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Probably referring to priming it with the electric boost pump.

I have seen several Moonies with excessive gear pre-load - electric and manual. What A&P would reduce the preload on a landing gear that came to them and risk being blamed for a gear collapse for any possible reason? IMHO this sort of mindset is pervasive in the trade. Typical escape clause: 'aircraft is airworthy with respect to the work performed'

That's the one installed in my Bravo after the Moritz gauge died,

Continuing to clean out the hangar. $225 plus shipping or deliver to Mooney Summit today or tomorrow.

Should've asked what was parked there before. That's a fairly large diameter bolt. Not very many that size on a Mooney.

Hey all, recently redid my panel. I replaced this switch panel with the vertical one. Let me know if interested!

Just redid my panel and have some things becoming available. First up, the iCom IC-A220T (TSO). I replaced this radio with the Dynon SV-COM. It worked great for me, never any issues. For reference, Spruce sells it new for $2150: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/avpages/icom11-14551.php

Ford makes a silicon remover called Motorcraft Silicon Gasket Remover, part number ZC-30A available on Amazon. It works like no other. I use it to safely remove the glass globes on my outdoor lights that are RTV'd into place. I also use it on my boat to remove deck hardware and such. It takes about 24 hours to work, but work it does. That all said, what is pictured is no worse than most. I don't spare the silicon on my engine and in cruise my cylinders run in the low 300's. Don't let "pretty" be the enemy of cylinder life.

I assume this is silicone based, Lowe’s sells something that breaks down the bond between the silicone and the surface. Can’t remember why I have it or if it worked, nothing will break down the silicone itself.

Given the bolt has a smooth section I would think it is used for a moving part, so brakes, engine cowl flaps, control arms (throttle, mixture, prop), landing gear, etc.

Brett the owner of Lasar spoke yesterday, 8/12/25 at the summit and said they are taking over parts manufacturing at Kerrville and they have taken over the factory lease there. They’re implementing updated manufacturing processes and will be manufacturing parts in earnest going forward. I know there has been some negative comments about this deal but they are the only ones that stepped forward and put the money in the game. While some may interpret an increase in parts costs negatively, consider no parts availability. He also mentioned Lasar, as a Mooney parts dealer purchased close to 80% of all the parts Mooney sold into distribution. He also mentioned they would have direct and distributor sales channels. After listening to his presentation and engaging him afterwards my thoughts are a lot more positive. They also presented a concept called Mooney Phoenix they are working on where they’ll be taking trades and purchasing airframes and totally refurbishing them with all the latest technologies, interiors, paint and engines and offering them as an option for a “like new” aircraft purchase. It’s an interesting concept it will be interesting to see how it catches on. They are definitely investing in the continued life of our aircraft in a way nobody else is and the fleet will hopefully live on much longer with their investment.

I wouldn’t do that. Graphite can cause galvanic corrosion of steel and especially aluminum. I believe the Air Force prohibits its use on aircraft.

Seems to be a good example of staggered timing. The mag with the 28 deg BTDC setting should have correlated to the spark plugs that were closest to the exhaust valves. Goal would be for that combustion event to occur slightly before the opposite set of spark plugs (firing at 26 deg BTDC) so that the two flame fronts meet at the center of the combustion chamber and produce the most effective power stroke.

I think the intake and exhaust ports were at the bottom of the cylinders. I think they fired the bottoms first and then fired the tops when the flame front got to the top. That 0-300 was high tech. It as designed in 1938.

Cool cylinders are way more important than pretty RTV.

"One was at 26 and the other was at 28." Maybe for longer spark/burn duration?

It does serve a purpose. what about taping off a section and battering more rtv over it to make it look intentional. may be easier than cleaning.

Once you have scraped off as much as you can. Acetone will sort of take off the residual film. There are silicone cleaners out there. They are expensive. I’ve never tried them.

Yes and no.

Give your shock disc retainers a little shot of graphite powder below the collar.

What would be the best way to clean up the mess someone made with the RTV here? Does this stuff need to be scraped off or is there a solvent that will remove it?

I don't know where the usual case cracks happen in those engines, but if it is anywhere near where the bolt broke, it may be worth it to dye pen both sides of the case to make sure they didn't crack due to flexing around where the bolt broke. This is probably also a low-probability, and a crack may be latent if it hasn't propagated to the outside of the case yet. I only offer that since you asked for other possible latent failure modes.

I’ve been making and selling these tools for quite some time! A Googke search would have probably found them. The Johnson bar can also get bent by being kicked out of the uplock while at cruise by back seat passengers. When it slams into the instrument panel, it can bend it. Do this a few times on a high time airframe and I’m not surprised you found what you did. David

I have an E not a J so there are differences but i find landing at takeoff flaps is about perfect, plane lands slow and go arounds are a no factor. Landing wise, she still is down and stopped in less than 2000ft without really trying.

unfortunately, probably going to be another 5 year wait before the product comes to my little mooney, i really wish they had just stopped selling 100LL back in the 70s