KX-155 to KX-200
Just curious on a radio install. I have a KX-155 and the display is getting, not bad, but not how I like it.
I’m debating on just getting it rebuilt or just switching to a KX-200.
Now, it should be a slide in replacement for the 155. After shopping around, I’ve found rebuilt 155’s and they are around 5k and a new 200 is 5.2k.
Would it not make sense to just get a brand new radio if the price difference is 200 bucks or less? And since I’m not an A&P, how long does a radio swap take for just a direct slide in and sign off?
Also, has anyone had or recommend an avionics shop that rebuilds the 155 at a decent price?
Open to options at this point.
Appreciate ya’s.
Comments
Cherokee1;
My personal choice would be to purchase the KX-200. The 155's are all long in the tooth. As you've already found out, the display is the most common point of failure.
I had my KX-155 serviced a few years ago, and the shop told me it's getting extremely difficult to find parts.
Your options:
Contact Bendix-King. I've seen others post that B-K might have an LED or OLED replacement display. If everything else in the radio/GS works well, you may save a lot of money. There are some companies in the wild that will replace the display with an OLED. Be very careful, as I could not find anything on their websites that state their replacement is FAA approved.
The KX-200 is much newer, and therefore more serviceable than the 155. For only $200 difference, it's a no-brainer. Since it's a direct slide in replacement, you might keep the 155 as a spare. Alternatively, you could sell or trade in your 155, and recover some of the purchase cost of the KX-200.
As far as swapping the radios out, since the KX-200 is a slide-in replacement, it should be no more than a 10-15 minute job.
[Edit]: Bob Hart is an avionics guru on this forum. Hopefully he'll chime in with his expertise.
Jim "Doc Griff" Griffin
PA28 - 161
Chicago area
Appreciate the info.
Thats what I was thinking too and I assume it should only be a 30 min job tops to switch out. 5k is in my budget for one but I don’t want to spend additional thousands for a install if that were the case.
And I was thinking about selling the 155 after to recoup some money spent.
+1 on Griff’s reply.
As an alternate, Sept 2023 my KX-155 died. I sent it to Gulf Coast Avionics (Lakeland, FL) where it was resuscitated. The bill was less than $400. You might want to give them a call to compare...I though about the KX-200 but it was available in Sept.
Roe
Well…. Might have to work something out. I’m actually flying to KLAL this Saturday and be down the for week at Sun and Fun..