Question about Mags

[DaV8or]

My Slick mags have reached the 500 hour mark. What do you all do, new mags or do the inspection? My understanding is there is no rebuild option for Slicks? If so, why do all the retailers have a $300 core charge when you buy new???  If you go with the inspection, any recommendations on a provider of the inspection?

 

Thanks again!

[yvesg]

Mine were inspected last annual and my mechanic replaced some parts in one of them. He then fine tuned the timing after install and I noticed an increase in power after that. If I recall right, it was 2 hours extra labor for the annual and the parts... not expensive.

Yves

[carusoam]

Change one at a time to prevent infant mortality mag issues from causing larger engine issues ...?

Or is this an OWT?

I have two new ones on a Factory reman engine. So I'm not following my own advice!

Best regards,

-a-

[MB65E]

Accessory shops will inspect and overhaul them. I like having them overhauled! You know the condition of the mags, and can save some cash by the overhaul. I've had new dead mags out of the box from Aircraft Spruce. Aero accessories in Van Nuys, and RLB accessories in Addison IL are both great shops.

-Matt

[N601RX]

They are rebuildable and parts are available.  The parts for them generally cost more than Bendix parts.  Several years Slick made a throw away mag that was not repairable.  They discontinued it  many years ago and replaced it with the 4300 series which is rebuildable.  You need a few special tools to rebuild one and get everything set back up correctly.

[jetdriven]

parts replacement quickly exceeds the cost of a new magneto.  For example, the 4300 series mags use a #3975 coil which is 327$. The condenser is also ridiculously overpriced.  125$.

 

more info:  http://www.aircraftmagnetoservice.net/id18.html

 

http://www.vansairforce.com/community/showthread.php?t=59938

[Sabremech]

I don't automatically do anything with mine at 500 hours. I run them until there's a problem and then address it. I've experienced mag problems within 7-10 hours after overhaul far too may times to see justification for automatically doing maintenance on them at 500 hours.

 This is just what I do and by no means a recommendation to anyone else. Just something to think about.

 

 David

[rbridges]

I don't automatically do anything with mine at 500 hours. I run them until there's a problem and then address it. I've experienced mag problems within 7-10 hours after overhaul far too may times to see justification for automatically doing maintenance on them at 500 hours.

 This is just what I do and by no means a recommendation to anyone else. Just something to think about.

 

 David

 

I've yet to do one, but it sounds like deciding when to do an engine overhaul.  It seems like having 2 mags, I'd wait until one started acting up before I addressed it.  Someone correct me if that's a bad idea.

[jetdriven]

I think it's a bad idea on slick mags. Bendix are a bit more robust but Slicks always seem to have issues even before 500hr that aren't easily detectable. Sometimes the first sign of a problem is a coil failure which strands the airplane, or impulse coupler failure that sends metal pieces into your accessory gears.

[BigTex]

You could always go the IRAN approach.  Have one of the 2-3 top Mag shops open them up and have a look see.

[Guest]

Any reasonably skilled maintainer with a few tools and a Slick manual should be able to do the 500 hour check of the magnetos.

The breaker point cam in a Slick is prone to wearing out. As this wear takes place the internal timing of the mag and its ability to produce good sparks is compromised.

Among other Slick problems, worn cams and points, failed condensers, worn centre brush, worn or loose distributor centre contact, worn distributor contacts, dirty distributor towers and wire ends.

People are happy to spend $1000 on Gami nozzles in the name of efficiency but won't send the same on checking out the mags.

Clarence

[BigTex]

Any reasonably skilled maintainer with a few tools and a Slick manual should be able to do the 500 hour check of the magnetos.

 

 

Don Maxwell and Mike Busch both send their mags out to folks that specialize in rebuilding mags.  If they send their mags out, I'm doing the same.

[jetdriven]

If your harness is getting old, I bet you can just find a pair of Bendix S200s on eBay for cores, and send them in to get real Bendix mags overhauled for the same cost. I went that route and sold the almost new Slicks for even money. Given the 800$ each cost for new Slicks, I bet you can swap them for even money given the amount you are about to spend. The peace of mind comes from more reliability and indefinite cheap 500-hr inspections.

