1966 172G Problems

In flight smelled smoke

  90-channel radio VERY hot.  Removed radio.

Generator breaker pops for flaps

  removed generator, installed 60 amp alternator/regulator

Barrel DG and white line AI hard to read and interpret

  replaced with standard 3 1/4" AI and DG

2 1/4" vacuum gauge hard to see on right panel

  replaced with 1" gauge between AI and DG

Water leaking/condensing in gas tanks

  new sending unit gaskets, new left vented gas cap

Left tank reads empty at all times

  drained leaky sending unit float bulb and sautered hole

Right tire wears on inside first

  re-shimmed right tire assembly

RPM drop at high altitude high temp

  gapped spark plugs from .024 to correct gap .015

Vacuum pump failed

  replaced with 1000 hour/2 year warranted pump

Severe shimmy on rollout

  loosened nose wheel axle

CHT sending probe not working

  moved probe trailing wire to not touch engine or pipe

Plugs constantly fouling

  replaced old friction type mixture with vernier mixture

Oil temperatures high

  replaced oil screen with spin on filter kit, 40 degree drop

Drops of oil at bottom of valve cover gaskets

  replaced valve cover gaskets with orange cover gaskets

Right tire treads showing
 
  replaced 4-ply tire with 6 ply tire to match left tire

ASI varies, then reading zero in rain IFR

  cleared drain hole at back of tube

Approach says not able to read transponder at low altitudes

  nothing wrong with transponder, just weaker than new ones

Oil pressure drops to 5 pounds, then 0 on runup

  torque oil filter to 17 foot/pounds after oil change

Plane shows right yaw in level flight

  re-installed turn-and-bank on level surface, ball centered

Hard to start, engine does not turn over

  battery fluid low, doesn't hold charge, installed new battery

Rear white nav light inop

  scraped corrosion off contacting surfaces, light works

RPM drop in cruise

  6" right exhaust extension fell off, reattached correctly