Eaton Actuator Service

[RoundTwo]

Who is the go to place for servicing Eaton Actuators in 2025?

[GeeBee]

I shipped mine to Lasar

[RoundTwo]

1 hour ago, GeeBee said:

I shipped mine to Lasar

That appears to be the only option. I sure wasted a bunch of time trying to get hold of someone at Eaton. My issue is the emergency extension cable has outlasted the sheath and it has shed a bunch of it which led to cable retraction issues because of the foreign material inside of the retriever assembly.

[GeeBee]

Yes, them to IRAN it not overhaul.

[201Steve]

Would the manual extend cable even be an Eaton part? I would think their contribution stops at the actuator itself. Doubt there’s even anybody to talk to about a Mooney actuator at such a huge conglomerate

[RoundTwo]

Just now, 201Steve said:

Would the manual extend cable even be an Eaton part? I would think their contribution stops at the actuator itself. Doubt there’s even anybody to talk to about a Mooney actuator at such a huge conglomerate

Yes, it’s part of the recoiler assembly and the cable is attached to the recoiler drum, and the “T” handle with crimped on ball terminations. Laser is looking into what will be involved in getting a new cable installed. As far as Eaton was concerned, I was hoping for a service/repair option. 

[RoundTwo]

17 minutes ago, GeeBee said:

Yes, them to IRAN it not overhaul.

Actuator is fine, just need a new cable installed in the recoiler drum.

[PT20J]

This issue is common and a reason most of us avoid doing manual extensions. I still do it at annual inspection and when I check someone out, but I make sure to pull the cord slowly and straight up.

Don Maxwell and LASAR are the best sources for working on these. 

[ArtVandelay]

Standard procedure when serviced was to replace the back spring, I wonder if they’ll still (can) do that?

[RoundTwo]

9 hours ago, PT20J said:

This issue is common and a reason most of us avoid doing manual extensions. I still do it at annual inspection and when I check someone out, but I make sure to pull the cord slowly and straight up.

Don Maxwell and LASAR are the best sources for working on these. 

Agreed. This was found when doing swing test at annual.  The cable wouldn’t retract fully and then this piece of hardened sheath was found on the hangar floor. You can easily see circumferential cracks the full length of the cable. 

[PT20J]

3 hours ago, RoundTwo said:

Agreed. This was found when doing swing test at annual.  The cable wouldn’t retract fully and then this piece of hardened sheath was found on the hangar floor. You can easily see circumferential cracks the full length of the cable. 

This indicates that the issue might be more due to aging than use. I think some have stopped doing the annual test out of concern for wearing the cable, but if degeneration of the sheath is primarily an aging issue, then failing to test it at annual inspection risks not finding a cable that could jam if needed for a real emergency extension.

[PT20J]

4 hours ago, ArtVandelay said:

Standard procedure when serviced was to replace the back spring, I wonder if they’ll still (can) do that?

LASAR worked out a licensing deal with Mooney to get new Eaton springs made for about $3K a pop. You’d have to call them to get current lead time and pricing an actuator service/overhaul. 

[RoundTwo]

2 minutes ago, PT20J said:

This indicates that the issue might be more due to aging than use. I think some have stopped doing the annual test out of concern for wearing the cable, but if degeneration of the sheath is primarily an aging issue, then failing to test it at annual inspection risks not finding a cable that could jam if needed for a real emergency extension.

This is 100% an issue of age related deterioration.

[RoundTwo]

Just now, PT20J said:

LASAR worked out a licensing deal with Mooney to get new Eaton springs made for about $3K a pop. You’d have to call them to get current lead time and pricing an actuator service/overhaul. 

I spoke to them yesterday but they don’t have a way to make the cables and are working with a third party cable supplier to come up with a solution. 

[larrynimmo]

In 2018, my second annual, I sent mine to TopGun in California…they changed the spring…lubed the unit, and changed the cable…

it was $2,100 and they did it all in less than one week.

how times have changed

[RoundTwo]

54 minutes ago, larrynimmo said:

In 2018, my second annual, I sent mine to TopGun in California…they changed the spring…lubed the unit, and changed the cable…

it was $2,100 and they did it all in less than one week.

how times have changed

They were able to find me a cable/drum assembly, $600 for the part. 

[Ragsf15e]

58 minutes ago, RoundTwo said:

They were able to find me a cable/drum assembly, $600 for the part. 

Well that’s good.  Is it a salvage one or did they find a way to get new? It would be great to have a reliable supply…

[RoundTwo]

14 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

Well that’s good.  Is it a salvage one or did they find a way to get new? It would be great to have a reliable supply…

New, and they said they found ONE.