The Hall of Flame
- Thread starter Bob Weber
- Start date
Rgbeard
En-Route
- Joined
- Aug 26, 2017
- Messages
- 4,366
- Location
- Goodyear, AZ and Ensenada, Mexico
- Display Name
- rgbeard
- Home Airfield
- KGYR / KSDM
The yellow spade at the bottom? Missing a screw.
- Joined
- May 18, 2007
- Messages
- 7,154
- Display Name
- jsstevens
- Home Airfield
- KSFB
And disconnected from the terminal next to it.
Skyrys62
En-Route
Depends on how much you're paying at annual whether it's seen or not 
Bob Weber
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Messages
- 193
- Display Name
- Autopilot Whisperer
Perhaps a reason to drop by while it's in progress, but don't bug them.Depends on how much you're paying at annual whether it's seen or not
donjohnston
En-Route
Ah... So we're playing "Find Waldo"?
Hi Bob!!!
I wish I could say that I miss making the flight across the lake to come see you.
You put up your own shingle! Awesome!
Bob Weber
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Messages
- 193
- Display Name
- Autopilot Whisperer
Ah... So we're playing "Find Waldo"?
Hi Bob!!!
I wish I could say that I miss making the flight across the lake to come see you.
You put up your own shingle! Awesome!
Don Thanks!! Yes I did, and now you don't need to fly to me anymore, it's all over the phone.
donjohnston
En-Route
If I still had the 400B autopilot, I'd have you on speed dial. 
Let'sgoflying!
Touchdown! Greaser!
half way down, right side looks like a wire is taking power off the bus (unprotected)
Bob Weber
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
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- 193
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- Autopilot Whisperer
Skyrys62
En-Route
The 'mounting' screws for RM-2 (and maybe RM-1) has a yellow terminal attached, leading to somewhere/something.
I'm guessing that's what he's talking about.
Seems also the case for the lower terminals in the picture (without protection), even the one with the missing screw...but maybe they have built in protection? Like a USB charging port, etc.?
Let'sgoflying!
Touchdown! Greaser!
Bob Weber
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Messages
- 193
- Display Name
- Autopilot Whisperer
Yet another great point! I'm guilty myself of doing this, that appears to be a supply wire for the buss added to the (hopefully) longer screw on the breaker. This connection should be made with a dedicated hole in the buss using good hardware including a metal locknut.
bluerooster
Pattern Altitude
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2011
- Messages
- 2,123
- Display Name
- shorty
Surely that wire is supplying a fuse or cb somewhere close by. But still not drawing from a good place.
bluerooster
Pattern Altitude
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2011
- Messages
- 2,123
- Display Name
- shorty
Question: Why do they still use slotted screws in a spot that is nearly inaccessible, in most aircraft?
Let'sgoflying!
Touchdown! Greaser!
may not be violations, so much as ‘electrical unpleasantness’
1 do not see washers
2 bend in bus could have consequences later
3 previously discussed tap. could be ok; I’d have to look it up. Either way, don’t like.
4 if not a factory produced bend, could be ‘well along the plastic range’ for that metal
6 is that discoloration of the tefzel or...exposed wire?
7 typical messiness of older a/c; very common but undesireable
1 do not see washers
2 bend in bus could have consequences later
3 previously discussed tap. could be ok; I’d have to look it up. Either way, don’t like.
4 if not a factory produced bend, could be ‘well along the plastic range’ for that metal
6 is that discoloration of the tefzel or...exposed wire?
7 typical messiness of older a/c; very common but undesireable
Bob Weber
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Messages
- 193
- Display Name
- Autopilot Whisperer
Sorry for the delay, I wanted to make a thorough reply. These are all good things to notice and a closer check is needed.
1 There is a washer, it is badly discolored from the heat caused by a loose connection. The picture is a little blurred but the screw looks a little discolored as well. The heat could very well have transferred into that breaker, for the $30 I would replace it.
2 I would inspect the breaker for damage from when what ever bent the buss bar, if no damage carefully straighten things out.
3 previously discussed method is the way to do it, look it up and get back to us.
4 An uncomfortable looking bend, though common. I always inspect to see if the wire is still loomed tight and it hasn't been working the bend any more. Cessna did this quite often.
6 I'd need a better look at it to tell, I spotted the discolored nylon insulation of the disconnected wire, discolored tefzel area of the wire right under your number 1. Look at the dulled screw heads, they were loose at some point.
For four decades I've been looking at these panels and tightening up every connection that's loose, like I was taught.
I preach this very thing to everyone I talk to.
This is still ongoing down undah I will update when completed!
1 There is a washer, it is badly discolored from the heat caused by a loose connection. The picture is a little blurred but the screw looks a little discolored as well. The heat could very well have transferred into that breaker, for the $30 I would replace it.
2 I would inspect the breaker for damage from when what ever bent the buss bar, if no damage carefully straighten things out.
3 previously discussed method is the way to do it, look it up and get back to us.
4 An uncomfortable looking bend, though common. I always inspect to see if the wire is still loomed tight and it hasn't been working the bend any more. Cessna did this quite often.
6 I'd need a better look at it to tell, I spotted the discolored nylon insulation of the disconnected wire, discolored tefzel area of the wire right under your number 1. Look at the dulled screw heads, they were loose at some point.
For four decades I've been looking at these panels and tightening up every connection that's loose, like I was taught.
I preach this very thing to everyone I talk to.
This is still ongoing down undah I will update when completed!
Bob Weber
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Messages
- 193
- Display Name
- Autopilot Whisperer
The breakers come with them, as long as they're tight, they're fine.
Bob Weber
Pre-takeoff checklist
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2019
- Messages
- 193
- Display Name
- Autopilot Whisperer
Happy ending update for a new found Mate in Australia. His engineer replaced the burned stuff and checked every other connection. Everything was tight, the panel was reconditioned 5ish years ago so it was completely removed from all of the breakers, and reassembled.
He flew it the first time in the last day or so and saw the failure I was helping with. We went over some ground checks, and a very detailed explanation of how the system works. He reseated some connectors using Stabilant 22, and tied up some loose wiring. We also discussed his habits on final, I suggested he drop the gear upon GS aquire.
He just called me elated with seeing it fly better than ever, music to my ears!
He flew it the first time in the last day or so and saw the failure I was helping with. We went over some ground checks, and a very detailed explanation of how the system works. He reseated some connectors using Stabilant 22, and tied up some loose wiring. We also discussed his habits on final, I suggested he drop the gear upon GS aquire.
He just called me elated with seeing it fly better than ever, music to my ears!