EGT no reading

[Triker]

Good morning everyone.

One of my EGT's on the Skydat GX2 is reading intermittently/wrong temperature. I started the 582 up yesterday. The one EGT reads 100% and reacts good to the EG temps. The second EGT probe is reading 0 and maybe 5 degrees then for a medium period reads 0 and maybe after about 30 secs- 10 degrees whilst EGT 1 reads 250 degrees at that stage etc etc.

Is the problem my (1)probe
(2) cable
(3) Skydat engine monitor close to the engine where all the wires plug into

I checked all my cables are tightly in at the skydat, so I doubt any loose connections. My other probe reads fine on the Skydat. I suspect it might be the probe?
Or can it be the actual cable itself?
I do get a low reading here and there which means that it cannot be the Skydat thats faulty.
Is it possible to unwined the probe without having to loosten my cables?

Any help will be greately appreciated.

[wiskeyfoxtrot]

Hi Triker,
I have the same problem, the one EGT shows normal and the other goes from normal to off the charts " as hot as the core of the sun " and then on a couple of seconds its back to normal. I have heard that the EGT can be at fault as i have tried nearly everything else. Cleaned the sender box reset all the contacts for the wires, with no success!
Am now gatvol! Pietmeyer had the same problem, he bought 2 x new EGTs but no success ...... what now !
Ive just learned to live with this problem and i keep a beady eye on the other EGT.

Will be away for a while but when i get back i will go and buy a new EGT and replace it and see... will keep you posted

Later

[Morph]

normally EGT probes fail or the wire fails.

swap the wires of the two probes on the skydat and see if the problem moves. If so then it is the probe or wire. If not it is the gauge. Typically it is the wire that breaks due to vibration

[Triker]

I also suspect the EGT probe itself. I took it out yesterday and will buy new one during the course of next week.
WIll keep posted aswell.

thanks for the replies so far

[Dunesand]

Hi Guys,

I had the exact same problem with NEW probes and also replaced wires, made new connectors, the lot!!
The guys from Amptronic advised me to put the 5mm tip of the probes in a benchvice and flatten the tip completely. By doing so all contacts are being restored that possibly came loose due to vibration. I must say the EGT readings are very good and stable now.

Hope it helps.

[Triker]

Hi there Dunesand

If you say flatten the tip, you mean taking a hammer and hitting it ?
Or take a grinding disk?
The tips of my probe on top is round. You mean that squaring it up makes it work

[Dunesand]

Triker, yes, that is what practically could come to (hammer) but I am actually referring to putting the 5mm tip only of the actual probe in a bench vice and flatten the tip by turning the jaws shut. A hammer could be a bit severe in the sense that the rest of the probe shaft is very soft and can bend and break easily - that's why they suggested only the 5mm tip. That is also the part where the wiring leading to the display itself is supposed to be welded onto.
Do not grind in any way!!
I tried to crimp my first set of probes with a side-cutter, needless to say I stuffed it up for good, from there the second set that also didn't work after a while until I flattened it carefully as suggested by the manufacturers.
Good luck.

[Mc Guyver]

Should it not be the lug on the end of the cable that goes into the sender box that should be flattened?

[Dunesand]

Hi,
Maybe your problem is different but trust me but I had endless issues, taking off - landing again - fiddling - worrying etc etc with my EGT readings. As explained I later on bought a new set of probes - after a short while, the readings became irratic again. I tested all wires, and just as I wanted to replace them all togheter, I phoned the guys at Amptronic - complaiiiiiiiiining I tell you. He re-explained the procedure to me because it sounded like a common occurrance of the wires in the probes coming loose due to heat and vibration combination.
Flatten the tip of the actual probe, the part that screws into the exhaust manufold. Apparently the wires inside picking up temperature readings make contact again and provides a reading again.
I must state that I that I tried various types of crimping before hand on the actual tip of the probe - from coaxial crimping tool to side-cutter. I stuffed up good.
The simple 5mm in vice as explained before I did and, touch wood, is still working.
But contact them yourselves:

AMPtronic
email: amptro@iafrica.com
Tel/Fax : +27 (0)11 679 27 54
Mobile: +27 (0)73 31 55 757

Keep well.

[wiskeyfoxtrot]

Thanks Dunesand, will try that this weekend and see... sounds like it could work !

Later

[Duck Rogers]

Thanks Dunesand, will try that this weekend and see... sounds like it could work !

Later

You can even go ask Amptronic how to do it. They're 2 streets up the road from your house........

[Triker]

Just some feedback on the EGT probe.
I replace it with a new one and connected it to the Skydat GX1 receiver and "Bob's your uncle"
Working fine. Although I see a 50-60 degrees temp difference between the 2 probes (no trainsmash)

Thanks for the advise and best regards
Triker

[wiskeyfoxtrot]

Thanks Dunesand, will try that this weekend and see... sounds like it could work !

Later

You can even go ask Amptronic how to do it. They're 2 streets up the road from your house........

Thanks Duckie, will try and " crimp " the probe first and if not will go and see Serge.

Later

p.s. Still owe you a flight in my " deckchair with a wing attached ! "

[wiskeyfoxtrot]

After a long while i seem to have sorted out my revs & EGT problems.
A couple of weeks ago went for a flip and on landing the trike found that all my systems had gone dead on the Skydat 2, no amount of re seating the input wires helped. I remove the data input module and could hear something " rattling " around inside. Took to Amptronics and found that one of the resistors three legs had broken off. Was replaced by Serge in no time at all and tested. I then took the EGT probes and flattend the ends in a vice as discussed in a earlier post by Dunesand. All was reinstalled and what a pleasure to see that the temps on the EGTs are perfect, the rev counter doesnt bounce around anymore either.....

what a pleasure to have it all working properly again.....

Thanks for all the advice & help ......

Later

[Duck Rogers]

I then took the EGT probes and flattened the ends in a vice

See, the bigger the problem, the bigger the hammer must be.........
Works everytime