GA SMA IN CRUISE 900' OFF ALT BECAUSE ALTIMETER SET WRONG.

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I WAS ON IFR CLRNC OUT OF E KENTUCKY ON V140 FLYING TO CSN TO W 10. CENTER HAD GIVEN ME THE ALT SETTING 29.92. I REPEATED AND SET THE ALTIMETER TO 29.92. WHEN I GOT CLOSER TO SHENANDOAH MOUNTAINS ZDC ASKED ME WHY MY ALT WAS OFF AND TO EXPLAIN. THEIR ALT WAS 29.02. I REPEATED; 'I'M AT 9000 AND MY ALTIMETER 29.92.' CENTER SAID NO AND REPEATED ALT 29.02. AFTER 3 TIMES QUESTIONING THE #S CENTER WAS SAYING I REALIZED MY ALTIMETER WAS OFF--IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SET TO 29.02; BUT NO ONE HAD CORRECTED ME UNTIL CENTER QUESTIONED ME. THE ALTIMETER SETTING WAS MISUNDERSTOOD BY ME. IT SOUNDED AS IF CENTER WAS SAYING 29.92. ALSO; THE WX AT THAT ALT 9000' HAD FROZEN MY TRIM CABLES AND I HAD TO HOLD A HVY GRIP DOWN ON THE YOKE TO HOLD MY ALT AT 9000'. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TRIM IT DOWN. I ALSO HAD INSTRUMENT AND RADIO PROBS DURING THIS FLT. TRYING TO STAY ON THE ARWY AND MY ALT AND IN THE CLOUDS COULD ALSO BE FACTORS AS TO WHY MY ALT COULD HAVE BEEN OFF. I JUST PUT NEW RADIOS AND INSTRUMENTS IN AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THE PROBS I WAS HAVING WITH THEM. AT ONE POINT I WAS NOT ABLE TO TALK TO CENTER AND ANOTHER PLT HAD TO CONTACT THEM FOR ME AND HE GAVE ME A NEW FREQ TO CONTACT THEM ON. SINCE I'VE BEEN BACK I'VE HAD A MECH LOOK AT MY ACFT AND WILL BE TALKING TO A PERSON TO WORK ON MY VOR INSTRUMENTS. I FEEL IF I MISUNDERSTOOD THE ALT THE FIRST TIME CENTER SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME THEN--NOT LET ME FLY AT THAT ALT WITH THE WRONG ALTIMETER SETTING AND NOT LET SOME OTHER CTLR CATCH THE PROB AND QUESTION ME WHY. I REPEATED EVERY ALT SETTING GIVEN TO ME.