Loran is OUT... GPS is IN.... well.....

[GAHorn]

Have you got a pic of it Frank? How does it work? (The pins are inserted from the rear...of a closed/shrouded connector in the KLN series.)

[170C]

I don't have a photo of it George, but I could get one, but then you would have to teach me how to send it to you from my camera & computer or I could try photographing it with my cell phone & sending it. However, he simply cut away most of the end of the hacksaw blade leaving what I think is a piece about 1/2 inch long and only about 1/16 th inch wide. That will go into the pin and release the catch. Its certainly not as sofisticated as the ones from The Shack, but will work. On my two ICOMS the back of the pin blocks are open so once released, the wire to the pin can be pulled out. However, yesterday he just pushed the pin out once he had the "tool" inserted to release the catch. Used a long, flat blade screw driver to push it out. That isn't much of a description, but basically that is how it works. You could likely add a permanent or temporary handle to the ones from The Shack if length was needed. Of course if the chassie is out of the rack or if the chassie is the bottom chassie with a large enough opening you can probably use the short tool as it comes from the store. I think my King audio panel has the pin block covered as you describe too, but getting to it from the back would be a bear since the radios are below it and the audio panel is much shorter than they are.

[GAHorn]

Okey-Dokey-Pokey!
I got it now!
What you are describing is a "molex" type pin extractor, such as Narco and some other mfr's use. That is very different from the crimped Buchanan pins that I am dealing with on Bendix/King/Honeywell avionics. The two types are not the same and not interchangeable.

[GAHorn]

You've seen the cartoons in the Sunday paper that challenge you to count the differences between two sketches?

Here's the challenge:

MVC-046S.JPG

MVC-048S.JPG

Frank, to help folks understand the differences between them, here's an illustration of the Molex extractor tool and the type pins that Narco/ICOM/etc uses: (click to enlarge the pic, and after it re-opens, click on it again to further enlarge it)

Molex tool.jpg

To REMOVE a Molex pin, slip the blade of the extractor UNDER the pin. This will pick up the locking key and allows the pin to slip out of it's position using a light pulling-motion on the wire/lead. RE-insertion is simple...just push the pin into it's socket using the wire/lead.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

You added the GPS antenna to the top of the plane, exchanged the loran for the GPS and painted your instrument panel a tan rather than that pink you had.

Did I get all the changes?

[170C]

Yep George, that Molex HT ???? looks just like what my guy made from the hacksaw blade. So now you have a genuine panel mounted GPS. Congratulations. Now you may have trouble finding Reklaw at night

[W.J.Langholz]

Bruce now don't be calling it 'Pink"........... it's MAUVE!!!!!!!!

W.

[GAHorn]

...Did I get all the changes?

You missed the phono-plug for my headset and the two (replaced) #8 PK screws which were missing from the top flap-fairing in the first photo. (Believe it or not...that is the same panel as in the prior photo... the angle-of-flash vs how it affects color, is misleading. In the second photo...no flash was used...only a flourescent trouble-light...which still makes the colors look odd.)

[GAHorn]

Here's a pic of the panel made in natural light (you've probably seen this before):

N146YSPanel.JPG

[W.J.Langholz]

Hey Bruce

Me thinks someone is a little touchy about the "PINK" thing


W.

[blueldr]

George,
I notice that you were astute enough to mount your comm antenna on the center line of the cabin. I originally had mine mounted on the right hand side
but had to move it back to the center when the flight service stations complained that it sounded as though I was talking out of the side of my mouth.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Hey Bruce

Me thinks someone is a little touchy about the "PINK" thing


W.

[GAHorn]

Pink is a shade of RED, isn't it? (At least it's not turquoise! )

bluEldr... I had nothing to do with that comm antenna.... it was there when I bought the airplane. It's a pretty expensive Dorne & Margolin antenna... about $180

But an interesting thing about it is..... that it was mounted on TOP of flat washers! There was about 1/16" of SPACE between the antenna base and the aircraft skin, and the fasteners and cable passed thru holes in the roof, of course. (Good thing it lived in a hangar both before and after the purchase. I re-mounted it using a cork gasket, of course, but if it'd been out in the RAIN.... that pretty headliner would have been stained pretty nasty!)

146ysint.jpg

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

Hmmm I think that fluorescent light is really playing tricks.

Here's how I remember it last I saw it at Branson,

file.jpg

[GAHorn]

I fly regularly in a 170A which has Goodyear crosswind gear. In fact I'm working on a deal to become a partner in that plane.....

For someone who flys/sits cross-legged.... you shouldn't make too much fun of other's.