Radio Working Poorly

We had to remove my left tank. Cut the fabric out to the rib outboard of the tank. Removed the tank from the top. Repaired tank reinstalled from the top. Re-fabriced the top wing out to the rib outboard of the tank. Repainted. Left the bottom fabric undisturbed. It took a little longer to do than to write about it. I wonder if you could get a field approval for a removable metal cover over the tank:).
IC-A200 in the mail.
 
Ron86654 said:
We had to remove my left tank. Cut the fabric out to the rib outboard of the tank. Removed the tank from the top. Repaired tank reinstalled from the top. Re-fabriced the top wing out to the rib outboard of the tank. Repainted. Left the bottom fabric undisturbed. It took a little longer to do than to write about it. I wonder if you could get a field approval for a removable metal cover over the tank:).
IC-A200 in the mail.
Click to expand...
Howdy,

Thanks for that info. I was hoping it was top removable. If I did not like my little Citabria, I would just sell it and get something else, but what can I say,...... "I Love the little bird !!!"

Thanks for the update on the radio.

COWBOY
 
Ron86654 said:
We had to remove my left tank. Cut the fabric out to the rib outboard of the tank. Removed the tank from the top. Repaired tank reinstalled from the top. Re-fabriced the top wing out to the rib outboard of the tank. Repainted. Left the bottom fabric undisturbed. It took a little longer to do than to write about it. I wonder if you could get a field approval for a removable metal cover over the tank:).
IC-A200 in the mail.
Click to expand...
Good Morning Ron,

Did you have to remove any rivets from the bottom of the wing under the tank??? Manual says remove rivets from top and bottom, but I think they are refering to the 13 gal tank vs the 18 gal tank.

From what I see in the manual, and from pictures, the 18 gallon tank just sits on saddles and tank support (Fabric is riveted to this tank support, not the tank) while the 13 gallon tank the fabric is riveted to the tank "Hat Section".

Am I correct???

COWBOY
 
No rivets except holding the fabric to the ribs. Just the hold down straps on the tanks.
 
hi all,

thia is the larger, new style ground plane from ACA. Is it supposed to be bonded to the frame via something more than the hardware that secures it?

20211002_112811.webp20211002_112824.webp
 
If that is an aluminum panel it may be overkill. Sure, bigger is better, but just a little bigger is probably not noticeable. A sheet metal screw is enough bonding for RF. My Dec has a maybe 6" square ground plane mounted on wood stringers, and I have no problems in the most complicated radio environment second only to Washington DC.
 
Bartman said:
hi all,

thia is the larger, new style ground plane from ACA. Is it supposed to be bonded to the frame via something more than the hardware that secures it?

View attachment 4256View attachment 4257
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Howdy,

Like the saying goes,... "A picture is worth a thousand words !!"

Thanks for that info. I am elbow deep in working on the Fuel Tank removal, and the Radio issue, and starting the Annual since the aircraft is being tied up anyway.

Thanks all for the input. Keep the pics coming. Will post more as I get going.

COWBOY
 
Ron86654 said:
We had to remove my left tank. Cut the fabric out to the rib outboard of the tank. Removed the tank from the top. Repaired tank reinstalled from the top. Re-fabriced the top wing out to the rib outboard of the tank. Repainted. Left the bottom fabric undisturbed. It took a little longer to do than to write about it. I wonder if you could get a field approval for a removable metal cover over the tank:).
IC-A200 in the mail.
Click to expand...
Good Morning Ron,

Package arrived over the weekend.

Thanks greatly. Hope to get it all sorted out soon.

COWBOY
 
Figured this could stay here where it's already been discussed,

Garmin specs RG-142B or RG-400 for the comm antenna wire. What's h
Cowboys Air Ranch 84ME said:
We unzipped the headliner to access the antenna cable further, and found it goes up the front right post, across the top to the left side, makes a loop, then crosses across again to the right side front, and then to the antenna mounted on the right wing root.

Basically, someone put a extremely long cable where a 4 foot cable would of fit perfectly. Might of been a temp replacement years ago that was never properly addressed. Maybe what they had on hand at the time or antenna originally mounted elsewhere.
Click to expand...

Cowboys

Was reading this thread along with the Garmin GTX345 install manual and found this note which might explain why the cable was longer than expected. I bolded the important parts

3.11.2 GPS Coaxial Cable Requirements
This section supplies information on the GPS antenna cable requirements. The location of the GTX 3X5
unit GPS antenna compared to other COM transceivers and antennas is very important. During the postinstallation
checkout, susceptibility to harmonics of VHF COM transmitters is analyzed. If problems
occur, better isolation or distance can be required between the GPS and COM antennas. A 1575.42 MHz
notch filter can be installed in series with the antenna coaxial of the VHF COM transceiver to decrease or
eliminate the harmonic interference. A notch filter for this use (P/N 330-00067-00) is available from
Garmin. Refer to Section 3.4 for installation location information.
Table 3-17 GPS dB Loss Allowance
Screen Shot 2022-01-22 at 13.10.45.webp
To reduce or stop signal interference, the GPS antenna cable assembly loss must be in accordance with
Table 3-17. Calculations should take into account the additional loss from coaxial connectors and adapters
(e.g., TNC to BNC). A typical loss of 0.2 dB can be used for each connection. To keep integrity of the
WAAS signal, the GPS antenna coaxial cable must have a minimum of two shields (e.g., RG-400 or
RG-142B).
GPS antennas listed in Table 3-16 require a cable loss between 1.5 dB and 6.5 dB. If RG-142B or RG-400
is used, then 1.5 dB is equal to a length of approximately 6.5 feet of cable with a connector on each end.
RG-142B or RG-400 cable can be used if the length is less than 35 feet. For longer lengths, use low-loss,
double- or triple-shielded, 50Ω coaxial cable.
For very short cables where the loss is less than 1.5 dB, add more cable to increase the loss to within 1.5 dB
and 6.5 dB. This cable can be coiled, taking into account the minimum bend radius of the cable.
When the antenna position is selected, verify that the routing of the coaxial cable from the antenna to the
GTX 3X5 Internal GPS is correct. Correct selection of coaxial cable and installation of connectors is very
important to GPS signal performance.
If a VHF COM transmitter causes problems with the GPS on the selected frequencies as listed in the postinstallation
checkout, the problem can be because of the ELT. To find out if the ELT is a problem,
disconnect the ELT antenna coaxial at the ELT unit. If the ELT is found to cause the problem, contact the
ELT manufacturer.
 
Cowboys Air Ranch 84ME said:
Howdy,

Like the saying goes,... "A picture is worth a thousand words !!"

Thanks for that info. I am elbow deep in working on the Fuel Tank removal, and the Radio issue, and starting the Annual since the aircraft is being tied up anyway.

Thanks all for the input. Keep the pics coming. Will post more as I get going.

COWBOY
Click to expand...
So how did the fuel tank repair come out. Any pictures, tips etc?
 
sekwork said:
So how did the fuel tank repair come out. Any pictures, tips etc?
Click to expand...
Howdy,

Thanks for asking about the repairs to the fuel tank. The repairs worked out nicely, and I have flown some "gentlemen aerobatics" with no leaks or other issues.

Once the tank was cleaned, welded and reinstalled, it actually worked out nicely. Was a little pricy getting the IA to check out everything and do the fabric rework over the tank. But, I do not have access to a heated hangar and it was mid winter last year.

But very happy with the outcome. See Pic of Finished Repair.

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch 84ME
 

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  • TankRepair-1.webp
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We have the same radio and have issues as well. I pulled it and put it in a friend's ground base unit. Tested as good as new... known good.
Trouble shooting steps we've done
New rg 400 cable.... no improvement
New ignition wires... we needed them anyway, no improvement
Disconnect alternator .... no improvement
New shielded p-lead wires.... no improvement

Lastly were individually going through all the radio wiring to check for properly terminated grounds
 
rsrguy3 said:
We have the same radio and have issues as well. I pulled it and put it in a friend's ground base unit. Tested as good as new... known good.
Trouble shooting steps we've done
New rg 400 cable.... no improvement
New ignition wires... we needed them anyway, no improvement
Disconnect alternator .... no improvement
New shielded p-lead wires.... no improvement

Lastly were individually going through all the radio wiring to check for properly terminated grounds
Click to expand...
Howdy,

I did find a ground on the antenna was loose. Repaired that and no real difference, maybe a slight improvement, but not the main problem.

Then I was playing with my Ipad, and unplugged the power to the receptacle and a world of difference was noticed. Further trouble shot and found that the splitter (Duel Cig Lighter plug with duel USB) was the issue.

I scaled it back to a quality stainless steel boat Cig Lighter receptacle and one of them button type duel USB plugs, and it works great now. Tried 3 different brands of USB plugs till one had no static while Ipad was plugged in.

If you have one of these aftermarket plugs, that may well be the issue.

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
 
I'll check to see if I have a cigarette lighter wired into the plane .. zenith.
 
Cowboys Air Ranch 84ME said:
Howdy,

I did find a ground on the antenna was loose. Repaired that and no real difference, maybe a slight improvement, but not the main problem.

Then I was playing with my Ipad, and unplugged the power to the receptacle and a world of difference was noticed. Further trouble shot and found that the splitter (Duel Cig Lighter plug with duel USB) was the issue.

I scaled it back to a quality stainless steel boat Cig Lighter receptacle and one of them button type duel USB plugs, and it works great now. Tried 3 different brands of USB plugs till one had no static while Ipad was plugged in.

If you have one of these aftermarket plugs, that may well be the issue.

Ken "COWBOY" Winiarski
Cowboys Air Ranch (84ME)
Click to expand...

great post Cowboy!
 
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