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Rant: My weekend project fixing a vintage altimeter reminds me how tech has shifted.
We used to understand every part, now it's just swap and pray.
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laura_coleman26mo ago
Ugh, totally get that. On old avionics, a good trick is soaking the seized barometric capsule in lighter fluid overnight. Those tiny gears inside get gummed up with old grease. You'll need a set of jeweler's screwdrivers to get the face off without stripping anything.
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clairem816mo ago
Ever tried this and just ended up with a really clean but still broken altimeter?
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mason_knight6mo ago
That lighter fluid trick can work, but be careful with it. Some older plastics don't play nice with harsh solvents from what I've seen. You might end up with a cracked casing or faded markings if you're not lucky. A gentler soak in isopropyl alcohol often does the job without the risk. Still, for really stubborn grease, your method has saved a few altimeters for me. Just test it on a small part first to avoid bad surprises.
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