Annual Coming Up

billbogg · Post by **billbogg** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 12:26 am

Greetings- I've got an annual coming up in June on my B model, 2670D and am looking for some advice on a few things. !. I'd like to install Whelen wingtip strobes, any words of wisdom out there? I'm hoping it'll be fairly straightforward. 2. I need to replace the firewall insulation,, and would like any suggestions as to good products available.3. The primer is very difficult to move in and out to the point that I seldom use it...can the existing primer be made to slide more freely, or should I be looking for a new one?
Thanks in advance for any info that gets passed along, I appreciate it!

Post by **GAHorn** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 3:27 am

I installed Whelen wingtip strobes and found them very good, easy to install (follow their instructions), and a delight to operate. The only advice I can offer is to connect them to the power supply so as to flash alternately rather than simultaneously. Not only will they flash more brightly (greater joules) but they won't be as likely to produce vertigo in haze/clouds/etc.

Post by **Bruce Fenstermacher** » Sat Apr 26, 2003 9:56 pm

Your primer most likely has the wrong type of O rings installed. How do I know. I installed the wrong type in mine

The O rings swell and the primer gets harder to use. They are not difficult to replace although for the life of me I can't remember the whole sequence to advise you.

Dave Clark · Post by **Dave Clark** » Sun Apr 27, 2003 5:39 pm

Most primers come apapt from the knob side of the panel with a hex or sometimes knurled nut. Turn the fuel off first but the primer should not leak when the fuel is on because it has a checkvalve in it. this is a good time to see if that is working. If not find a new primer.

On my firewall I put 1/2" "Supersoundproofing" on and then glued Airtex carpet over that. It worked great. Aircraft Spruce sells the soundproofing and the 3M 1300L contact cement.

rudymantel · Post by **rudymantel** » Fri May 02, 2003 6:21 am

George, where did you buy your Whelen strobes ? Is it an STC'd kit approved for the 170 ? What was the cost ?
Rudy

n3833v · Post by **n3833v** » Fri May 02, 2003 1:37 pm

I bought mine from Aircraft Spruce and it was STC'd for the 170. Cost- close to 700.00. I run all new wiring in the wings for them with the power unit inside.

Post by **GAHorn** » Fri May 02, 2003 4:46 pm

If you want to replace the navlites/stobes as complete units, then Spruce (8770477-4823 sells PN11-03800 which includes a remote pwr supply and install kit for $740.
If you wish to save buck and keep your nav lites, and only piggy-back your new strobes onto them, order PN 11-04800, which includes the remote pwr supply and install kit for $611.
I got lucky when I purchased my airplane. During it's pre-buy inspection (a full-blown annual) the seller agreed to do the labor of installing the strobes if I'd buy the kit. In the same hangar was a Mooney owner who'd bought the second kit mentioned above, and found it wouldn't fit on a Mooney 21 (due to nav light differences.) So he sold me his NOS kit for half-price. It works still great. (He'd had it on his shelf for a year or so, and I was worried at first about the pwr supply. (Strobe pwr-supplies have capacitors in them that die from dis-use. The worst thing for a strobe is not to use it, so if you're flying around in daylight thinking you're doing yourself a favor by not operating it...you might wish to reconsider. Whelen is actually pretty good about this problem, however. I discovered this trait years ago when I bought a unit as a replacement and kept it for 3 years in my hangar. When I tried to install it and use it, it was dead. Whelen still warrantied the unit, and returned it to me with a letter cautioning me about long-term dis-use of pwr supplies.) The unit the Mooney owner sold me is the original double-flash system, which I actually prefer. The new comet-flash system has replaced it. If my pwr supply ever dies, I guess I'll be stuck with comet-flash for a replacement.)