flyhigh603

GSX .... I thought hard about getting her to a tank specialist but my Mech has found a lot of issues in mid annual . Some being ADs that were never complied but signed off . Some issues with parts installed wrong at previous annuals. My Mech said he can't complete annual because he can't run the engine until tanks are done. Either resealed which calls for stripping or bladders. The contamination is really bad , I saw for myself. It's kinda a catch 22 for me. If I had the real option I'd go with strip and reseal from WW. But for me the reality is im not rich by any stretch .I planned for high annual but wasn't prepared for high annual and a tank job.Also both tanks are compromised so I don't have option to use one tank. So to have my Mech find a ferry tank get it installed $$$ ,that won't be cheap, take off time from work $$$, get a ticket there and back to where ever I could bring her $$$, rental car $$$, hotel $$ , and oh yeah fuel to fly there and back $$$. If I do the math right it just may be cheaper to have my Mech instal bladders. The reason I even posted on here was to examine all advice you great gentleman give, good and bad. Unfortunately I'm in the small minority that comes to aviation with only flying skills and not a fat wallet or silver spoon in my mouth. It seems I meet more pilots with more money than actual flying skills and a lot of pilots with great flying skills but no money.Im in the later which is why I even suggested trying to find used tanks.... If you get up to NH please get ahold of me , maybe we can do lunch and talk Moonies.

Great advice Caruso ! The reasons I bought this bird .... pre buy went great , the prop didn't even make a complete revolution and she was running at start, no corrosion anywhere on frame or internally, she flew hands off and performed awesome , very recent annual with $12,000 spent in last 2 annuals ( allegedly ) , new carb and somewhat recent tank reseal , which now turns out to be a bad patch job. First time my Mech and the instructor I use saw her at my home field they were very impressed in the condition for her age. My Mech told me right up front that he won't work on Moonies prior to 1971 because most of ones he's seen haven't been maintained properly , parts are crazy expensive and difficult to find and almost all have some form of corrosion problems. He said first time he looked at my bird he was impressed and wouldn't mind taking her on at annual because he couldnt find any internal corrosion anywhere. And she sounded awesome , purred like a kitten.So he was also surprised to find the things he has found especially the tanks. So I guess I'm surprised about the tanks .......but I intend on calling Weep no More and WW ,plus Don Maxwell and Dave at Air Mods . Gather all my info and pull trigger in right direction........I still love my Mooney , any Mooney really !

My Mech said that a brand new carb was installed last annual and with only 40 hrs run on her he's never in 57 yrs seen finger screens clog up like that , in that amount of time . One of the selling points was it had annual done a few weeks prior to me buying her and a new Carb. My Mech said its surprising I didn't make the news if you know what I mean. I fly over some pretty remote mountain regions up here in the northeast and if I went down good chance I'd never be found so if my Mech said it's crazy to fly her I'm not going. Kinda a serious bummer cause she ran like a top and I've only had her 7 months. I did go thru logs but I'm not a mechanic that reads logbooks for a living.That said I did a lot of research and did the right things, pre buy inspection from a reputable shop with lots of Mooney exp, thorough personal inspection and very intense first flight with great instructor , Thorough title search .All along the way of purchase I got green lights. At pre buy a few items discovered were corrected by the shop who did pre buy. But I'm still surprised that the old sealant wasn't spotted at pre buy or last few annuals.But I guess some people just aren't as honest as they portray themselves to be. I did purchase the plane from a broker which I will never do again. A lot of the items he told me he had done to the plane is not coinciding with the log books at all. My Mech pointed out that there are some ADs that were signed off on and have never been done. So I guess even going thru all the right steps you still get screwed. After getting #s for everything my bird needs it actually takes my breath away. Some of these parts are astronomical compared to cost of actual manufacture. I mean $10,000 for bladders , really ? No wonder why pilots are getting out of flying and GA is dying .

I absolutely trust my Mech !! and Alan your absolutely right not all Mechs are out to screw every plane owner. My mech has a list of return customers a mile long . All the local CFI`s bring their personal planes to him exclusively. Its funny if a pilot goes to his doctor because something isn't right , and you hear something you don't like , do you change doctors until you find one who says everything seems ok ?? Its very unfortunate " for me " that i happen to be in mid annual and my Mech can't go any further because of serious fuel contamination from failing sealant that should have been corrected 20 yrs ago . He can't run the engine to complete the annual because of serious fuel contaminates. Anyone out there happen to have a set of used bladders for a 1966 M20C in great cond?? or where i could locate some ?? someone mentioned Air Mods from NJ ....There has to be a M20C out there that was scrapped with bladders just waiting to jump in my plane ???

