Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

[Frank]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

21 years Air Force maintenance, seeing over 10 aircraft accidents and being in 1, I review, question everything. Don't get me wrong, there are very good mechanics out there, but I will still review. The mechanic I use is very good and he encourages and likes owners to ask questions and is glad to show you what is wrong and what is fixed. So I do it mainly for Safety, secondly because I like working on the plane, thirdly the cost savings.


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Exactly!
And because I work on the plane and watch what all is going on I have a good knowledge base to work from when something does not sound right or feel right.
My AP/IA is outstanding and I have watched him work on my other airplane and my Commander and he is super careful and does know what he is doing.

 

[proppilot]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

@Randy, not to pile on too much but please orient yourself around this group/site before spending much more money and especially where you spent the last money. I think the comment about how much time it took to diagnose and the lack of knowledge around finding the O-rings is a harbinger of things to come. Jim has the kits. My A&P rebuilt the nose actuator in about 30 minutes right before my eyes one year after we had completed the annual and upon final release/inspection we found a drip. He did not even remove the end attached to the airframe.

The lesson was clear. Find a shop/mechanic that either knows Commanders or knows complex piston aircraft well and your cost of ownership will drop faster than your gear !

Tony

 

[randyfullmoon]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

Thanks for all the responses. And I did just join this group with my $75.00 membership. As a note, I purchased my Commander a little over a year ago from a mechanic in CT. This "mechanic" had just completed the annual when I purchased. Turns out, I think he simply changed the oil and called it a day, thus the extensive annual by LandMark. I have bitched and moaned throughout this recent annual due to the costs incurred, but every inspection seemed to turn up something else that needed to be tighten, or replaced. My passenger seat track had a small bend in it, and after a lot of searching I found three replacements. I purchased this 24" piece of aluminum for $350, though one place wanted $850. I think LandMark charged me close to $3000 to take the old one out and replace? And it worked fine before this small bend/crack was discovered.... I have learned from all of you guys, and thanks. Will go somewhere else in the future for sure..... Much appreciated...Randy Russell

 

[Commander91gm]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

Randy.

Removing the seats is somewhat technique sensitive and many tracks have been bent by A&P's that are not familiar with the process.
Chances are they bent the track removing the seats and it cost you 3 grand because you weren't able to say it was not bent before you brought it in.
Search for seat removal and you will find a procedure someone wrote up. It might also be in the hangar section.

 

[Jamesdub]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

Randy.

Removing the seats is somewhat technique sensitive and many tracks have been bent by A&P's that are not familiar with the process.
Chances are they bent the track removing the seats and it cost you 3 grand because you weren't able to say it was not bent before you brought it in.
Search for seat removal and you will find a procedure someone wrote up. It might also be in the hangar section.

Pulled mine for this annual, Pilots came out as advertised, 5 mins top. Co-pilots was another story. We were sweating in 50* temp. I think it was the carpet getting loose around the track, but as you know, VERY aggravating. I'm a firm believer in - if you can manage the carpet the seats will come out much easier. We also had the rear seat out, gives a bit more room to maneuver . . .

 

[Commander91gm]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

Thanks for all the responses. And I did just join this group with my $75.00 membership. As a note, I purchased my Commander a little over a year ago from a mechanic in CT. This "mechanic" had just completed the annual when I purchased. Turns out, I think he simply changed the oil and called it a day, thus the extensive annual by LandMark. I have bitched and moaned throughout this recent annual due to the costs incurred, but every inspection seemed to turn up something else that needed to be tighten, or replaced. My passenger seat track had a small bend in it, and after a lot of searching I found three replacements. I purchased this 24" piece of aluminum for $350, though one place wanted $850. I think LandMark charged me close to $3000 to take the old one out and replace? And it worked fine before this small bend/crack was discovered.... I have learned from all of you guys, and thanks. Will go somewhere else in the future for sure..... Much appreciated...Randy Russell

Randy
There is an article out there that was written by Mike Busch on annuals (there might even be a video of it on the web )
I think this is the link http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1268563560001
He says that an annual should be nothing more than an inspection . From that you should get a list of discrepancies ,and they should be categorized by, flight issues,future issues and optional nice to have stuff (his categories might be slightly different )

Then as an owner you should be able to decide what you want to do now, and what you want to do later. If any shop gives you a list and says that all has to be done or they will not sign off on the airframe ,they are not reputable. No one should be forced into 18k of work on an annual.

 

[alandotson]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

Randy
There is an article out there that was written by Mike Busch on annuals (there might even be a video of it on the web )
I think this is the link http://www.eaavideo.org/video.aspx?v=1268563560001
He says that an annual should be nothing more than an inspection . From that you should get a list of discrepancies ,and they should be categorized by, flight issues,future issues and optional nice to have stuff (his categories might be slightly different )

Then as an owner you should be able to decide what you want to do now, and what you want to do later. If any shop gives you a list and says that all has to be done or they will not sign off on the airframe ,they are not reputable. No one should be forced into 18k of work on an annual.

I seem to remember that Mike Busch via his MX management service, on a few occasions, was able to revisit the final invoice and get some items removed or reconsidered. Might be worth a call to him to see if he has suggestions which might help you, AFTER THE FACT?

Additionally, when you need parts or information, ask here first. Example: The seat rails were a topic here a couple of years ago... New extrusions were produced and many of us ordered sets as spares for future need. May still be available from producer or someone here might sell a set to COGer in need! Think much cheaper than prices you found.

Many of us have learned to become the authority on our own airplanes. When my mechanic needs something, I know where to get it, I do the research, OR I ask here and someone almost always has some great information.

Alan

 

[usmcs6]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

An annual is an inspection. Nothing more. A shop cant force you to do anything. They can not sign it off as airworthy, but that cant make you do anything. We always provide a list of items that we deem as "airworthy" problems, i.e crack in the heat muff, a list of items that we feel require attention, i.e worn bushings in the elevator, but not effecting the airworthiness and a list of items to consider, i.e, hoses getting brittle or minor corrosion.
Just the way we do it.

 

[gmores]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

And yes, new seat rail stock is still available from Associated Aero in OK. Info in the Hangar section of the site.

But $3K to install seems a bit outrageous to me. At $95/hr, that's over 30 hours. I'll let some of our professional AP's speak to the amount of time it would take them to install, but even if I did most of the work myself in my super-slow mode, I don't think I could burn 4 days on the project.

 

[Planecents]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

Hey Glenn, the seat rail link is broke. Looks like it has a double whammy in the url for it.

And yes, new seat rail stock is still available from Associated Aero in OK. Info in the Hangar section of the site.

 

[gmores]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

Thanks for the catch Craig. Fixed

 

[rgorman]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

FYI er - Changed all four seat rails at last annual with Associated Aero type. The mechanic charged me $1000 labor. Seemed like a good deal to me because it took them a while and he changed the rollers too. Can't see how anyone could charge a whole lot more than that though.

 

[gmores]

Re: Nose Actuator Replacement Parts

FYI er - Changed all four seat rails at last annual with Associated Aero type. The mechanic charged me $1000 labor. Seemed like a good deal to me because it took them a while and he changed the rollers too. Can't see how anyone could charge a whole lot more than that though.

That sounds about right Robert.