KX155 Died. Anyone willing to rent or loan me one while I consider options….

[tim417]

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]

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-

[LANCECASPER]

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

[tim417]

@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]

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.

[Jake@BevanAviation]

@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

[tim417]

@Jake@BevanAviation Thank you! I’ll give them a call.

[tim417]

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!

[DCarlton]

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

[tim417]

@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!

[LANCECASPER]

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]

@LANCECASPER

 

I’m not sure what you are asking. 

[GeneralT001]

44 minutes ago, tim417 said:

@LANCECASPER

 

I’m not sure what you are asking. 

"Cost" I imagine.

[tim417]

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. 

[GeneralT001]

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]

Nice pirep for Bevan, Tim!

Thanks for sharing it…

Best regards,

-a-

[KSMooniac]

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

[Fly Boomer]

@mooniac58

[0TreeLemur]

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]

See if @Alan Fox or @Jake@BevanAviation have knobs for the KX155….

-a-

[DCarlton]

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.  

[LANCECASPER]

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]

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]

@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.

[carusoam]

Jake’s MSing on Sunday!

Go Jake!

Best regards,

-a-