BDPetersen

I will have it up on my jacks tomorrow. Looking at the pix accompanying the LASAR latch info, I fully expect mine to look like the old latch they show with a grove worn that is snagging the collar's movement. We'll see. The fix looks easy. Its a 5600 hr airframe

As I think it through, it seems the issue is in getting the thumb button to let go of the slider. (Maybe that's obvious.) My arthritic thumb may not be as strong as it once was, but I don't recall working the latch being at all difficult, rather mastering the swing gracefully was the art. Anxious to research the LASAR latch. I guess I've been pretty active. Before the M20C, a Citabria 7ECA (which is now reluctantly in search of a new home) (turns out 84kt x-c's required more character than I could muster). Before that an older C310 preceded by an M model Bonanza. Then there's the Stinson my dad flew back from the factory in '47 and I bought from him in the 70's and still have but is down for a restoration. There was a 37.2 year stint with Northwest Airlines that ended 10 years ago. Prior to that a couple years at Purdue flying DC-3's and -6's. And before all that, an Iowa farm boy that got to fly a few Mooneys back from Kerrville and give dual in an M20D, gear down and welded. Still doing the CFI thing when they can catch me

Oops. Fixed N number. 2582W is a '66 built Dec, 65. Gave all latch items some lube during last flight. We'll see. Thanks for the welcomes and interest. Aviation terminology is fascinating. Wonder how many aircraft have had something called a "Johnson Bar"? Don't think it was used so much for the Mooney gear in the olden days. Kinda like "conventional gear" becoming "tail dragger" I guess. Been at this too long.

I flew my 1st Mooney in March, 1964, between then and 1970 accumulating some 400 hrs of Mooney time. Not so much thereafter until last week when I purchased a beautiful M20C. It has been delightful recapturing a bit of my youth. My manual gear swinging skills came back quickly with one exception, the latch. This one seems inordinately difficult to unlatch, to the point of needing both hands (not a good idea). Getting the thumb button fully depressed and then the collar to slide takes greater effort than I recall. It seems forward pressure may help. (Yes, I was 18 then and 70 now, but . . .) I am guessing that before getting it up on jacks and exploring, you folks probably have some ideas of what to check out. In the '60's these were new airframes and I'm sure there are wear issues by now. BTW mine is a 5600 hour plane.