Speedbrake - Electrical Connection

[carqwik]

Ok, my left speedbrake failed on test during taxi out a few weeks ago...it would kind of pop up a bit in rapid cycling...maybe less than an inch.  Removed the speedbrake and shipped it off to Precise Flight Inc for repair.  Basically they did a rebuild ($1 AMU) and sent it back.  Now the fun part...couldn't get the "cannon plug" to fit back onto the female end in the airplane.  Tried for an hour...called my wiz mechanic buddy...he tried and no luck.  We did get the pins to align with the holes on the female side and even tested that the speedbrake worked...but it's far from seated properly.  WTF...??

Called Precise Flight...said it's the same part they've always used.  (It's a replacement motor and harness.)  Doesn't fit at all with the female connector...took pics and sent it to them and now waiting for the main tech to get back on Wednesday.

Anyone ever encountered an oddity like this?

[carusoam]

Any indications of damage to the part? Scars, out of round, broken pins, plugged hole or anything like that?

Sounds like PF got a bad plug on the new one...

they probably bought a bunch of them at the same time.

Their response should be an interesting supply chain answer.  

Best regards,

-a-

[gsxrpilot]

I think it's terrible that you should be treated this way by Precise Flight.  You should rip out the whole system and send it to me. I'll send you a fully functional vacuum operated set of speed brakes along with all the vacuum lines and an electrically operated vacuum pump you can mount in the tail, in return. 

 then I can finally be through with my vacuum system.

[Bob_Belville]

2 hours ago, gsxrpilot said:

I think it's terrible that you should be treated this way by Precise Flight.  You should rip out the whole system and send it to me. I'll send you a fully functional vacuum operated set of speed brakes along with all the vacuum lines and an electrically operated vacuum pump you can mount in the tail, in return. 

 then I can finally be through with my vacuum system.

Well, I'm not swapping out my fully mechanical (no stinking electricity, no stinking vacuum, no stinking hydraulic) PF Speed Brakes no matter how slick the Texan salesman talks.

[peevee]

IIRC they're just a 3 wire molex pin on our precise flight brakes. Post your pics.

[gsxrpilot]

2 hours ago, Bob_Belville said:

Well, I'm not swapping out my fully mechanical (no stinking electricity, no stinking vacuum, no stinking hydraulic) PF Speed Brakes no matter how slick the Texan salesman talks.

#Envious #manualgear #manualspeedbrakes

[carqwik]

Pics of male and female end.  The male end is the new connector after repair of the speedbrake...the female end is the one in the plane.

[Bob_Belville]

The ends seem to match - the bosses have the same pattern. Looks like it ought to fit.

Have you checked all the holes with a pin? Could there be something blocking one or more holes? Are the new pins fatter? Or bent?

[carqwik]

Thanks Bob.  It's possible that the "screw on" part of the female plug needs to be pushed down in order to seat the connection.  That might be the problem...although I do recall trying to get it further down and it wouldn't go....??

[carqwik]

Update...I think I got it now.  The problem seems to be that the "nut tightening" piece was interfering with my ability to get the connection tight.  So  I "jiggled" the nut part a bit while pressing in the male end into the female end.  Third attempt and I got it to seat properly (I think).  Tightened the "nut piece" about half a turn and done...

Tested the speedbrakes and now both work!

 

Edited July 4, 2017 by carqwik

[moxfox]

I had the same problem with one of these plug like that out on the wing tip that goes to the strobe & nav lights . They can be a real mother. Glad you got it!

Edited July 18, 2017 by moxfox
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[thinwing]

As you discovered those amp plugs require a 1/8 to 1/4 turn to lock