Fookz92 Posted March 24, 2018 Report Posted March 24, 2018 I have a Pathfinder P3B Autopilot in the J I purchased recently. Haven't been able to fly it yet due to mx. I am aware this is old school autopilot but it seems that it will work. Is anyone else running such an autopilot still? is there any support for it? Yes I am looking at options to upgrade it to something else. And yes I have been on google with not much help. Quote
N6758N Posted March 24, 2018 Report Posted March 24, 2018 https://trutrakflightsystems.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw7tfVBRB0EiwAiSYGM1w7y9mTSnlBvoabP9pY9Ezy_itXFrFozTteD2by48ypb5ayRnKIKxoC9foQAvD_BwE Fixed it for you... 1 Quote
kerry Posted March 25, 2018 Report Posted March 25, 2018 39 minutes ago, lamont337 said: @kerry is this what you had/have? I have the P2A. The P3B has the altitude hold. Michael Ritterbush can service and repair them. His email is Michael@ritterbush.us Quote
kerry Posted March 25, 2018 Report Posted March 25, 2018 9 hours ago, Fookz92 said: I have a Pathfinder P3B Autopilot in the J I purchased recently. Haven't been able to fly it yet due to mx. I am aware this is old school autopilot but it seems that it will work. Is anyone else running such an autopilot still? is there any support for it? Yes I am looking at options to upgrade it to something else. And yes I have been on google with not much help. If you ever get rid of your P3B let me know. I would like to have it. Quote
Fookz92 Posted March 26, 2018 Author Report Posted March 26, 2018 On 3/24/2018 at 8:40 PM, kerry said: If you ever get rid of your P3B let me know. I would like to have it. On 3/24/2018 at 8:36 PM, kerry said: I have the P2A. The P3B has the altitude hold. Michael Ritterbush can service and repair them. His email is Michael@ritterbush.us I see the altitude hold switch. But I don't have electric trim in my airplane. Would it have its own servo that allows it to maintain the altitude? Quote
kerry Posted March 27, 2018 Report Posted March 27, 2018 The P3B looks to have a trim pitch servo and a separate elevator servo. I have a Astronautics brochure that shows a elevator trim switch in the controller box. 1 Quote
Fookz92 Posted May 11, 2018 Author Report Posted May 11, 2018 I am in search of the supplement to the P3A or P3B system now. Can anyone assist? Quote
LANCECASPER Posted May 11, 2018 Report Posted May 11, 2018 Looks like these guys have one: http://www.2040-parts.com/pathfinder-aircraft-autopilot-pilots-manual-p3a-p3b-i739870/ 1 Quote
LANCECASPER Posted May 11, 2018 Report Posted May 11, 2018 These are more marketing-type materials but may help. 1 Quote
Fookz92 Posted May 13, 2018 Author Report Posted May 13, 2018 On 5/11/2018 at 4:30 PM, LANCECASPER said: These are more marketing-type materials but may help. yes! this does help! thank you so much Quote
Fookz92 Posted December 28, 2018 Author Report Posted December 28, 2018 (edited) I realize this is my old thread and I got the supplement data needed at this time. However, I was mistaken and stated I have the P3B. I actually have the P3A system installed in my aircraft and have never seen the altitude hold work yet! When I turn on the "Master" switch, The trim window points "trim down" immediately. No sound coming from the aft compartment either of any motor running. After getting the airplane into the air, in straight and level trimmed flight, I turn the "Altitude hold" switch on. I get the steady green light. (I read the flashing green light meant it would need trimming) But there is no action and the aircraft will deviate from its altitude. Any clues to what is going on? Id like to salvage this system if I can. Edited December 28, 2018 by Fookz92 Quote
LANCECASPER Posted December 28, 2018 Report Posted December 28, 2018 There must a be a guru on these systems somewhere. It is just a matter of finding out who that is. @Bob Weber do you know these autopilots? 1 Quote
AlexLev Posted December 28, 2018 Report Posted December 28, 2018 I recently had my turn coordinator for the P2A overhauled by Pacific Southwest Instruments (it was too bouncy causing erratic A/P inputs in climb, slight turbulence, etc). My problem now is that the A/P seems to want to overbank, the turn knobs on the turn coordinator just keep turning it instead of stopping at a 10degree bank like it used to. I reached out to my local avionics guy with the manual (that I found on Mooneyspace) and pleading for him to take a look at it. He said he'll get back to me next week after looking through the manual. I hope he can help me adjust the A/P a bit. Quote
Fookz92 Posted January 4, 2019 Author Report Posted January 4, 2019 On 12/28/2018 at 12:00 PM, AlexLev said: I recently had my turn coordinator for the P2A overhauled by Pacific Southwest Instruments (it was too bouncy causing erratic A/P inputs in climb, slight turbulence, etc). My problem now is that the A/P seems to want to overbank, the turn knobs on the turn coordinator just keep turning it instead of stopping at a 10degree bank like it used to. I reached out to my local avionics guy with the manual (that I found on Mooneyspace) and pleading for him to take a look at it. He said he'll get back to me next week after looking through the manual. I hope he can help me adjust the A/P a bit. I have flown my mooney to an avionics shop and a maintenance shop with requests to look into my autopilot. Neither place would touch it or attempt to troubleshoot it Quote
LANCECASPER Posted January 4, 2019 Report Posted January 4, 2019 On 1/3/2019 at 10:00 PM, Fookz92 said: I have flown my mooney to an avionics shop and a maintenance shop with requests to look into my autopilot. Neither place would touch it or attempt to troubleshoot it Which is a good thing. Unless they specialize on the type of autopilot you have, you don't want them going near it. Most of the time someone who adjusts an autopilot that doesn't know that autopilot very well makes it worse. Don't assume that even big name shops know what they are doing. It all comes down to that one person - the autopilot whisperer. Post on Beechtalk and other aviation sites and ask if they know someone who specializes in the Pathfinder autopilot. There must be one or more people who worked on these back in the 70's and 80's that understands them intimately. 1 Quote
LANCECASPER Posted January 22, 2020 Report Posted January 22, 2020 On 1/3/2019 at 10:00 PM, Fookz92 said: I have flown my mooney to an avionics shop and a maintenance shop with requests to look into my autopilot. Neither place would touch it or attempt to troubleshoot it This thread has some Beech owners that seem to know this autopilot well: https://www.beechtalk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=174815 Quote
Dfilipp Posted November 8, 2020 Report Posted November 8, 2020 Check out Ebay as there is a Pathfinder P3B listed complete minus the altitude module rebuilt by G Dulin in the last few years. Good for parts or service. Quote
carusoam Posted November 8, 2020 Report Posted November 8, 2020 Welcome aboard Dfilipp Best regards, -a- Quote
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