---------------------------------------------------------- RV-List Digest Archive --- Total Messages Posted Sat 07/11/20: 2 ---------------------------------------------------------- Today's Message Index: ---------------------- 1. 02:18 PM - KLX 135A issues (vanremog@gmail.com VanRemortel) 2. 08:10 PM - KLX 135A Issues (Gary VanRemortel) ________________________________ Message 1 _____________________________________ Time: 02:18:50 PM PST US From: "vanremog@gmail.com VanRemortel" Subject: RV-List: KLX 135A issues Many RV builders in the =9890s installed a Bendix/King KLX 135A Nav/C omm as part of their avionics suites, right up until everything changed and sophisticated Glass Panel Displays from Dynon, Garmin and the like started to become available. I=99d like to get just a few more years out of my steam gauges, original VM1000 and conventional radio stack setup before I fully upgrade my panel. I use an ASUS tablet running Avare for navigation these days, so the KLX 135A moving map is my backup, and I have ADS-B in/out. I=99ve had a few issues with the KLX 135A that many may soon experien ce. My unit, originally installed new in 1997, now has ~1100 operational hours. I have a copy of the Maintenance Manual to reference for replacement parts, however Honeywell Bendix/King has been somewhat less than accommodating of end users in this regard, instead allowing only shops like South Eastern Aerospace to buy parts and do their repair work. Don=99t get me wron g, SEA is a great shop, but boxing up and sending my unit off to FL for 6wks is not always a good option. Since retiring, I no longer have access to test equipment necessary for proper troubleshooting, but I am a USAF trained technician, comfortable with SMD defense electronics repair. So when I see a simple circuit with a simple problem, I assume I can fix it straightaway, if I can get part(s). The KLX 135A was a solid Nav/Comm at the time, but like all electronics, some components are inherently life-limited. Tadiran TL-5135 battery on digital board requires periodic replacement, Aluminum electrolytic filter capacitors on power supply and audio boards dry out, LCD display on main board bleeds out and reflector photo interrupters on frequency tuning dials get weak. Heat the unit sees when parked on the ramp non-operating contributes significantly to limited life. My internal battery has been replaced twice, once by LAC in San Jose, CA and more recently by SEA, but I=99ve been told it is a relatively sim ple DIY job. LAC replaced the power supply and audio capacitors after us having to phone up the tower and go NORDO into KLVK one day, and more recently SEA replaced the LCD. When tuning of the decimal digits in the radio section began to get sluggish and didn=99t always increment/decrement properl y during rotation, I examined the unit and reviewed the simple circuit. My EE buddy told me the IR LEDs in the photo interrupters were likely getting weak due to age. After buying the last B/K 007-08094-000 parts I could find in the states and replacing them, the unit now operates 5by5. The unit should last another 5 years. Honeywell won't have more parts until Nov 2020. -GV RV-6A N1GV ________________________________ Message 2 _____________________________________ Time: 08:10:11 PM PST US From: Gary VanRemortel Subject: RV-List: KLX 135A Issues Many RV builders in the =9890s installed a Bendix/King KLX 135A Nav/C omm as part of their avionics suites, right up until everything changed and sophisticated Glass Panel Displays from Dynon, Garmin and the like started to become available. I=99d like to get just a few more years out of my steam gauges, original VM1000 and conventional radio stack setup before I fully upgrade my panel. I use an ASUS tablet running Avare for navigation these days, so the KLX 135A moving map is my backup, and I have ADS-B in/out. I=99ve had a few issues with the KLX 135A that many may soon experien ce. My unit, originally installed new in 1997, now has ~1100 operational hours. I have a copy of the Maintenance Manual to reference for replacement parts, however Honeywell Bendix/King has been somewhat less than accommodating of end users in this regard, instead allowing only shops like South Eastern Aerospace to buy parts and do their repair work. Don=99t get me wron g, SEA is a great shop, but boxing up and sending my unit off to FL for 6wks is not always a good option. Since retiring, I no longer have access to test equipment necessary for proper troubleshooting, but I am a USAF trained technician, comfortable with SMD defense electronics repair. So when I see a simple circuit with a simple problem, I assume I can fix it straightaway, if I can get part(s). The KLX 135A was a solid Nav/Comm at the time, but like all electronics, some components are inherently life-limited. Tadiran TL-5135 battery on digital board requires periodic replacement, Aluminum electrolytic filter capacitors on power supply and audio boards dry out, LCD display on main board bleeds out and reflector photo interrupters on frequency tuning dials get weak. Heat the unit sees when parked on the ramp non-operating contributes significantly to limited life. My internal battery has been replaced twice, once by LAC in San Jose, CA and more recently by SEA, but I=99ve been told it is a relatively sim ple DIY job. LAC replaced the power supply and audio capacitors after us having to phone up the tower and go NORDO into KLVK one day, and more recently SEA replaced the LCD. When tuning of the decimal digits in the radio section began to get sluggish and didn=99t always increment/decrement properl y during rotation, I examined the unit and reviewed the simple circuit. My EE buddy told me the IR LEDs in the photo interrupters were likely getting weak due to age. After buying the last B/K 007-08094-0000 parts I could find in the states and replacing them, the unit now operates 5by5. The unit should last another 5 years. Honeywell Bendix/King says they won=99t have m ore of these parts until November 2020 but they can be reached at techsupport@bendixking.com -GV RV-6A N1GV ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Matronics Email List Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post A New Message rv-list@matronics.com UN/SUBSCRIBE http://www.matronics.com/subscription List FAQ http://www.matronics.com/FAQ/RV-List.htm Web Forum Interface To Lists http://forums.matronics.com Matronics List Wiki http://wiki.matronics.com Full Archive Search Engine http://www.matronics.com/search 7-Day List Browse http://www.matronics.com/browse/rv-list Browse Digests http://www.matronics.com/digest/rv-list Browse Other Lists http://www.matronics.com/browse Live Online Chat! http://www.matronics.com/chat Archive Downloading http://www.matronics.com/archives Photo Share http://www.matronics.com/photoshare Other Email Lists http://www.matronics.com/emaillists Contributions http://www.matronics.com/contribution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- These Email List Services are sponsored solely by Matronics and through the generous Contributions of its members.