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Just realized I was testing pitot-static systems wrong for years
An old A&P at the FBO in Tulsa showed me a trick last month - he used a simple hand pump and a digital manometer from Home Depot instead of that expensive test set I always fought with. Told me 'you don't need a fancy box, you just need to know your leaks.' I tried it on a Cessna 172 and found a leak in 10 minutes that I would've missed with the big setup. Anyone else ever ditch the expensive gear for something simpler?
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nguyen.blake1mo ago
Wait, did that old timer show you the right way to hook it up for altitude testing with that setup? I've heard stories about guys using fish tank pumps and water manometers but always figured it was just old timers telling tall tales. But if you can actually find leaks faster with cheap gear, I'm curious how you simulate the altitude changes without the manifold and vacuum regulator setup.
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drewr151mo ago
Seen it work with a fish tank pump and a simple vacuum gauge, no need for all that fancy manifold stuff. You just throttle the pump flow with a valve and watch the gauge drop, and leaks show up way faster than with pressure.
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val_bailey661mo ago
Funny how the cheap stuff usually works better than the expensive rigs...
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