Maintenance notes
A few random things I’m thinking about:
- The carb temp sensor was acting very flaky again the other day. No longer stable at the top end of the scale. Now all over the place from -20 to 127 degrees. I’m still threatening to yank the whole thing.
- The (v.2) GRT XM weather module has failed on both of our flights this weekend. It is a communication problem in the new USB interface on the new style module with the external receiver. Apparently, the USB port hangs up in the GRT interface and can no longer talk to the receiver until it is reset (power cycle), then all is fine for a while. This just isn’t going to work for me, and I am/was planning on installing a temporary power cycle switch under the panel until GRT gets this worked out. I heard from Jeff at GRT today that they have a fix that will reset the USB when it figures out that no data is moving. I’m hoping that software update comes soon.
- I have figured out that when you enable “needles” for GPS nav on the PFD of a display getting all its data across the Inter Display Link, the needles flash. This looks like a very similar symptom as what the trim indicators used to do before that was fixed in a software update. Reported to GRT.
- I’m trying to figure out what will be the best portable emergency tire inflation mechanism to carry. I’m thinking a very lightweight bike pump.
- The other day, cruising at 10500′ (DA more like 12k’), WOT, 2350 RPM, 65% power, I was messing with mixture as cylinder #2 was clearly much leaner than all the others with CHTs at 356, 390, 362, 365, and #2 egt 100 deg higher than the others. I have noticed that this occurs quite often at high altitudes, or is it only at WOT? At a more moderate altitude like 5k’ there is no such issue with everything balanced fine (same TAS, same %power, not WOT). With all this engine data now provided by electronic instrumentation, it gives me plenty to “worry” about, when in the past, I probably just wouldn’t know any better. I’m still learning as I go. Darn carburetor. Fuel injection would be a great solution.