Greg_D Posted January 24, 2015 Report Posted January 24, 2015 My #2 Nav/Comm radio bit the dust today. Does anyone know the common mode of failure for these things? It powered up for a few minutes, then wouldn't come back on. I'm guessing it's maybe a power supply issue. I was also wondering if either the KX-165 or KX-155A are direct replacements that can be used with the same tray. And last, does anyone know a reputable place to get these repaired or swapped at a reasonable cost? Quote
N601RX Posted January 25, 2015 Report Posted January 25, 2015 Is it completely dead, or just the display go out? I thought mine had completely quit last year, but then pulled the squelch and realized just the display was out. There was a internal fuse blown and a transistor in the hi voltage power supply to the display shorted. Quote
Bob_Belville Posted January 25, 2015 Report Posted January 25, 2015 Greg, the KX155 has a very good reputation as a solid nav/comm. (When I redid my panel I kept only the KX 155 as the #2 nav/comm and a stormscope.) The KX 155A doesn't have GS, the KX 165 has 760 channels instead of 720 and an internal VOR/LOC convertor to directly drive a King HSI . Bennett gets $2900 for a "serviceable" 155 w GS so that would be the upper limit of what you can expect to pay if it is beyond repair but I would assume it is repairable. Where are you located? Quote
Aerodon Posted January 25, 2015 Report Posted January 25, 2015 My #2 Nav/Comm radio bit the dust today. Does anyone know the common mode of failure for these things? It powered up for a few minutes, then wouldn't come back on. I'm guessing it's maybe a power supply issue. I was also wondering if either the KX-165 or KX-155A are direct replacements that can be used with the same tray. And last, does anyone know a reputable place to get these repaired or swapped at a reasonable cost? Greg 14 or 28V? A KX155A is almost a slide in replacement for a KX155, but is 28V only. IIRC, there is one wire that needs to be checked and removed if installed. It was for something obscure, so not likely to be installed. A KX165 is not the same, uses a different indicator. (KI206 vs KI206/KI204). It is possible to change indicators and a bit of wiring and make it work. The KX155/165 are much more repairable in the field, find someone who has a good stock of parts and get yours fixed. 14V KX155's are still very popular, so yours is worth fixing. I have a 28V version for you if interested. Don supercub180@gmail.com Quote
KSMooniac Posted January 25, 2015 Report Posted January 25, 2015 I know my local shop (Bevan-Rabell) will fix them on the bench if you cannot find a closer option. You can likely ship it to them, or if not, ship it to me and I'll drop it off. Quote
Bob_Belville Posted January 25, 2015 Report Posted January 25, 2015 I know my local shop (Bevan-Rabell) will fix them on the bench if you cannot find a closer option. You can likely ship it to them, or if not, ship it to me and I'll drop it off. My avionics shop sent my old KNS80 to B-R. Well regarded. 1 Quote
Greg_D Posted January 25, 2015 Author Report Posted January 25, 2015 The radio is the 28V version, with GS. It's completely dead, not just the display. I was taxiing at a very busy airport and noticed the ground frequency was very quiet. I tried pulling the squelch, thinking it might be a display problem. No such luck. Don, does yours have the GS and how much are you looking to get for it? Quote
flyboy0681 Posted January 28, 2015 Report Posted January 28, 2015 Nobody mentioned the best feature of the KX165 - it's digital display of which radial you are on. Great feature for VOR approaches. 2 Quote
Greg_D Posted January 28, 2015 Author Report Posted January 28, 2015 I just got back from the avionics shop. They said they have seen a large number of KX-155s that were made in China fail over the last 2-3 years. Apparently some of the capacitors leak on them and corrode the circuit boards to a point where they are unrepairable. They will be looking at mine to see if this is the case here. They showed me stickers from units that Bevan-Rabell had repaired over the last year or so. Those radios had stickers on them that stated Bevan-Rabell did not provide any warranty due to the leaky capacitor issue. Their recommended solution was to install a new radio. Go figure! Quote
Lood Posted January 29, 2015 Report Posted January 29, 2015 After having my KX155 fixed in the shop three times, I just chucked it away and bought a brand new radio. The KX1xx radio's are very good, but I don't think they're worth throwing money after. It just seems that there are other options available at reasonable prices, which makes more sense, to me. Quote