My Mech said that a brand new carb was installed last annual and with only 40 run on her he's never in 57 yrs seen finger screens clog up like that. He said its surprising I didn't make the news if you know what I mean. I fly over some pretty remote mountain regions up here in the northeast and if I went down good chance I'd never be found so if my Mech said it's crazy to fly her I'm not going. Kinda a serious bummer cause she ran like a top and I've only had her 7 months

The carb was replaced at last annual with a brand new one and my Mech said that with only 40 or so hrs run since last annual hes never seen fuel screens clog up like they did. I mean the long finger screen from the carb was packed full. So in his opinion the sealant is failing at an excellerating rate. Not just a little at a time, larger chunks where found at bottom tanks and sealant on side of tank are pretty bad.Which also explains why my sumps were starting to weep, they were getting sealant material lodged in them.The tanks were supposed to have been done 3 annuals ago by some Old timer out of Gainesville Fla.i tried to contact him but I've been told he no longer turns a wrench that he retired some 2 1/2 yrs ago.Looks like he just patched here and there .but again it's the old red sealant that's failing .Such a massive bummer because I had not factored in a full tank job.So major possibility my bird won't see air for a very long time.I just got her 7 months ago so this is hitting pretty hard in the nads......I don't want to fly her anywhere with what I've seen.

I thought about doing it myself but wouldn't bladders that are taken care of last longer than a sealant job ?

Yes she is outside 8 months a year. Never really found much water when sumped but did notice small , small particles occasionally. Occasionally the sumps would weep .But it's the sealant that worries my Mech. I'm wondering if the bladder kit comes with fuel necks? When I got her in July there was no leaks in tanks , but come Sept I was getting a tiny weep . I watched it and my Mech was aware when I had him look at plane for unrelated matter.So no doubt it's a failing fuel tank sealant.

Great looking bird ! Welcome to the club !

Yes I made the mistake of posting twice , I apologize. The Mech pulled rust and sealant from screens and gasolator. Pretty much whole fuel system. My fuel tank cap rings need to be replaced because they are pretty rusted / corroded. Only thing on the plane with corrosion. Funny thing is the reason I bought her was because she was so solid , and ran like a top every time I flew her . At start the prop wouldn't even turn full revolution and she was running. I put about 40 hrs since July , but as I said she was a bitch to start last 3-4 flights. I thought it was just the low temps. I guess I'm just a little hyped up with the news this morn. I factored a high annual being first one I do at my home base but wasn't expecting having to deal with serious tank issues since they were supposedly sealed 3 yrs ago. I imagine that the bladders for a M20C are cheaper than models with more fuel / tanks. At least I hope..... I thought about ferry tank deal but by the time I get one , have it installed etc , I'd be better just putting money in the bladders .

I agree but the Mech just found the whole deal of the tank fuel issue mid annual so there are other issues that gotta be corrected before I can even fly her. And I don't wanna have her fllown after all the sediment that came out of the screens. It's just unfortunate circumstances that prevent me from bringing her to a resealing facility like weep no more. I get it but I don't like it. So what does a strip and reseal go for , ballpark ??

Yes last 25 hrs or so I'd find a little sediment when sumped but figured that was normal because she wasn't flown much before I got her. The Mech I'm using is old school with more exp working on anything that flies than any person I've ever met in aviation. And I trust him completely. He actually showed me the sediment in the fuel screens and what was clogging the primer jet, which is why it was hard to start last 3-4 flights. He also said the last so called sealer job ,they put the sealer over the red sealant which is supposed to be stripped out. The red sealant in both tanks is what is disintegrating and clogging fuel lines which is why he thinks it's unsafe to fly even with a ferry permit , so he won't sign off on a ferry permit. He said he is way to old to be breathing and dealing with the stripping experience , and I don't blame him. I guess I'm surprised that this wasn't caught with the last few annuals or at the pre purchase I had done. But at this point looks like I gotta get bladders. Any one know a ballpark price for a set of new vs a set of used ?? Are they a huge pain in the ass to instal ? And thank you guys for all your input !

