Does anyone have any info on what is required to install the Bogert copper cables. I have an Archer that I would like to install them in, ideally myself, and get signed off if it's not too horrendous a job.
Some people might call it that. I did mine at a time when I had a lot of other work to do, so that wasn't the only reason to have the plane gutted. If I had to guess how long it would take to do just that job I would guess 2-3 days should cover it if You are handy with your tools. Get some of the silicone terminal boots for the lugs at the relays and starter and have plenty of adel clamps, nutserts, tinnerman nuts, rubber grommets, zip ties etc. because You'll probably see the cables can be laid down a lot nicer than the factory did it.
Steve - I recently replaced the cables in my '78 Archer II. I kept a time sheet; 23 hours were spent on the project. The most difficult and time consuming part was the work needed to remove the old cable and clamps from the back side of the hatshelf bulkhead from the point where the cable runs down the left side of the fuselage thru the bulkhead then down below floor level and then across to the battery box....and then the reinstallation of new cable and reinstallation of clamps in that area. Much of that work was accomplished using a mirror and working by feel since you cannot see and get your hands into the area at the same time. Roughly 2/3 of the labor time was spent in this area. My aircraft has airconditioning; I had to work around that hardware in the tailcone area. This is a job where a lot of patience is needed.
My mechanic and I did the Bogert cables while my Arrow was having the last annual inspection so all the interior was out anyway. With the two of us working it took about 4-5 hours. The hardest part for us was getting the old cables out since they had become quite stiff. We ended up cutting them into small pieces, particularly where the cables come trhough the firewall.
Steve,
Yes! this requires paperwork from Your mechanic. This is a good time to do the battery box mod also. After it's out of the plane, de-corroded, and painted, You can install a sealed battery and pretty much forget it from that point on.
Jim C.
3-4 hours? Come on! You can't strip and re-assemble the interior pieces alone in that time. (at least no one I know).
Some further questions:
Can this be done with removal of the side panels only (76 Archer)?
Or, do the floor panels need to come out as well?
Does the Bogert kit come with adequate instructions?
It's been so long since I did mine I really can't remember much about the instructions, but that tells me they probably weren't lacking (funny how we are most likely to remember the bad things). I can't tell You about what's needed to install them on Your plane but I don't remember the instructions being so specific as to say much more than remove the old and replace with the new.