An earlier discussion. http://mooneyspace.com/topic/4015-mags-bendix-or-slick/

[DaV8or]

So part of the purpose of this thread was to see if anyone out there had personal experience with a mag shop for the inspection, or an overhaul. I got a few names here, but are there any personal experiences?

[BigTex]

I've used Aaron from Select a couple of times and he's done A+ work and he's a super nice guy. Can't say enough nice thing about is work.

[BigTex]

Not to dog pile (in a good way) on Aaron... My right mag was butchered up pretty good by an A&P getting in off and on (another story, another thread).  When I sent it to Aaron to have it repaired, he suggested that I replace the back cover from a long to a short allowing more space to get the mag off and on.  So he dug around in has back room and found an old mag with the short case on it and swapped mine out.  When I got the bill for the IRAN, there wasn't any mention of the cover being replaced... Did me a solid.  Customer for life.

 

His website: http://www.selectaircraft.com/

[kortopates]

I've been using Aero Accessories in Van Nuys, CA for 500 and 100 hr inspections. (Pressurized mags take much more abuse than those used in your NA aircraft) they specialize in mag work and will replace virtually every moving part and re paint and re-time them in 24hrs. You may be close enough to them for one day shipping by normal inexpensive ground service. I am very happy with their service - think it was ~$325 a mag for their 500 hr service. Their parts priced are also much better than what Byron quoted and cheaper than what you'd pay at aircraft spruce. Search for their contact info on other threads with other favorable comments. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Guest]

I've always done my own mags, my 8 cylinder ones have about 100 hours to go till the 500 hour, I'll be doing these as well.

Clarence

[DonMuncy]

+1 for Aaron at Select

[Danb]

I lost my left mag checking it during run-up not at my home base, luckily only an hour drive home. When I checked left mag the engine cut out, I did if a few times, I now understand I should not have done it multiple times but not know why.since I'm incompetent when it comes to mechanics I have a Bravo with Slick Pressurized mags what should I expect the mechanic to yell what needs to be done?

Also how costly is this generally.

[MB65E]

I hope he doesn't yell at you... 

If you have grater than 250 hours on the mags. I would pull both mags and send them off to one of the shops listed in this thread. The reason I say both is I have never seen a turbo engine mag last more than 350hrs. 

I think less than $1500 for everything and you can be flying again. 500 each mag, 500 installed with paperwork. Make sure the standoff gaskets are replaced too. 

-Matt

[Danb]

Matt.thank you, they both were sent out today, I had the 500 hr. Inspection at 477 hrs. and the mags have 625 hrs.on them.

[garytex]

Mags need to be inspected at 500 hrs max. They are delicate, and bite

[Danb]

Thanx, Gary mine were inspected and taken apart with new washers etc.,at 477 hrs by Dmax

They passed the mag check on the ground and 15 minutes later I checked them and the left on went into complete failure thank goodness we have two of them.

 

 

[jetdriven]

We change a dozen Slick mags at the shop  due to outright failure every year. A lot of planes get one this year and another new one the year after. One Cherokee 235 owned by a flight school  wouldn't start. The left mag was bad. We put in a new one, they showed up in a 172 to pick it up and the 172 wouldn't start. A bad left mag. The shop owner's Arrow was in the shop at that time with s bad right slick mag. It was two years old and the left one was replaced last year. The pipeline Maule a friend of mine flies had one quit in flight last week. He was going to proceed to destination then the plane began to shudder and run rough, the other one was failing. Less than 500 hour since new  

How many TCM Bendix failures? Not one in 5 years. Well..

FWIW one of my rebuilt Bendix mags quit 7 hours after I put it on. Kelly QC sucks, the points were stuck closed. We adjusted them and it was ok after that.  It's the only Bendix failure I've seen. 

Maybe when they cause a few crashes and kill some folks then maybe the FAA will take notice  until then it's hundreds of stranded planes and pissed off owners who come to retrieve their plane with a check for 2,000$   

End.rant.

 

Edited October 11, 2015 by jetdriven