is there any way to check it out? Quote
Steve Dawson Posted March 3, 2014 Report Posted March 3, 2014 Very similar thing happened to my century IIB. Had our local avionics shop take it out and send it away to Autopilot Central. It was $2500 including labour to remove and reinstall but it's worked perfect since. 1 Quote
N201MKTurbo Posted March 3, 2014 Report Posted March 3, 2014 Not to hard to troubleshoot. The problem is probably in the wiring or the disconnect relay. Sending the whole thing out seems like using a sledge hammer when all it takes is a pair of tweezers. 1 Quote
jetdriven Posted March 3, 2014 Report Posted March 3, 2014 Just outboard of the aileron pushrod on the left wing, the roll servo lives under the inspection panel. The servo has a short 6" lead and it has a blue connector that goes back to the computer. Two wires are servo +/- 12v, and the other two are servo clutch +/- Have a partner roll the roll knob left and right in roll mode and try to wiggle that connector and see if the clutch comes alive. If the servo is running and the clutch definately is not engaging (as opposed to slipping from corrosion x) check all the other blue connectors between the servo and the console. Start there it's cheap. 1 Quote
MooneyBob Posted March 3, 2014 Author Report Posted March 3, 2014 Just outboard of the aileron pushrod on the left wing, the roll servo lives under the inspection panel. The servo has a short 6" lead and it has a blue connector that goes back to the computer. Two wires are servo +/- 12v, and the other two are servo clutch +/- Have a partner roll the roll knob left and right in roll mode and try to wiggle that connector and see if the clutch comes alive. If the servo is running and the clutch definately is not engaging (as opposed to slipping from corrosion x) check all the other blue connectors between the servo and the console. Start there it's cheap. Thank you very much. That's what I was about to ask. Where is the servo? I am an electronic engineer so I should be able to troubleshoot it. I found some schematics on line too. Thanks. Quote
jetdriven Posted March 3, 2014 Report Posted March 3, 2014 It's outboard of the left aileron pushrod under an inspection panel. It works on the aileron bellcrank but its actually outboard of the bellcrank. Quote
OR75 Posted March 3, 2014 Report Posted March 3, 2014 one more thing you may want to check: the CIIB " cannon style" connectors are knows to loose electric contact. disconnect the connectors and make sure the copper jaws inside each pin are not too separated to make electric contact. you will see what i mean when you look at them Quote
jetdriven Posted March 3, 2014 Report Posted March 3, 2014 You squeeze the split female pins together to make better contact. Yu can also replace them with solid female pin connectors if they keep giving trouble. Quote
John Pleisse Posted March 3, 2014 Report Posted March 3, 2014 Connectors on AI...or corrosion in mother board. Servor should be easier and more immediate to troubleshoot. Quote
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