Flight Instrument Repair

Rob58

Rob58

Pre-takeoff checklist
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Feb 20, 2016
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Rob
Are there any instrument repair shops out there that can also do a high quality cosmetic restoration – repaint the dial and case?
 
I've had a great experience with these guys. http://kelleyinstruments.com/specials.html They seemed to understand the concept of emails and how it can be an excellent communication medium.


I'm going to try Aircraft Quality Instruments too this week.

No matter who you choose I recommend doing some extra steps to avoid a foul up.

#1 take digital pictures of the faces and data plates and email your prospective instrument shop and ask if they can refurb the dials as shown, NOT relocating any markings. If you want to keep the brand name delete or add anything be sure to tell them that.

#2 print out email chain and (color) pictures and pack that in the box and ship them.


I will avoid this place after a ~30 day long awful experience ----> http://www.trade-a-plane.com/company-search/details?id=53217 (It only took one day each way shipping so most of that time had nothing to do with shipping issues)
 
Brian, let us know about AQI. I've got three that I'd like to make pretty.

Edit: Also, I asked this in your other thread but I guess it got overlooked:

If you choose the "exchange" option, is the core charge added to the price and refunded after they receive your instrument?
 
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Brian, thanks for the referral. I called Kelley Instruments and got a good feeling. Always like it when you know you are talking to someone that has been doing the same thing for a long time and answers most of your questions before you even ask them. So I will be pulling some of my instruments and sending them off. I will let you guys know the results. Thanks again, Rob
 
I used AQI and Aero-Mach labs on the 414. I thought both did a good job. The ability for shops to work on instruments depends on the type. The 414 has an airspeed indicator on the pilot's side (factory) that includes true airspeed. To make this work, it has an OAT sensor that runs down from the gauge to the outside. AQI can't work on these, but Aero-Mach can. Well, "work on" is perhaps a stretch - because if the bulb is busted (a part related to the TAS aspect) they have no spares. So, we ended up deleting this feature from the 414.
 
bnt83 said:
I've had a great experience with these guys. http://kelleyinstruments.com/specials.html They seemed to understand the concept of emails and how it can be an excellent communication medium.


I'm going to try Aircraft Quality Instruments too this week.

No matter who you choose I recommend doing some extra steps to avoid a foul up.

#1 take digital pictures of the faces and data plates and email your prospective instrument shop and ask if they can refurb the dials as shown, NOT relocating any markings. If you want to keep the brand name delete or add anything be sure to tell them that.

#2 print out email chain and (color) pictures and pack that in the box and ship them.


I will avoid this place after a ~30 day long awful experience ----> http://www.trade-a-plane.com/company-search/details?id=53217 (It only took one day each way shipping so most of that time had nothing to do with shipping issues)
Click to expand...

That.
 
Beware that sometimes instrument shops say they can repair it, then when they get it, they say they can't but they will sell you a new one.
 
I can't speak to the ability to do a face restoration, but I've used Rudy's Aircraft Instruments in Rudy, Arkansas and they've done good work, quickly, for reasonable prices.
 
Just got these from AQI. These were both dinked with by a competitor and finish wasn't nearly as good the finish from AQI.

A third shop said it would take two weeks, that leads me to believe that they farm dials refinish out to another shop. AQI was 5 days with two days of that being shipping.

 
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