Instrument Repair, (Your Latest Opinion).

[Fred Johnson]

Re: Instrument Repair, (Your Latest Opinion).

Aircraft Quality instruments, Will handle radium instruments. I have not used them yet, but I am sending my instruments there based on a recommendation. They have done the instruments in a few Oshkosh award winners. Not that I ever plan to win

[baldeagle27]

Re: Instrument Repair, (Your Latest Opinion).

I've had problems with Keystone in the past, quite a while ago now, but send almost all of my stuff to Dave Rogers at Legacy Aircraft Instruments in San Francisco. http://www.legacyinstruments.com/ind...d=12&Itemid=59 . He's done some World War 1 stuff for me that was pretty exotic, quality is excellent, and I've never complained about the price, might be considered high by some I suppose. I don't remember exact numbers right now, will see if I have receipts around. He did all of the instruments for my 1926 Ryan M-1 mailplane


Dave also did my Taylorcraft bubble face compass.

John Wolf in Willoughby, Ohio does mostly vintage car stuff, but has done the big tachs, and in fact just finished mine, I had a message from him last night and need to call him to see what I owe him. http://johnwolfco.com/



-

[wmfife]

Re: Instrument Repair, (Your Latest Opinion).

I am recently informed that Kansas Instruments of Wichita is no longer in business under that name. Am not sure whether Aircraft Quality Instruments is the same company or different one but here is their address and contact info:

Aircraft Quality Instruments
2649 S Custer St
Wichita, KS 67217

Open weekdays
8:00 am to 4:30 pm

flyaqi.com

(316) 942-993

Say they cater to general aviation first and cover the entire range of services including instruments for vintage aircraft.

I recently saw a panel locally in a Stearman done by K.I. and was impressed at the uniformity and clarity of the faces painted with what appeared to be a luminescent pigment all matching. No reason I could see for complaints there.

Here is an example of some work done by AQI on a Waco CSO panel:

[IMG] http://flyaqi.com/nbfi/biplanes/waco...so_cockpit.jpg [/IMG]

[mike lutz]

Re: Instrument Repair, (Your Latest Opinion).

In the year 2000 I bought a electric T&B from aircraft quality instrument for my AcrosportII, and only had around a hour of use on the instrument till it quit working. It was supposedly under a warranty, but was sent back to me with a non-repairable tag and a note that said it was scrap. I bought a new one from Aircraft Spruce and it is still fine. That's my experience with aircraft quality instrument, and didn't get a refund either. As you can guess, I wasn't very happy with them.

[wmfife]

Re: Instrument Repair, (Your Latest Opinion).

In the year 2000 I bought a electric T&B from aircraft quality instrument for my AcrosportII, and only had around a hour of use on the instrument till it quit working. It was supposedly under a warranty, but was sent back to me with a non-repairable tag and a note that said it was scrap.

mike lutz

I see. Thanks for the heads up on that. Just for some further data on them:

A BBB Accredited Business since 06/17/2010

BBB has determined that Aircraft Quality Instruments, Inc. meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints.

Also that Y2000 was ~fifteen years ago. At the time they had been in business seven years, less than one-half that long. Somewhere along the line they received BBB accreditation, if that means anything. My own experience says beware as this agency has been bought and sold by companies they are supposed to represent that can scam the funds from clients in order to pay them. Ask me for details.

Back to the main topic- am wondering whether you tried to resolve the dispute through any independent source? It seems someone else must have in the years since. In any case they certainly owe you for the services not rendered and the damaged property. You I would think had a legal case and still do notwithstanding any statutes of limitations that may have come due the ensuing fourteen - fifteen years.

Anyway just one more reason I prefer vacuum T&B. Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

[mike lutz]

Re: Instrument Repair, (Your Latest Opinion).

Thanks Bill for the info. Back when this all happened I found that if you stood it on end it would run until you would put it back to normal horizontal, then it would spool down. I tore it apart and fixed it, but didn't trust it. I gave it to my nephew to take apart and play with. I wrote that that off my mind back then. For my stubborn attitude about it, lesson learned. LOL. Thanks anyway.

[Clark]

I have question regarding Identifying instruments that may be containing radium. Short of a radiation detection device are there any additional identification publications, or rules of thumb, other than to consider all as containing it until it is known otherwise. Is there a general rule of manufactured before dates, or anything along that line.I imagine there is not a large issue with it as no wide broadcast warnings seem to be common knowledge. I have a 1940 BL 65 with the large circular tach, Bubble face compass and I think a vintage correct altimeter. I intend to begin sending out the instruments this winter next 3-4 months for inspection, calibration and reconditioning.one at a time.

[mike lutz]

I bought a cheap ultra violet (black light) flash light off e-bay several years ago to detect the radium. Worked great. The radium really lights up under the light. Works on old pottery also.

[Hank Jarrett]

As was said before, DO NOT USE U. S. MAIL!!! The radiation detectors will be set off and they will dispose of them in a hazardous waste site and send YOU the bill for disposal. You might get lucky and not have them get caught, but why risk it? Either FedEx or UPS use to ship instruments and they marked the package with a code to indicate that it would set off sensors. They had the books with the handling and packaging requirements at the store. I would call ahead and make sure the place you will be shipping from has the books. Can
t imagine they need them that often.
When I shipped mine I took the packages to the UPS or FedEx store (can't remember which I used now) OPEN so they could see that it was antique instruments. You DO NOT have to do that, but I felt like if I was handling something a customer brought in and wanted shipped under the hazardous materials rules I would appreciate knowing it wasn't really that dangerous. I just sealed up the package in front of them. They said I didn't need to, but they also looked like they appreciated it.
Send them early. Seems most of the places are a bit slow, but I would rather have slow and well done than returned quick with problems. I used Keystone for mine. A bit slow and expensive but first quality all the way. Hopefully just like us. ;-)

Hank

[astjp2]

I am probably the only IA with a gieger counter...

[Scott]

Check with US Border services. When i flew to Osh i cleared customs in Grand Marais MN. The Officer arrived with a gieger counter and had in his mobile device, standards for acceptable levels.