tim417 Posted February 27, 2022 Report Posted February 27, 2022 Well, my KX155 gave up the ghost quickly and suddenly. Avionics shop says it needs to go out for full bench test but likely internal amplifier is fried. Depending on the repair estimate, I am considering my options. It seems like folly to pay today’s asking prices for a used 14V KX155 w/ Glideslope only to risk having it go bad just like this one. I am eyeballing the Garmin GNC 255 but between the cost of the unit and installation I am north of $7k. Lastly, while my radio is out and I am contemplating how to spend my retirement savings, is there anyone who knows of a shop or individual who might be willing to rent me a spare KX155 (14V) so I can fly this thing with more than one radio? Thanks in advance, Tim
carusoam Posted February 27, 2022 Report Posted February 27, 2022 22 minutes ago, tim417 said: Well, my KX155 gave up the ghost quickly and suddenly. Avionics shop says it needs to go out for full bench test but likely internal amplifier is fried. Depending on the repair estimate, I am considering my options. It seems like folly to pay today’s asking prices for a used 14V KX155 w/ Glideslope only to risk having it go bad just like this one. I am eyeballing the Garmin GNC 255 but between the cost of the unit and installation I am north of $7k. Lastly, while my radio is out and I am contemplating how to spend my retirement savings, is there anyone who knows of a shop or individual who might be willing to rent me a spare KX155 (14V) so I can fly this thing with more than one radio? Thanks in advance, Tim Rent, buy, trade…. Find @Alan Fox he has many pre-flown options for this kind of challenge… You still have retirement savings? Best regards, -a- 1
LANCECASPER Posted February 27, 2022 Report Posted February 27, 2022 10 hours ago, tim417 said: Well, my KX155 gave up the ghost quickly and suddenly. Avionics shop says it needs to go out for full bench test but likely internal amplifier is fried. Depending on the repair estimate, I am considering my options. It seems like folly to pay today’s asking prices for a used 14V KX155 w/ Glideslope only to risk having it go bad just like this one. I am eyeballing the Garmin GNC 255 but between the cost of the unit and installation I am north of $7k. Lastly, while my radio is out and I am contemplating how to spend my retirement savings, is there anyone who knows of a shop or individual who might be willing to rent me a spare KX155 (14V) so I can fly this thing with more than one radio? Thanks in advance, Tim Send it to Bevan in Wichita @Jake@BevanAviation 3
tim417 Posted February 27, 2022 Author Report Posted February 27, 2022 @LANCECASPER My shop has it and is sending it out for bench testing and an estimate. If I don’t like what they say I will l give them a call. Tim
LANCECASPER Posted February 27, 2022 Report Posted February 27, 2022 2 hours ago, tim417 said: @LANCECASPER My shop has it and is sending it out for bench testing and an estimate. If I don’t like what they say I will l give them a call. Tim Yes I noticed that in your first post and that’s why I mentioned you sending it to Bevan. Shops are busy now and it’s easy with a 3/32 Allen to slide in and out the radio. The shop would most likely rather be installing new avionics and personally I’d rather not pay a few hours for them just sliding it out and shipping it off and sliding in back in plus their cut from the repair. Also there are a few shops that will open up the KX-155 but Bevan has among the highest reputation in quality of repairs, yet they treat people fairly. The knowledge base of Mooneyspace helps keep the cost of flying down. 2
Jake@BevanAviation Posted February 28, 2022 Report Posted February 28, 2022 (edited) @tim417 If you would like to give us a call and ask for Mike or Bill. They should be able to give you a rough idea on possible repair cost or maybe a exchange as we do have some used units available. 316-946-4870 Thanks Edited February 28, 2022 by Jake@BevanAviation 3
tim417 Posted February 28, 2022 Author Report Posted February 28, 2022 @Jake@BevanAviation Thank you! I’ll give them a call. 1
tim417 Posted March 6, 2022 Author Report Posted March 6, 2022 Just a quick update. I was able to find a loaner thanks to a generous Mooney FB group member and I am looking at replacing NAV/COM1 with a used SL30 for not too much more than what a used yellow tagged KX155 would be. Just gotta pay for labor, which is not cheap or easy to come by these days. In the meantime, I decided to maybe get the original thing fixed as a spare to COM2 depending on the cost. I contacted Bevan at @LANCECASPER’s and @Jake@BevanAviation’s suggestions and they offered to look at it. Super patient, helpful, and responsive on the phone. Thanks guys! 4
DCarlton Posted March 6, 2022 Report Posted March 6, 2022 (edited) Looks like you've got a highly recommended overhaul option but just in case, Mid Continent repaired and overhauled mine. Edited March 6, 2022 by DCarlton 1
tim417 Posted March 26, 2022 Author Report Posted March 26, 2022 @WalterFark0 Thanks to fine people here in Mooneyspace who introduced me to @Jake@BevanAviation, I got my KX155 back and working in short order. I can’t say enough good things about them. Excellent communication, friendly service, fast turnaround. A kind gentleman from FB loaned me his KX155 during the repair and I also purchased a Garmin SL30 from him. Just waiting for my shop to make some time for that install and the current Nav/com1 will become a spare com 2. Thanks to all! 1
LANCECASPER Posted March 26, 2022 Report Posted March 26, 2022 10 hours ago, tim417 said: @WalterFark0 Thanks to fine people here in Mooneyspace who introduced me to @Jake@BevanAviation, I got my KX155 back and working in short order. I can’t say enough good things about them. Excellent communication, friendly service, fast turnaround. A kind gentleman from FB loaned me his KX155 during the repair and I also purchased a Garmin SL30 from him. Just waiting for my shop to make some time for that install and the current Nav/com1 will become a spare com 2. Thanks to all! Do you mind sharing the cost of the KX-155 repair?
