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This is one of those rare cases on a Mooney where the lightweight Earth X battery might make enough difference to make it worthwhile.

The problem with the breather tube is as said, it can separate. The problem with going in from the top is you need to bypass the breather tube which connects at the top of the oil filler neck. I took a small skinny funnel, I put the tube. down the funnel until it was flush with the exit of the funnel. I then filled the funnel with "Flex Seal" liquid rubber and let it sit overnight. Now the tube is fixed in the funnel. I remove the dipstick, stick the funnel in which bypasses the breather outlet and nearly connects to the oil tube below with a seal. The funnel nicely seals around the oil filler neck and the dry air gets down into the crank case. I will post a picture of my unit.

100% on the missing washer. Learning as a new M20J owner and didn't know about SB without asking here :-) If anyone could provide OD and length of bushing 914020-001 I'll work out the rest...Thanks!

I really don't mind spending a few shipping $s to get it to you to see if it works. For whatever reason there are no parts number on anything. Let me know and I'll work with you. DD

Following the checklist would rectify that

The SB doc that @47u linked is relevant, and the last page shows a figure indicating the other washer goes between the cowl flap and the cowl. With that additional washer it may help prevent the bolt from backing out since it'll let the bushing rotate more freely. Early Js had some trouble with the cowl flap hinge design and the SB shows the relevant serial numbers. Mine has been reworked a few times and needs it again, and I have to replace some of the bushings every couple of years. Your looks very good in comparison. On mine I make the bushings from brass hollow rod stock. Just saw off a piece the right length.

I'll try a heat shield, it certainly can't hurt and heat is just as likely as vibration. Thanks for the suggestion.

You are correct. I referenced IPC Figure 2 incorrectly for my serial number. IPC Figure 1 would be correct, but I don't have the setup shown with Cotter pin. From pic you can see it seems to match SB M20-231 setup as shown in Figure M20-231-5. Figure M20-231-5 does give me a better idea. I don't have the extra washer between the baffle and hinge assembly. But I'm not sure there is a bushing inside the hinge assembly at all right now which may be contributing to bolt slowly backing itself out of nut plate. What is the correct OD and length of bushing 914020-001 (so I can source one)?

I have NOT looked at the IPC, but are you sure that spacer is in the right location? To my eye the more logical location would be between the cowl flap and bracket with a washer on each side of the bracket (i.e. one under the bolt head and one next to the spacer and bracket). Hopefully, a few J owners will have input/pictures to settle this.

re: going up the breather tube, when I went to depart on Friday for MooneySummit, with I pulled on the tube to remove it, it separated inside the tube at one of the joints. Not far enough where I couldn’t get it with a pair of needle nose, but enough to end that practice and putting it into the oil fill tube from now on!

Is the installation of the ALY-8520 accomplished with an STC? I’d think that paperwork would include the part numbers for the brackets? If I remember, @Ragsf15ehad an F model (and he’s since upgraded to the Encore) but if you can track down the STC paperwork that might help your search for the right bracket.

I did almost the same, but used a scrap piece of baffle. Not installed yet in the picture, I ran a .032” safety wire between the screws so the baffle wouldn’t fall off. (And I replaced the exhaust ball-joint hardware with castellated nuts and cotter pins.) The landing light lens cover may cure more vibration than you realize. When previous owner installed the 3-blade McCauley, he didn’t like the vibes. Had the prop dynamically balanced, still not happy. Smoothing of the cowling surface with the lens cover is what finally made him happy.

I don’t think it’s from your Airplane. If it was maybe look near the alternator attachments and brackets. There is a lot of movement up there. -Matt

It’s probably heat, vibration, or a combination of the two. On my 1964 M20C, the exhaust runs very close to the back of my LED landing light. I put an insulator on the back of the light and also the power wire to protect from the heat. I leave my landing light on 100% of the time. https://www.amazon.com/Peastorm-Automotive-Aluminum-Material-Insulation/dp/B0BX4LHQFV/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3R301M5FCJOXT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.X8-E20apS5KXh8QN_b2ysQPcg-5W6PvzAMLy8BQfSbqvILP4mASqnNseqp2rW4I6j8JqD-oXaF7l1GnwUCJW_8rs5hSXKTElz_sx3pXhjTXnvxSq8NET-NCNiXvSmsbfqhp5Mvq3VtzONdFH5awIGq1UP-Y08o2mWh53k9DWp4YmqpUF6vxB5VlcVWMamJGtJhdA-en1V8bBDbTa2sgWmhu_VJUhTszke-j7AXj2rj4.fFEuNCWLzF4Qz9QR2Im_sMCBTc-MDD44aUslEwS_1UA&dib_tag=se&keywords=car%2Bexhaust%2Binsulation&qid=1757866707&sprefix=car%2Bexhaust%2Binsulation%2Caps%2C126&sr=8-10&th=1

I forgot to mention that my comments about Mooney's lack of information in the POH are relative to the 1977 POH for my J. It appears that later aircraft POH's included additional information and recommendations that align to my findings today (and a lot of your recommendations) and would have been greatly appreciated if included in my POH!

