JohnL

How do you keep the door seal from leaking when out on the ramp?

Thanks for the information guys. We were climbing at about 120 or so and at first temps looked fine. I wasn't flying, just observing. At the top of the climb I noticed the engine monitor alarm had gone off on cylinder #2 (flashing 460). The pilot slowed the climb but we were leveling off at 14k at that point anyway. I really didn't have much ability to monitor temps after that. BTW, the full power fuel flow was 29.1gph according to the fuel flow readout. I noticed Rocket calls out 31.5 gph for full power. Is that a material difference? Perhaps bowing to the inevitable... how much should I budget for a top on the TSIO-520NB?

Anybody know why cylinder #2 seems to be the most problematic on the Rockets? I've just test flown a Rocket where cylinder #2 overheated (above 460) on a climb to 14k. Looking at logs from others, it seems cylinder work always includes #2. According to a mechanic working on the test flown plane, the cylinder is located on the pilots side closest to the firewall, but in front of the oil cooler. It does look like it would be the most challenging to cool. Baffling looked OK and sealing looked OK to the cowling. According to the logs, the owner had pulled and honed the #2 cylinder about 25 hrs earlier, and owner was saying it may just need more break in. I'm not sure that really sounds right. Shouldn't it have settled down in 25 hours? Now, looking at another plane, cylinder #2 has been replaced due to low compression while all the others have passable compressions (66, 68 and in the 70's). Will this engine (800 hrs TSREMAN) be OK if treated well (CHT below 380)?.

Weep No More, LLC just came back with $3800 labor to install, so $6800 total for long range tanks. But they are in MN and I'm in TX....

Thanks for all the information everyone. The candidate airplane for the long range tanks is a Rocket 305. I have a 1280 mile trip up to Picatinny Arsenal and I need this range to beat the airline up there. I called Dugosh in Kerville and they said they can install the tanks in about 60-70 hrs at a shop rate of $85/hr. So, with the tank kit from Monroy at $3k, I guess I would need to budget about $9K. Dugosh said they had not done one of these in a "long time", which was about 8 months. If they consider 8 months a long time, then I think I am OK. Has anyone else had tank work done at Dugosh? Good outcome?

Wow, 117 gallons! Thanks for the feedback and I am happy you had such a good experience. I have a bladder of steel so I love non-stop flights. It's frustrating to fall short. I've come back from the LA area back to Austin non-stop in my previous Bonanza (tip tanks). Non-stop really makes for easy miles. It's a different story when my wife is with me though (3hr max legs).

I'd like to hear experiences around installing long range tanks in a M20J or M20K. I know that Monroy has an kit option for two 15 gal tanks (with speed brakes). I have a bunch of questions: Are there other options available? Monroy estimates 60 hours installation time but your local shop installs them. How many hours did your install actually take? What shop did you use? What was the total cost? Did they leak over time? Has it been a positive experience?