We have an STEC-30 in our 180, it's about 4 years old. Last year it stopped working. When you power the A/P on the trim up and down light never go off and a system ready status is never achieved. We took it to the avionics shop and it magically started working for about another 8 months. Now it has quit again. We also noticed that the trim wheel is very stiff, it always has been this way and was checked for tensions at each of the last two annuals. The plane does NOT have electric trim. Is it possible that the A/P servo motor cannot POST due to the trim adjustment being so tight. I don't know anything about this autopilot but in my experience with servos I believe they usually turn a small amount in each direction when POSTING for a system ready. Anyone shed a little light on this for me?
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S-TEC 30 and trim problem
- Thread starter Kwhitman
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- Feb 15, 2012
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