cujet Posted January 31, 2015 Report Posted January 31, 2015 I just got back from the avionics shop. They said they have seen a large number of KX-155s that were made in China fail over the last 2-3 years. Apparently some of the capacitors leak on them and corrode the circuit boards to a point where they are unrepairable. They will be looking at mine to see if this is the case here. They showed me stickers from units that Bevan-Rabell had repaired over the last year or so. Those radios had stickers on them that stated Bevan-Rabell did not provide any warranty due to the leaky capacitor issue. Their recommended solution was to install a new radio. Go figure! Do you know that your radio is one of the series that is prone to capacitor failure? Also, can you be sure the circuit board is ruined. I suggest finding a shop that actually repairs these radio's regularly, send it in and let them evaluate it. Also, since it's broken anyway, why not take a look inside to see if you can determine it's actual condition. The KX155 is a great radio. I'll differ with your avionics shop and say that most of them are repairable for a modest cost. I'll also differ with the post above. The KX155 is often worth fixing. As they have top notch transmit power, excellent reception, and among the very best audio in both transmit and receive. Other radio options are often not repairable at local avionics shops either. My 430, for example, needs a screen repair. $4500 minimum charge, as mine is non WAAS, and must be upgraded. My point being that other options are not always better or cheaper in the long run. Quote
Tmack1 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Posted January 31, 2015 Just had my #1 kx155 repaired and they were able to fix it for 250 bucks a lot cheaper then a new radio alway worth checking a good repair shop Quote
Tmack1 Posted January 31, 2015 Report Posted January 31, 2015 Of corse they conned me into a 400w while I was there too lol Quote
John Pleisse Posted January 31, 2015 Report Posted January 31, 2015 Some years back, I sent mine to King, had it refaced, repaired, bench checked and yellow tagged for about $700. I looked and worked like a brand new radio. It has worked perfectly since. 1 Quote
Greg_D Posted March 17, 2015 Author Report Posted March 17, 2015 I thought I would post the outcome with the radio. After keeping the radio in the shop for about a month and never calling me, I decided to swing by after work and pay them a visit. I just told them I wanted the radio back. It took them about 10 minutes to find it and when it was brought out, the gal just said that it couldn't be repaired because it was too old. I collected the radio and departed. A week earlier, I bought one off eBay for $350 shipped. It turned out to be one of the older models that doesn't have the leaky capacitor issue. It slid right in the rack and works like a champ. About a week after picking up my radio, the shop called to tell me they had my radio and wanted to discuss repair options or return it to me. I should have known better than to use these guys based on the experience I had with them repairing my autopilot a few years ago. Quote
carqwik Posted March 17, 2015 Report Posted March 17, 2015 Can someone else verify that some B/K radios were manufactured in China and that those are prone to failure due to leaky capacitors? Somehow I would think that all of the circuit boards for B/K radios would come from a common source... This is interesting to me (if this is true) as it is somewhat obtusely related to something at work about Chinese manufacturing... Please PM me if you know something more detailed about these radios and the specific problem mentioned. Thanks. Quote
Shadrach Posted March 17, 2015 Report Posted March 17, 2015 The KX155 is a great radio. I'll differ with your avionics shop and say that most of them are repairable for a modest cost. I'll also differ with the post above. The KX155 is often worth fixing. As they have top notch transmit power, excellent reception, and among the very best audio in both transmit and receive. Other radio options are often not repairable at local avionics shops either. My 430, for example, needs a screen repair. $4500 minimum charge, as mine is non WAAS, and must be upgraded. My point being that other options are not always better or cheaper in the long run. ^^^^This! I have 2 KX165s that were built in the mid 80s. They are fantastic radios, great transmit power. They are the same as the 155 save for the "the pull to see radial" feature which is really quite nice! Quote
N601RX Posted March 17, 2015 Report Posted March 17, 2015 The techs that are capable of doing component level repairs have been slowly retiring and are being replaced by installers who know nothing about component level stuff. I have a few of the king repair manuals if anyone ever needs a copy of a page or two from one of them. Quote
M20F Posted March 18, 2015 Report Posted March 18, 2015 Nobody mentioned the best feature of the KX165 - it's digital display of which radial you are on. Great feature for VOR approaches. The best feature of a decent GPS is you don't have to fly VOR approaches ;-) 1 Quote
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