Replace or refurbish DG

[AndreiC]

My vacuum driven directional gyro is starting to show its age -- it drifts more than I would like if I do a couple of 360 degree turns. Whatever I install needs to have a heading bug to interface to my STEC 30 autopilot. Below is a pic of my panel.

My options seem to be

a) refurbish my unit (about $600 at Rudy's);

b) install a new electronic unit (AV30C - $2200, GI275 -- $4500, plus install cost);

c) find a used, good condition replacement unit for my vacuum unit (maybe some people are changing theirs with electronic ones and want to get rid of theirs?)

I am a CB, and also not a huge fan of the newest electronic gadgets. I fly in instrument conditions maybe 5% of the time, and rarely hard IMC, so I don't see it justified to pay the cost to redo my panel any time soon. I don't think the added benefit of avoiding a (low risk) vacuum failure in IMC is justified -- my autopilot is independent of the vacuum instruments and could get me out of weather in a pinch. Plus I have a Stratus which provides an electronic AHRS on my iphone if all else fails.

What do people recommend?

[ArtVandelay]

What about a G5?
HSI, and I think it can act as a backup attitude indicator.

[Marc_B]

If you're not planning on upgrading to glass any time soon, why not just refurbish and call it a day?  For what you're describing, that sounds like what you're thinking anyways.  Used would be a question...an overhaul of yours would be best option I think as long as turn around isn't bad.

[AndreiC]

27 minutes ago, ArtVandelay said:

What about a G5?
HSI, and I think it can act as a backup attitude indicator.

Would look really weird with one square instrument in a whole panel of round ones...

[N201MKTurbo]

I have a G5 HSI. I think it was a great upgrade. It is a pretty easy install. You could sell your Garmin indicator and pay for half of it. Plus you will get GPSS which is cool.

[Paul Thomas]

Here is how a single G5 looks.

[AndreiC]

24 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I have a G5 HSI. I think it was a great upgrade. It is a pretty easy install. You could sell your Garmin indicator and pay for half of it. Plus you will get GPSS which is cool.

I don't have a Garmin indicator... it's just an old King CDI/ILS indicator. If that is what you were referring to. I don't think I could get much money for it, nor for my current DG. I already have GPSS installed. It's covered by the right side of the yoke in my picture, but it's there and I use it all the time. 

[N201MKTurbo]

1 minute ago, AndreiC said:

I don't have a Garmin indicator... it's just an old King CDI/ILS indicator. If that is what you were referring to. I don't think I could get much money for it, nor for my current DG. I already have GPSS installed. It's covered by the right side of the yoke in my picture, but it's there and I use it all the time. 

OK, just get your DG overhauled. It will last another 10 years or so.

[MikeOH]

Seven years in my DG is still fine, but my plan is to OH it when it starts drifting too much.

BTW, your panel is strikingly similar to mine in both equipment and location in the panel... I have an Insight G3 where your JPI is, and a slaved compass instead of your panel clock.  Oh, and you have an ADF that I don't

[Pinecone]

If you have never flown an HSI, they are amazing.

First time I flew an HSI, I though I had gone to instrument flying heaven.

I would HIGHLY recommend an HSI, either traditional or glass.

[AndreiC]

1 hour ago, MikeOH said:

Seven years in my DG is still fine, but my plan is to OH it when it starts drifting too much.

BTW, your panel is strikingly similar to mine in both equipment and location in the panel... I have an Insight G3 where your JPI is, and a slaved compass instead of your panel clock.  Oh, and you have an ADF that I don't

Haha, this is an older picture of my panel... I no longer have the ADF (it was a doorstop anyway), the DME was moved from the far right side to under the KX155, I have a digital transponder now (KT76C), and the vacuum gauge has been moved to where the marker beacons were (the MB's were removed as well).

[Utah20Gflyer]

I have a pair of GI 275 s,  the HSI is awesome and well worth the money to me, but if you want to maintain CB status then the overhaul is the obvious choice.   You could be as happy as you ever were for the low price of 600 bucks, GI275 is going to be 10x that easily. 

[bigmo]

I was just at an avionics shop today and brought up a nearly identical topic. I personally would love to have an Aspen or a set of AV30Cs. Putting in an AV30C for attitude is cheap and easy (like a few hours). He said adding one as the AP DG was a heck of a big job. Taking a WAG, 30 hours. So, that $2200 climbs to $5K +/-.

Makes that Rudy's $600 overhaul look really enticing.

[MikeOH]

12 hours ago, Pinecone said:

If you have never flown an HSI, they are amazing.

First time I flew an HSI, I though I had gone to instrument flying heaven.

I would HIGHLY recommend an HSI, either traditional or glass.

Honestly, that is the ONLY reason I might not just OH my DG when it finally croaks.  100% agree with you; the few rentals I flew before I got my Mooney that had an HSI convinced me they are the cat's meow

I might just look for a traditional used one as I suspect it would be much cheaper than any new 'glass' option.

[McMooney]

garmin gi-275 or g5 with magnetometer, never worry about drift again

[Pinecone]

9 hours ago, MikeOH said:

Honestly, that is the ONLY reason I might not just OH my DG when it finally croaks.  100% agree with you; the few rentals I flew before I got my Mooney that had an HSI convinced me they are the cat's meow

I might just look for a traditional used one as I suspect it would be much cheaper than any new 'glass' option.

Probably a number of HSIs out there as people go glass.  

I also have an Aspen Pro 1000 (not MAX) available, that I am willing to make a deal on.  Even has synthetic vision and AoA unlock.  

[EricJ]

On 9/24/2024 at 3:34 AM, McMooney said:

garmin gi-275 or g5 with magnetometer, never worry about drift again

Plus you have easy reversion to an AI if needed.