Care to elaborate?
Was it an install issue, or a buying of a used box issue?
Can anyone else confirm or refute? (Nothin' against you, Clay, but one bad experience does not a bad company make - And for what I need right now, it's Bennett or eBay.)
Bought "overhauled" KT-76A transponder from Bennett. It came a few days later and was installed in my plane(flightschool plane) at the avionics shop, passed bench test and correlation check no problems. After 2 weeks the unit completley failed. Per the 90 day warranty I mailed the unit back for repair/or replacement that was at thier discretion. Thankfully I had acess to a loaner unit that has operated without issue. I was greeted by an email a few days later saying that the shop could not get the unit to fail and that they were going to void the warranty over a scratch on the back of the case. The shop accused the install shop of grinding the unit to make it seat in the tray...totally false and frivolous..and yes I present during the install. I was charged $100 for the bench time at Bennett and out $900 only to get the bum unit mailed back to me. Of course it would not turn on when it was bench tested so I took it to Duncan Aviation..here is the report they gave me. I finally called the president of the company and gave this finding. he advised that a replacement would be issued if they deem the report to be valid,but there would be no refund of any $$ associated with the trouble shooting of the unit...all in all the $900 unit has cost me over $1500 chasing a warranty replacement, renting loaner transponders, shipping etc....BE CAREFUL!! I bought the unit 3 months ago and still have a loaner in my plane over this mess. I have a claim ready to go with the BBB if this doesnt work out.
Reported Discrepancy:
Discrepancy: Overhaul.
Remarks:Overhaul needed
Preliminary Findings: Bench checked and found the transmitter pulse width
and frequency to be out of specifications. Unit also has poor reception.
Service Bulletin KT 76A-10 should be installed to correct reply rate
limiting. The transmitter tube should be replaced for Overhaul condition.
While troubleshooting the sensitivity problem the power supply failed.
Troubleshot and found several components in the 9 Vdc regulator circuit to
be defective and out of spec.
Notes:
These parts will need to be replaced before further
troubleshooting can continue. This is NOT a final estimate.
Option 1: Overhaul with a PMA tube.
Labor: $575.00
Parts: $808.00 + $65.00 (Service Bulletin)
Above normal parts: none.
Option 2: Overhaul with a Honeywell tube.
Labor: $575.00
Parts: $1224.00 + $65.00 (Service Bulletin)
Above normal parts: none.
Should you decline the amount below, the evaluation fee for this unit will
be $232.00
email I got from the install shop
Clay,
I contacted Bennett Avionics they sure are not very nice people, I assured them that we did not modify the box during or after installation. I need to know Sir when the unit will be shipped back and or a new replacement unit. I am in no rush for the return of the loaner unit, it would just be nice to see the damage they are talking about and to get your aircraft back in service with no issues. Sorry for the inconvenience and their poor customer service, to argue over $100.00 dollars on their part is very poor service and bad advertising. It makes me uncomfortable at the least that they suggested we actually took the unit to a grinder to get the box to fit. Please let me know what the resolve is and if I can help in any way, and when you get the transponder back I will take care of the installation and correlation check.
Thank You,
Scotty XXXXX
Avionics Installations Manager