Hello Gentlemen ! I have a serious problem.My new to me 1966 Mooney M20C is in the middle of its first annual and i got the call i didn't expect from my Mech . Especially since i had a thorough Pre buy from a shop that serviced Moonies . I can't believe they missed this !!! Aside from the errant things that were missed from previous annuals my Mech discovered that my tanks were sealed with a "Red " sealer that was deemed illegal some time ago. First indication was after 3 months of owning the plane i discovered a small weep from left tank, then she was hard to start last few flights. He showed me where in the last 10 years there was some newer sealant applied but the old red sealant was never stripped out. I noticed my bird was very hard to start last 3 flights because old sealant was clogging up my fuel system ( which i didn't know was going on ). It seems the sealant has deteriorated , flaked off in tiny , tiny, pieces and is clogging up my carb, fuel strainers, and and fuel lines. He said that both tanks were basically illegal for flight so here is the kick in the nads. He won't sign off for a ferry permit to have it flown somewhere to have the tank work done and he absolutely will not ever strip and reseal Mooney tanks ever again. So he said my only option is to get fuel bladders. I trust him completely and he is the most respected Master A&P / IA in the Northeast US. So does anyone out there in Mooney world have recent exp finding and having bladders installed ?? Where do i find them the cheapest ? And can i find used bladders that are airworthy. I`m just an average blue collar joe that is trying to do this safely and the cheapest was possible. I looked up O&N but apparently they went out of business. Any good advice guys ???

Hello Gentlemen ! I have a serious problem.My new to me 1966 Mooney M20C is in the middle of its first annual and i got the call i didn't expect from my Mech . Especially since i had a thorough Pre buy from a so called MSC at Clearwater airport, can't believe they missed this !!! Aside from the errant things that were missed from previous annuals my Mech discovered that my tanks were sealed with a "Red " sealer that was deemed illegal some time ago. First indication was after 3 months of owning the plane i discovered a small weep from left tank, then she was hard to start last few flights. He showed me where in the last 10 years there was some newer sealant applied but the old red sealant was never stripped out. I noticed my bird was very hard to start last 3 flights because old sealant was clogging up my fuel system ( which i didn't know was going on ). It seems the sealant has deteriorated , flaked off in tiny , tiny, pieces and is clogging up my carb, fuel strainers, and and fuel lines. He said that both tanks were basically illegal for flight so here is the kick in the nads. He won't sign off for a ferry permit to have it flown somewhere to have the tank work done and he absolutely will not ever strip and reseal Mooney tanks ever again. So he said my only option is to get fuel bladders. I trust him completely and he is the most respected Master A&P / IA in the Northeast US. So does anyone out there in Mooney world have recent exp finding and having bladders installed ?? Where do i find them the cheapest ? And can i find used bladders that are airworthy. I`m just an average blue collar joe that is trying to do this safely and the cheapest was possible. I looked up O&N but apparently they went out of business. Any good advice guys ???

Hello would you have any interior plastics for a 65 M20C ? Particularly the pilot side wall/window panel... also any toggle switches ? I'm needing the toggle switches for fuel pump , landing light and beacon . I'm in the middle of my first annual and might need a few more things , would you happen to have a list of M20C parts if you have some ??

Anyone have an air induction boot #600064 in good to great condition ? Going thru 1st annual and my mech says I need a new one so I thought I'd try here. My bird is a 66 M20C if that helps ......

Hello gentlemen and fellow Mooney Drivers....I have a "1966" M20C and was hoping someone could steer me in the right direction.I can't seem to find any ref to fuel caps and fuel cap o rings in the parts catalogue . Does anyone know what the part # for the o rings and best place with best price to get them from ?????

Thanks guys I'm looking into the 77852 adapter. Does anyone have pics of their adapter installed

Hello Gentlemen, I have a stock 66 M20C and would like to have a spin on oil filter installed on my engine next annual. Does anyone have exp with having this done ? Is it possible to find a used spin on kit ? Mainly asking to make sure some other Mooney owner has done this conversion so I know I have the room under cowl. Any info would be greatly appreciated.....

Thanks for the info gentlemen !

Hello fellow Mooney drivers !!! any one know where to get the service manual for a mid 60`s M20c ??? I want a hard copy not the PDF files you see for sale on ebay , and don't want to pay $100 plus for a manual. I want to change my oil before " Jane" goes away for the winter dec 1 and don't want to pay a mech shop a couple hundred $$ to do an hour job of a simple oil change.I used to change my own oil on my C-150 but that had an actual oil filter. My old girl has no filter and i assume it has an oil screen which i don't even know where its located on the motor.So anyone know where to get the ACTUAL Mooney service manual for a 1966 M20C ????

Pull out the rear seat/seats and check the main and sub spar for corrosion.If you find any at all thats not a good sign and most likely a Mooney killer.Also the structure tubing on both sides of pilot and co pilot seats.Of course lift your tail and play more than a 1/4 in is suspicious.Also check log books for excessive drop in cylinder pressure over last 3 annuals......just sayin ....

Hey gentlemen hope everyone is well. Quik question, in my M20C manual it says to clean the windshield with "kerosene " .Does this actually work because in my mind kerosene is an oil based product wouldn't this make the windshield streaky and tend to attract dirt and dust? Also I can imagine the kerosene might leave a film. What do the very exp Mooney drivers use to clean their windows ????

Try Texas air salvage and Flying colors air parts they have lots !!