Ovation flap position indicator

[rgpilot]

The electrical flap position indicator in my Ovation has suddenly gone out of adjustment. When flaps are up it shows half flaps. When flaps are down it disappears. Anyone know where the flap electrical position pick-up sensor is located? I guess that it's probably next to the flap limit switches but that's just a guess.

[KSMooniac]

I'm not sure about the electric ones, but the older mechanical style has the wire protruding from the sleeve at the little bulkhead just in front of the flap actuator.  The housing is terminated at the bulkhead, and the wire protrudes aft and is captured in a drilled bolt on the flap deployment mechanism.  If you don't have a parts catalog to search, I'd start at the actuator location and move forward.

[KSMooniac]

I don't have an Ovation parts catalog, but just looked at my J catalog that is probably similar for the last of the J's... there is a potentiometer at the same location I described above with a couple links that drive it, so perhaps something is amiss with the links, or your pot is going bad.  This stuff is in the belly, even with the flaps.

[triple8s]

IIRC (on a 96 ovation) there's a teeny weeny pot in the belly about even with the wing t.e. I'd check it first. I have a manual on my computer at work that may have the resistance range I could check Monday.

[rgpilot]

Thanks for the replies, I start looking there.

[rgpilot]

I found the potentiometer that sends the signal to the indicator. It needed to be exercised and then started to work normally. I was going to spray it with electrical contact cleaner but wasn't sure it would get to where it was needed. Reset it with the help of someone sitting in the cockpit and it's working fine now. You need a small allen wrench and a small open end wrench to remove it.