Riveted avionics stack removal

[TheTurtle]

I bit the bullet and got a GTX345.  Shop called back and said my avionics stacks is riveted in and replacing the transponder just went from 15 to 30 hours labor.  They said they have no problem with owner assist.  Theyll give me the tray and i can install it.

My transponder is above my INOP ADF. 

Any body got any tips on removing the AT50A TSO tray?  what else has to come out to get to what I need to get to.  Are airplane rivets the same as any other rivet and I just have to drill them out?  What about metal shavings? 

Im thinking Ill remove the ADF head unit while Im there.  Ill remove the CDI for it at some other time.

 

[markejackson02]

Fifteen hours to drill out rivets?  That seems a bit much.  I drill them out all the time on the RV-8.

Is there more to this than the trays and rack being riveted in place?

Get a good sharp punch, make a dimple on the rivet head or enlarge the preexisting dimple.  Then drill slowly.  Use BoLube or kerosene to lubricate the drill bit.  Easy peasy.

 

[TheTurtle]

Just now, markejackson02 said:

Fifteen hours to drill out rivets?  That seems a bit much.  I drill them out all the time on the RV-8.

Is there more to this than the trays and rack being riveted in place?

Get a good sharp punch, make a dimple on the rivet head or enlarge the preexisting dimple.  Then drill slowly.  Use BoLube or kerosene to lubricate the drill bit.  Easy peasy.

 

as far as I know its just removing the stack that is the issue.  He quoted me 15 hours for the install and install of the GPS antenna etc.  Then had his guy go check it out for the real paper quote.  found it was riveted and then called me and said 30hours.  I laughed at him.  But as I look at it and ive seen whats back there with the rats nest of wires Im wondering what they think is 15 hours worth of additional work. 

[cctsurf]

If you're in there, removing the adf cdi shouldn't be much more problem.  It's not like there will be wires going anywhere else than the adf.  Unscrew it and pull the wires...  Otherwise you have more unused wires in the way.

Just sayin'

[TheTurtle]

Just now, cctsurf said:

If you're in there, removing the adf cdi shouldn't be much more problem.  It's not like there will be wires going anywhere else than the adf.  Unscrew it and pull the wires...  Otherwise you have more unused wires in the way.

Just sayin'

makes sense its just that the CDI is all the way on the other side of the panel beside the fuel pump switch and theres 200 zip ties on the wires   Ill see what I can do though.

[cctsurf]

That does tend to be a problem...  I'm just always in favor of cleaning up..  Adds 1/2 of an hour while you're in there, but you only have to fill out 1 337 form...  BTW, we should be able to convince you that you need a whole, new, all glass panel for this small change too, right....   That's what Mooneyspace is all about..

Edited November 11, 2016 by cctsurf
added "all glass"

[TheTurtle]

Just now, cctsurf said:

That does tend to be a problem...  I'm just always in favor of cleaning up..  Adds 1/2 of an hour while you're in there, but you only have to fill out 1 337 form...  BTW, we should be able to convince you that you need a whole new panel for this small change too, right....   That's what Mooneyspace is all about..

oh im already convinced.  My wife not so much.  Cant believe she went for the 6k upgrade...

[Yetti]

Does not take 15 hours more. some people might even replace the panel Phillips with cap head Allen so next time it is easier

[TheTurtle]

15 hours?   No rivets that I could find.  4 screws and 2 nuts and the old tray came out.  new tray slides right in.  If I knew which way was up on the new tray I would screw it in and she'll be ready for the new unit...

I went b the avionics shop just to take a look at this tray I was going to have to drill rivets to install.  He just gave me the tray and said good luck, take your time.  Took me 3ish hours and thats mainly because I couldnt find my short screwdrivers in this disaster of a hangar.

Now hopefully this was all the problem was.  And theres not some other rivets somewhere that have to be removed???

Bonus points if anybody knows which side is up in the third picture.  I havent looked up the gxp345 install manual yet.

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 2016 by TheTurtle

[gsxrpilot]

2 hours ago, TheTurtle said:

15 hours?   No rivets that I could find.  4 screws and 2 nuts and the old tray came out.  new tray slides right in.  

Now I'm suspicious of the avionics shop. I'd be wondering what else they've NOT actually looked at and if they actually know what they're doing.

[TheTurtle]

Just now, gsxrpilot said:

Now I'm suspicious of the avionics shop. I'd be wondering what else they've NOT actually looked at and if they actually know what they're doing.

Its Western Avionics at SNA.  They arent known for being cheap...  But they are fairly well liked around here as far as quality.  I called the sales guy after I put the new tray in but he was gone for the weekend.  Im wondering if he sent the tech out to the wrong plane or something.  At this point Im not inclined to think he was going to just add 15 hours to my bill.  He knew I was pushing my budget already so it would have been a lost sale if I wasnt hands on type guy.  And he was very quick to allow me to do as much owner assist as I wanted.  Even letting me take the tray without an actual purchase being made.

[ArtVandelay]

My avionics shop had to fabricate a new stack, the old stack was like swiss cheese, I think they quoted 10 hrs.

[Guest]

Later model Mooney radio were riveted to a rack, the rack was then attached to the panel.  I'm guessing the avionics shop may not be familiar with older Mooney models.

Clarence

[N601RX]

I would not install the trays with nuts.  Take a little extra time and put rivet nuts in the holes or use nutplates. 

[Pictreed]

I've been an aircraft owner for less than a year but here's what my shop charged. 

Install GPS, new transponder, new Nav/Com 2, ads-b in box, at least 2 new antennae, new cable for GPS, all new wiring for the equipment he installed along with an updated fuse panel and avionics master switch, relocate instruments to standard 6- pack within existing panel, new PTT buttons, and a new cable on one of the Com antennae.  Total price was $6k. Time was about a month (waiting on Garmin Nav/Com 2 to come in added some time). 

[macosxuser]

That 30 hrs may include disassembling the interior, REMOVING and replacing transponder wiring, replacing antennas and antenna wire (Garmin likely specs RG400 or RG142 for the new antenna wire), and reinstalling everything. Yeah, almost anyone can chop wires and pull a tray, but some shops won't leave the old stuff in there to fester. I know I much prefer working on a panel that has only active wires in it over the ones with remnants of 3 avionics installations zip tied all over the place. Just saying.

I know I would expect to pay about 3-4k for that install, and would charge that if I was doing it for a customer.