And she's changing to glass

[gkey]

It all started last month somewhere on my way to Edmonton, when ATC told me they could not see me on the radar any more. I recycled my transponder, idented and still they could not identify me. Then I smacked the transponder (my friend calls it a callibrating tap) and we were back on the radar. Then, the next day, I lost transmission capabilities on com #1. Then a week later while we were flying a turbulent patch, we smelled electrical smoke and the autopilot kicked off line. Granted, the Silver Crown centre stack I have has been in this plane for a good 25 years or more, so it was time. High time.

I took the plunge in a big way. I got GKEY ferried over to Victoria Avionics and we started talking new units over the phone. My new centre stack will now be (from top to bottom): Garmin 437 audio panel, Garmin 530W, SL30 NavCom, S-Tec 55 (currently in the stack), DME (currently in stack), Garmin GTX 330 S transponder, ADF (currently in stack). The S-Tec 55 has been sent back to the factory to see what went wrong and if it can be repaired, otherwise we buy a 55x.

I am also removing the left and right panel and have new ones cut. The left one is planned and configured to take the Aspen PFD and MFD's. I am throwing out almost all of the current steam gauges and will install the 2" Mid-Continent back-up trio gauges. The right panel will house the new Xerion AuRACLE 2120 engine monitor, and because of all the new electronics I'll have to have a second breaker box. This will be made electrolumiscent and dimmable, and will house all the avionics related breakers.

So far I am over $50K just on hardware alone, but I realize that. To me it is a favor returned to the best girlfriend I've ever had - beloved my 337G.

[Ernie Martin]

Congratulations. Send pictures, not only when it's all in, but while in progress.

Ernie

[gkey]

Yes, I will. My avionics mechanic is equally pumped about this install - many units going in there that he has never installed before. He is doing a lot of research (not on my account, fortunately!) on installing these new avionics, like the Aspen and the AuRACLE 2120.

He has taken over 100 pics so far and burnt them on a CD. He wanted to have a few pics himself to remind him how it was done, should he encounter another 337 with similar installs in the future.

The "clean-up" process has been going very well, and they are almost done with it. There was a ton of excess wire in the panel, because the previous guy did not remove the old wires 20+ years ago when the Silver Crown was installed. He merely snipped the connectors and left the bundles of wire behind, and laid new wires for the Silver Crown stack. All of the removed excess wire after the "clean-up wieghed 27 lbs!!

Don't know if I mentioned it before, but I am also at the same time replacing my windscreen, and fresh air intake grills, grommets, ducts etc. And adding an avionics fan.

Pics (not all, I promise!) to follow as soon as I get the CD.

[hharney]

Jakes, I am starting my interior refurb next week and I am seriously considering a windscreen replacement. Can you give me any details on your install and procurement?

http://www.insightavionics.com/tf500.htm

Has anyone had experience with these fuel flow transducers? You can tie them into the GPS system for fuel flow reference, seems like an easy way to go if you have the GPS on board already. I know that Riley always used Insight Gem Graphic Engine Monitors. I don't see them around very often or just don't remember seeing them. Seems like JPI and some of the others are more prevalent. The Strike Finder has been around for a long time.

I see Jakes is jumping into the Xerion unit. Has anyone installed this yet? Is it approved for C337's? There are a couple guys with the Aspen already, and that sounds very promising.

[gkey]

Herb,

I don't know much about what it takes to install the windshield, but here's the quote I have for the job:

Replacement of windshield:
LABOUR: 12 hours X (Rate/h) $76.00, Total = $912.00
WINDSHIELD: $622.00
HARDWARE: $50.00
FREIGHT: $300.00

TOTAL: $1,884.00

Regarding the Xerion AuRACLE 2120, I really would like to think that I am the reason the 337's are on the list for STC's. When I first contacted Eric Hathaway, Vice-President of Xerion, I was the first to enquire about that for a 337. At that time they did not consider certain models at all, but he promised me if I bought a unit he would make sure that the 336's and 337's would be on the list. And they are. At the time I bought my unit, mine was order #6 (for all makes & models), and the very first one from Canada.

The original date for delivery was in August 2008, but then they ran into some hiccups with the certification. In his last email to me he indicated that the 2120 would be ready to go approximately in Spring 2009. I have seen this monitor in real-life action, and I can tell you, I cannot wait.

The 2120 also comunicates with the 530W, so one can also access your FF information on the 530W. It is an automatic "crossfill".

[hharney]

Yeah I asked them about STC for Skymaster at the OSH booth this year and they were really snobbish about the whole thing. It was a real turn off for me. Acted like they didn't want to give me the time of day. The did say that I would have to contact Eric because he was not at the booth at the time. They were scheduled to present their info at the SOAPA meeting in Kalamazoo but bugged out at the last minute. I not real impressed with their bedside manner at this point. It does look like a nice unit. It's got to be a lot of labor to install with all the systems though.

[Ernie Martin]

Herb, several points about the windshield. First, you can buy it from the manufacturer, LP Aero (find the P/N for your Skymaster at http://www.lpaero.com/cgi-bin/Mfr_Ma...ster&Model=337 ). Second, do a Search and you'll find several lengthy messages with important tips. Finally, it is indeed a 12 hr job, but it's really a 6-hour, 2-person job, and you could be the 2nd person. What I mean is that one person mostly holds one end of the windshield as the installer maneuvers it around. My mechanic and I did it together, and he had never done it before. We followed the instructions carefully and, as suggested in those instructions, called LP Aero several times when we had trouble; they were incredibly helpful.

Ernie

Did you ever post picture of the completed project. I am very interested in seeing how it turned out. How does the Xerion AuRACLE 2120 work?
Thanks.

[gkey]

No, I have not done the right panel yet. The centre stack turned out extremely well, and the left panel looks beautiful. Unfortunately, I had a few problems with it (i) The Aspen could not keep it's heading straight or accurate. My shop talked to Aspen, and they replaced the RSM with a new one that will work better in the high lattitudes. Now the Aspen gives heading within 1 degree of the wet compass and the 530W. (ii) The new panel kept heating up terribly. It would become so hot, that the S-Tec 55 would disconnect during flight. After about an hour's flight, one could not touch the adjustment knob of the altimeter without feeling the burn. I swear, you could bake an egg on that thing, if it wasn't vertical. That got fixed too, and the problem was the heating duct. When they installed all these things for me, somehow the cable to the heating duct got loose, and it wouldn't close properly. (iii) I very recently found out why Auracle has not been answering my emails for the last 6 months - they were selling out to someone else! I am going to get into contact with the new company, and ask them if they would honor my order and also my deposit I paid...

Glad to hear you got all the bugs worked out. To bad about the Auracle. Hopefully they come through for you. I have been trying to get info on it and can't find anything on pricing. I guess that's why.