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.

3 comments

3 Comments

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.

clairem8119d agoTop Commenter

Ever tried this and just ended up with a really clean but still broken altimeter?

mason_knight1mo 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.