JasonW

I use King Aviation in Moorhead KJKJ and have been really happy with them.

This is a good read if you haven't seen it. https://www.lycoming.com/content/operating-cold-weathe

Send the link and add me also please.

Hello from ND. Just do it and plan on some flexiblity. I made several trips from Fargo to Denver before completing my IFR. Learned a lot. Had to change schedule + and - a day 50% of the time. Stranded in KRAP once, blizzard. The kids loved the water park at the hotel. Ended up just adding to the adventure. The 50% changes to the schedule was motivation to complete the IR training.

Just more info. I did my IFR check ride Jan. 3rd 2016 with an iPad mini on the yoke as my charts. No issue with the examiner. On a less factual basis, what is the difference with the yoke mount paper chart clips that have been used for many, many years?

Donation on the way. Love Mooneyspace!

How much was the quote for the GTX 335? I've got three quotes locally that are all around $4100 with new encoder.

Passed my ifr check ride last month. My experience was similar to yours. The first 20 hours, especially the approaches, was challenging and I had doubts about gaining the needed ability. But, the next 20 hours was amazing and things really started to click. Most of my ability and confidence came in the last 10 hours. It turned out I learned as much about my airplane as the IFR environment and I am a much better pilot overall because of it. Hang in there!

35 flights, 55 hours, and an instrument rating last Sunday. Looking forward to 2016!

Another option for the SIM card is http://www.alarmsim.com/ T-mobile Service, $30 SIM card, $0 monthly fee, $0.15 per text. It seemed to good to be true when I found it but after a purchase 1.5 years ago with $30 prepaid there is still over $20 left in my account. I'm a CB also and bought a cheap low power switch and added my own higher amp relays.

Ditto!

1. My transition was from a rented Archer to a rented Comanche at 55hrs and then purchased my J at 85hr. Did not have an issue at all and am currently working through my IFR in it. I LOVE MY J. The only thing that I feel needs a little more attention, emphasis on little, compared to the pipers I flew is landing speed and x-wind. Speed, efficiency, IFR stability are all better. 2. A frequently flown, low time engine, gps, ifr M20J for 60k is going to be hard to find. 3. The J has a lot of great attributes (I am bias) but I wouldn't discount the earlier models. There are several threads on this topic. Good luck and welcome!

+1 on the Skytec

I've owned my 81' J for a little over a year and had the same problem initially. Many on this site suggest to leave the throttle at 1000 rpm at shut down and don't touch it. For hot start up leave the mixture closed and turn it over. When it fires push the mixture in. Works every time. I do the same on cold starts with the added step of 5 secs of boost pump the the mixture wide open before closing it for start. It really seems to help to have the throttle open to that magic 1000rpm mark.

I used a cordless drill and a drill bit made for metal. Marked both sides and drilled from both sides. It didn't take very long.

Anyone had a KT-74 installed in the North Dakota / Minnesota area? I'd be the first for the places I've contacted and the quotes have been high.

There are pictures in my gallery of the galvanized pipe solution. It is .75" pipe. Outside diameter is very close to 1".

Yes, and it is a painful story. It would just spin and would not engage and ended up being a bendix that was going out. It was Super Bowl Sunday last year and my family and I were 2 hrs flight time, 8 hrs drive time from home. Luckily that day we found someone with the silicone spray and got it to re-engage and got home. The local "old school" mechanic at my home field convinced me not to replace the starter. Instead saying to engage it after shutdown by a quick turn of the key and to spray silicon on it. It worked for three months doing that but I ended up stranding my family in Gordon, NE. It was a good growth exercise for my wife and I but I wouldn't recommend it. The starter was replaced with a new skytec and it is fantastic. Actually hot starts are better also.

We have a spreadsheet to track expenses I can email you. We don't keep the fuel at the same level so it calculates how much each of us used and who is responsible for what. As expenses come up the person that is behind pays for it to keep things balanced. It works for us.

A partner and I purchased a 1981 J back in Dec. and had to do a little leg work to find options. Many just said no. At the time I was an 80 hours TT private with 20 hours of it H/C. My partner was 60ish hours with 0 H/C. One option was around $2200 but required 20 hrs dual and 10 solo (not really an option). The one we ended up with was $2500/yr and only required a CFI that was preapproved with the insurance company to sign us off. I found the transition between the Comanche 260c I was renting and the M20J to be easy and was signed off in a couple hours. The broker (North Star Aviation in Fargo, ND) thought the rate would be substantially reduced next year and even more once we both complete our instrument certification. We have really enjoyed our Mooney, I'm sure you will too! Good luck!

I use my SUV. There are pictures posted in my gallery. Just need to make very slow turns!!!