tim417 Posted March 26, 2022 Author Report Posted March 26, 2022 @LANCECASPER I’m not sure what you are asking.
GeneralT001 Posted March 26, 2022 Report Posted March 26, 2022 44 minutes ago, tim417 said: @LANCECASPER I’m not sure what you are asking. "Cost" I imagine.
tim417 Posted March 26, 2022 Author Report Posted March 26, 2022 Oh duh, yes. It was $100 to diagnose the issue, which applies toward final cost of repair. In this case, it was the common capacitor leakage that damaged the power supply. $850 total damage which was reasonable compared to some other verbal estimates I had received. I’m more than happy with the level of service I received from Bevan Aviation. 6
GeneralT001 Posted March 26, 2022 Report Posted March 26, 2022 29 minutes ago, tim417 said: Oh duh, yes. It was $100 to diagnose the issue, which applies toward final cost of repair. In this case, it was the common capacitor leakage that damaged the power supply. $850 total damage which was reasonable compared to some other verbal estimates I had received. I’m more than happy with the level of service I received from Bevan Aviation. Nothing cheap in aviation...no matter what
carusoam Posted March 26, 2022 Report Posted March 26, 2022 Nice pirep for Bevan, Tim! Thanks for sharing it… Best regards, -a-
KSMooniac Posted April 22, 2022 Report Posted April 22, 2022 Bevan is great, likely the best left in the country for bench repairs! I'm lucky I can drive over and visit! They're not too shabby doing full makeovers either. Someday... Sent from my LM-V405 using Tapatalk 2
0TreeLemur Posted October 13, 2022 Report Posted October 13, 2022 On the topic of the venerable KX-155, the smaller frequency knob on the COM side of mine recently gave up the ghost. Just broke. I wasn't even using it when it just departed the radio. Anybody got a spare from an inop radio?
carusoam Posted October 15, 2022 Report Posted October 15, 2022 See if @Alan Fox or @Jake@BevanAviation have knobs for the KX155…. -a-
DCarlton Posted October 15, 2022 Report Posted October 15, 2022 On 10/12/2022 at 5:45 PM, 0TreeLemur said: On the topic of the venerable KX-155, the smaller frequency knob on the COM side of mine recently gave up the ghost. Just broke. I wasn't even using it when it just departed the radio. Anybody got a spare from an inop radio? My knob disintegrated this past year too. I was able to remove and replace it myself. Seems like I remember one microscopic screw you have to remove and not lose; that’s the biggest challenge once you get the faceplate off. 1
LANCECASPER Posted October 15, 2022 Report Posted October 15, 2022 On 10/12/2022 at 7:45 PM, 0TreeLemur said: On the topic of the venerable KX-155, the smaller frequency knob on the COM side of mine recently gave up the ghost. Just broke. I wasn't even using it when it just departed the radio. Anybody got a spare from an inop radio? Time for a new lens while you're in there: https://www.ebay.com/itm/125535762370?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=125535762370&targetid=1645685074048&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=9027510&poi=&campaignid=16730423415&mkgroupid=135815925780&rlsatarget=pla-1645685074048&abcId=9300841&merchantid=6296724&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-7vl5afi-gIV4BbUAR0STw3WEAQYASABEgI29vD_BwE
0TreeLemur Posted October 15, 2022 Report Posted October 15, 2022 3 hours ago, LANCECASPER said: Time for a new lens while you're in there: Maybe some day. While it looks ugly the screen remains perfectly legible when the radio is on.
Jake@BevanAviation Posted October 17, 2022 Report Posted October 17, 2022 @0TreeLemur I am pretty sure we have new knobs available. Give us a call Monday and ask for Mike, he should be able to give you a rough idea of what the repair cost would be. 1
carusoam Posted October 17, 2022 Report Posted October 17, 2022 Jake’s MSing on Sunday! Go Jake! Best regards, -a-
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