500 hour mag "inspection"

[FlyDave]

We had the 500 hour inspection in 2015 and per the logbook entry they were cleaned, adjusted and test stand operated OK. Nothing was replaced. My mags now have ~630 hours since new and no replaced parts.

The job is called a 500 hour mag "inspection". But what is the groups general consensus for the 500 hour "inspection"? Do you have all the parts replaced or just IRAN'ed?

Also, what are your thoughts on rebuilt mags? Is a points kit the same thing? Is a rebuilt mag as good as a new mag?

[ArtVandelay]

My 500 hour inspection  log entry includes new points. (Slick, but they had over 1000 hours on them).

[DaV8or]

I recently had it done and chose to just IRAN instead of rebuild. I suppose rebuilding is better if you want to spend the money, but by how much is nearly impossible to know.

[mike_elliott]

On your Bravo, I would have all the wear plastic parts replaced in a Slick mag, Dave. The heat makes these parts subject to failure, and may have played a role in more than one accident.

[cnoe]

My 500 "inspection" was a complete IRAN which included new bearings, points, carbon brushes, etc.

But then I'm flying behind a Bendix dual-mag and cut NO CORNERS when it comes to magneto maintenance. I recall spending a little under $800 for the (near-overhaul) service in 2015.

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[StevenL757]

Agree with Dav8or, Mike and cnoe...each situation is unique, so if your inspection reveals only the need to adjust, clean, and test to sign back into service for another ~500 hours, then there's really no reason to do anything else.

Equally, given your magnetos' importance versus inspection/repair costs (compared to repairs/replacements for less-critical parts), common sense should prevail.  If your 500-hour IRAN suggests replacing vulnerable and problematic parts, please take care of it now...don't wait.  Appreciate we're dealing with mechanical devices that do break, but prefer not to read about any incidents due to any of us not spending a few extra dollars to mitigate risk.

Steve

[Browncbr1]

Do yourself a favor and just send your mags to a mag shop.  Don't bother with Kelley "overhauled" mags.  They will ship you garbage.  

Make sure you receive the same serial number mags back after a mag shop opens up your mags and irans. 

 

[Guest Mike261]

i got new mags at the 500 a few months ago. was about the same as having them serviced

mike

[Danb]

Having a Bravo I sent mine out to a reputable mag shop for a rebuild, my decision was a rebuild or acquire new, we build up quite a bit of heat in the flight levels hard on the mags, they in a way our our lifeline

[StevenL757]

Absolutely.

[ArtVandelay]

1 hour ago, Mike261 said:

i got new mags at the 500 a few months ago. was about the same as having them serviced

mike

My 500 service cost 1/4 of what new ones would cost:  and most of that was labour.  The benefit of just servicing your own mags is that you have a proven part, my Slicks are from the 90s before they started having problems, I wouldn't want to get a new one.  When time comes to do a overhaul, I'll replace with new Bendix.

[FlyDave]

8 hours ago, mike_elliott said:

On your Bravo, I would have all the wear plastic parts replaced in a Slick mag, Dave. The heat makes these parts subject to failure, and may have played a role in more than one accident.

Yeah, I agree Mike. I'm having him rebuild them this week.

[kortopates]

There is really no such thing as a "rebuild" there is a 500 hr inspection which is an IRAN that if sent to a mag specialty repair station will include replacing all seals and virtually all moving parts and re-magnetizing the rotor, re-painting etc. Done in the field you'll generally get very little done because there is no specified list of replacement parts for the 500 hr IRAN; maybe just new points. So choose wisely who you use. The convenience of using your shop for the annual may not be the best option for your mags. The other option is an overhaul which isn't required till the engine is overhauled and then all parts listed by the manufacturer must be replaced.

If you fly with pressurized mags take the 500 hr inspection very seriously; especially if you fly much IFR which the typical pressurized mag pilot does.

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[Seth]

I'm following this thread closely as my Mags are nearing 500 hours.

Thanks for all the good information.  I'll heavily weigh in on what my MSC recommends shop wise, but has anyone had good luck with any shops in the Mid Atlanic region?

 

-Seth

[buddy]

I had a mag failure in my m20r and found that a lot of teeth were missing on the plastic gear, I had the mag shop replace the gear in the other mag also.

[N601RX]

Be aware if purchasing a overhauled Slick mag from Kelley.  They have developed their own faa approved overhaul procedure and are using it instead of the slick manual.  Many of the parts the slick manual say replace are being reused.  There is a reason why the price is so much cheaper. 

[LANCECASPER]

21 hours ago, Danb said:

Having a Bravo I sent mine out to a reputable mag shop for a rebuild, my decision was a rebuild or acquire new, we build up quite a bit of heat in the flight levels hard on the mags, they in a way our our lifeline

Do you remember which shop you used?

[carusoam]

The plastic gears may have a limited life.  If they are nylon, they can become brittle over time in the environment they are in.

A similar occurrence happens with pop-up headlights.  The teeth fail. 20 years would be a long time for nylon gears.  Who decided to put plastic gears in a hot, possibly ozone rich, environment..?

plastic Guy's experience, not a mechanic...

Best regards,

-a-

[Danb]

2 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

Do you remember which shop you used?

 

2 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

Do you remember which shop you used?

I'll look it up it was earlier this year

[bradp]

Call D Max and ask him who he uses.  Use them. 

[Mcstealth]

Ask Maxwell or Dugosh who they recommend.

[peevee]

ours are bendix pressure mags. one failed on me at about 600 hours, I think it was about 1AMU per mag for overhaul. maybe 900 each

Edited September 7, 2016 by peevee

[1524J]

Select Aircraft Service is who I used to rebuild my dual mag. Excellent service!

[Danb]

Hey Lance they both went to Quality Aircraft Accessories, and rebuilt I never read the invoice and didn't realize both were rebuilt. Total charge from Quality was $2,173.86, I guess that's high??

[LANCECASPER]

Thanks for looking that up. I had a horrible experience with QAA and in my opinion they don't have a clue. I'm sure others have had good experiences with them. 

Yeah $2173.86 seems high since brand new Slick Mags from Aircraft Spruce would be $2034.84 (the core charge would be refunded when the old ones were sent back). But you might be better off with yours rebuilt than the new ones coming from Slick. Plus your total probably included shipping both directions.

I put a new right mag on at last annual and I think I'll have the left mag rebuilt at the next annual, probably at Select Aircraft Services.