One thing you can do if you are using incandescent is to orient the filament vertical. That makes it less susceptible to breaking. The factory did this on the R models and up. It requires cutting a new orientation notch in the retaining ring. That said, do not discount the value of prop balance. It makes everything from avionics to fasteners last longer. I usually get 3-5 years out of a balance.

I really appreciate all of the inputs on this topic. The article about landing a Mooney reinforced a lot of what I have been told. My one "complaint" with GA aircraft ownership relative to this topic is the lack of "truth data" regarding the flight characteristics and OEM provided operating techniques (all relative to what I am accustomed to with military aircraft operations). I feel certain that the lack of data and recommendations is due to the OEM's concern for liability (not unfounded) if they provide detailed recommendations that someone claims leads to a mishap. Bottomline, missing this information leads us all to essentially acting as test pilots and having to discover for ourselves the "right answers." Unless you find a CFI that is experienced in your type/model/series aircraft, they may not have the capability to teach you safe techniques for your specific aircraft. So, relying upon the best data as recommended (POH) and the best "consensus" on technique, I went out to discover for myself some numbers. Here are the numbers I captured in my flight today (stall warning, Vso, 1.2xVso and 1.3Vso - all in MPH): full flaps (65, 61, 74, 80), takeoff flaps (68, 63, 76, 82), no flaps (74, 68, 82, 88). All of this data was captured at 3000' MSL, gear down, level flight, about 15" MAP and roughly 2500 pounds. Each stall was taken to a true "break" and not just airframe buffet (occurs about 2-3 mph prior to the break). First note is that the aircraft stalls in an incredibly predictable manner, no bad behavior (stall tone, then airframe buffet, then a nose beak with only a small roll off that is easily countered) and recovery is very controllable with almost no altitude loss. I then performed a series of circus landings using the technique recommended from the article: approach at 1.3xVso and cross threshold at 1.2xVso, idle power and a smooth roundout. No flap landing was not dramatic and when flown on the numbers above was very straightforward (resulting in the aforementioned higher nose up attitude), same story for takeoff flap (I can see why there are a lot of folks who prefer this configuration as their "normal") and full flaps was definitely more predictable and controllable using these numbers and this technique (however, as mentioned, it results in a flatter attitude but comes with the benefits of the shortest landing rollout). Conclusion, previous to today, I was carrying 4-5 mph more than necessary as I was flying at 1.3xVso all the way to roundabout. Slowing to 1.2xVso across the threshold was a game changer. Given the 13mph buffer between 1.2xVso and stall, I feel "okay" about this technique, but sure would love it more if Mooney had provided the test flight data and recommended techniques to go along with my test flight.... Hope everyone has a great day. Fly safe and fly happy!

Ah yeah, their site seems to be having issues. It won't open at all for me at the moment. Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

I can believe that, I've seen vibration roll properly torqued nuts right off a bolt on heavy equipment. Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

At a previous job we did HALT (Highly Accelerated Life Testing) testing on circuit boards. With enough vibration, the surface mount parts start popping off like popcorn.

Spinner? In confused. The first link is a PAR46 sized rubber gasket. Second link, which is broken on the server side right now, is for a piece of clear acrylic that covers the landing light recess to allegedly reduce the wind buffet on the lamp. Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

I may actually have an aly-8520 in my hangar collecting dust. It was working as well, but could probably stand new guts. We took it off my ‘68F and installed a new plane power alternator only to find that the alternator wasn’t the problem. Eventually I found a slightly corroded connection that was causing my issue, so long story short, I have an alternator. Ill get a picture of it this afternoon. The bracket might be tricky. Have you tried BAS? I’ll look, but i thought my mechanic reused my bracket for the pp alt.

I'm no expert, but that doesn't look like a spinner to me.

I think it's a year, if I remember right. First one died outside that, this one only lasted 8-9 months. I'm going to see if I can get them to warranty it. I did get a different brand this time, the problem though is that the Aero is $200 and the Whelen is $400. I'm scared to spend more and end up with the same short life. Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk