Pritch

So my 231 is in annual today and the mechanic went to put the 670105 clamp on and it does not fit. For the TSIO 360 LB engine, it takes a 2177-300 which is available at Ram. Its is about $500 more than the clamp I got from Air Power (and they are letting me send it back) and the new one should be here Thursday. Make sure you match the right clamp to your engine. Pritch

They just started the first of April 2025. Although the local pilot are exempt, we are trying t fight it and would encourage all pilots to write the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors about how wrong this is. Pritch

Here in Humboldt County, on the North Coast of CA. a company Named Vector Landing Fees Management teamed up with the county and use ADSB to charge a landing fee ($23.00) to pilots coming in for a visit. Even if they only stopped for fuel (which is an outrageous price of $7.20 a gallon). They have installed antennas at the local airports (4) so by going DARK you can save some $$$$$$. There is a recent article in Flying Magazine By Meg Godlewski about this. So follow the link and save https://www.faa.gov/pilots/ladd. Pritch

Received my clamp today and after inspection there are no spotwelds only riveted. There is also no way that one could add rivets to their old ones as the outer rivets are put in first and then the v band part is attached. Pritch

Ordered the V band clamp from Air Power a month ago and got notice last night that it had shipped. Price was $830 shipped.

Called my 63C back in the Day "Baby", My 84K is called the "Mistress" by my current Wife.

Is your engine driven fuel pump set to the proper settings that are required for the intercooler? When my pump was starting to go out, I was always chasing the manifold pressure, (did not know it was going south). When it finally went belly up and I put a rebuilt pump in and my A/P set the proper flows it was a whole new plane. Many mechanics will set the pump to stock settings not knowing that they are different with intercooler and Merlyn. Pritch

From a flight a couple of months ago. #5 is the hottest and #3 is the stock probe. #6 is a new cylinder and is the coldest. Pritch

Here is the letter @carusoam scanroy.pdf

I have a letter dated June 22 1984 to Mooney 231 owners from Leroy Lopresti. "For a short field takeoff, I put in the cowl flaps in trail, or when I'm really pinched, close them for the takeoff run; they make a significant difference in the airplane's rate of climb. Be sure to open them again as soon as you have cleared whatever obstacle are in your path." Interesting papers one finds in the collection of files that comes with the airplane. Pritch

So here is a question to you 231 pilots. Would you ever take off with the barn door Cowl flaps fully closed in order to have better performance on a shorter runway? Pritch

Hope you guys and gals have fun. And stay out of the smoke. Pritch

Once you have the velco unhooked tilt the seat forward or backward and just pull it up. Pull the seat bottom out and let the carpeted part out of the seatback lay flush. Pritch

Same with one that I went to look at in the Denver area in 2015, picture looked great but when I got there the left tank was empty and a blue stain on the ground and bottom of the wing. The fellow who bought it also found a major electrical problem and had to tear out the panel. I ended up finding mine in SAC that was owned by a hand surgeon that was well maintained. Pritch

I have a spare Red an Green lens if anyone needs them. Pritch

I don't think you drink, but when you do, you always drink the good stuff Pritch PS Keep it up you always have something good to say

But that 6 cylinder cowling makes it look so darn SEXY. I can get 160Kts at 10,000 while burning 9.1 gph, but the deciding factor for me would be if it was a GB and not the better LB engine. Pritch

Could be the clutch on you Alternator, mine was doing something similar. Pritch

In and out done almost 2 years ago, wouldn't fly without it. Pritch

here is one of my favorites, recharge with USB. Sometimes on sale at Andrew/Amanda.com for $42

The test show that the Alt was good, so next easiest to do is replace the reg. (lot easier that pulling the Alt. which is buried on the back of the case). Next you have to pull the Alt off to check the coupler. So if you are paying an I/A to pull it a $110 an hour and at least 4 hours to R&R, one starts the easy way. Fortunately the I/A know my capabilities and allows me to do most of the work under his watchful eye. Pritch

Charging system quit working last week so off to the Maintenance Hangar to check it out. With the initial testing it showed that the voltage regulator was not functioning properly. Ordered new reg. and installed, test flight, a little better but still not right, the only time I got 14 volts was on short final with next to no rpm's. I/A said to pull the alternator, now this is a TSIO360 Continental so the Alt is mounted on the back of the case between the Mags. 2.5 hours later I have the Alt. off and back to the I/A to have him look at it. One quick spin of the gear and he confirms that it is the coupler that has gone bad. Two days and .9AMU's later I am reinstalling the Alt., another 2.5 hours of close quarters work. Quick engine run up and everything is POSITIVE for charging. Worse part is I had just put a new Alt. on two years ago, but used the old couple as it is more expensive than the Alt. Good thing I am retired and have the time to tinker on the Mistress. Pritch

Here is a leisurely flight from KSAC to KRDD, with a slight headwind, a couple of weeks ago. Pritch