0TreeLemur

McFarlane Aviation sells those. https://www.mcfarlaneaviation.com/products/product/SA53S/

Just ordered one. It seems that the Kobalt tool I covet is a thing of the past... Thanks to everyone for the input.

If you like working with your hands, you can do it yourself for not a lot of dough. I had access to a water jet system to cut a new panel from aluminum and did the work myself under the supervision of an A&P IA. The cost for that neglecting my labor, was < 0.5AMU. Doing it yourself gives you ideas, and a chance to change things up for your liking, and spot potential problems (like broken panel isolation mounts). We decided to get rid of the EGT selector and install an engine monitor. The cost of a JPI900, again installed by us under supervision was < 4AMU. Here's a link showing what we did:

What is ACR? Thanks.

I found another photo showing what the top of the tool looks like. I think this thing is cool.

One thing I didn't mention about the Kobalt tool shown in the first picture is that it is light weight. It isn't like a 1.5 lb socket, more like half that. Lighter weight gives one the ability to travel with more tools. Of the four options given by @N201MKTurbo, only one will work with Tempest plugs on an O-360 https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/topages/ATSmagSocket.php Another thing is that the cooling fins on the O-360 are close to the plug, so the max. tool dia. allowable is 1.18"

What you describe is my issue too. My plugs are Tempest. My neighbor's tool is the only one that will reach. I'll take your lead and contact Tempest. Thanks!

My hangar neighbor has a 7/8" hollow, thin walled, deep socket like tube that is about 4" long. It isn't really a socket because you can't put a ratchet on it. Rather you put another 7/8" socket or open end wrench on the top. It is just the right size for removing the top plugs on an O-360 with the doghouse. This was made by Kobalt. Lowes says that they no longer offer this item. I've looked all over for a socket that is long enough to work on spark plugs but haven't found one yet. Anybody got an extra one of these they would part with? The Kobalt P/N is 49887. Apparently they have been out of production for some time. No joy on ebay or Amazon. Here's a photo. The top is about at the top of the photo. Thanks -Fred

You ask a good question that prompted me to study this issue a bit. In my readings of NTSB accident reports where water in the fuel system was a contributing factor it is an insidious problem and some makes and models are more prone to problems than others. Articles that I've read written by folks who fortunately survived this problem most often report that the engine doesn't sputter, it just stops. From a fluid mechanics standpoint, the worst case occurs when the water-fuel interface is just below the intake strainer and the strainer is located near the aft end of the tank. In this case the engine runs great on runup and taxi. However the acceleration of the takeoff roll will cause the water to accumulate in the back of the tank and submerges the strainer. In this condition, only water is being sucked into the fuel system. After t/o the acceleration diminishes, but now the aircraft is climbing with a significant nose-up attitude and water remains in the aft portion of the tank and continues to flow into the intake- and at a low altitude, the engine stops. The entire fuel system is full of water and there is insufficient time to clear it and re-start. Sadly, it often takes more time than the t/o roll for the engine to stop.

Checking the fuel caps is part of every pre-flight inspection. That is how I spotted the difference in the water that was ponded around the perimeter. Also important is ensuring that the caps are installed correctly. Sometimes the caps in Mooneys don't seat properly even when they clamp tight. I like to give my caps a jiggle before pushing the dog down to make sure they are fully seated. I have the blue flourosilicone o-rings. At annual this year they took them off and put rubber ones on. I inspected them and had them put them back on. They have a lifetime much longer than 1 year. They looked like new as they were only two years old.

I echo what @carusoam writes. Last summer while flying from AL to CO a line of convection formed from Texas to Wisconsin. There was no way I was going to go around it or get through it. I diverted to a smaller airport in OK and wound up staying the night. When I left, I asked the FBO to top off the tanks. It poured rain that night. Rainwater even got in the pitot tube it rained so hard with big wind gusts. On my walk around during preflight the next morning I noticed that one of the gas caps had rainwater pooled on top, and the other one didn't. Next, I sumped the tanks agressively looking for water. I'm not kidding it took 17 cups to get all the water out of that tank that had no water pooled on the gas cap. I've got the blue gaskets and ordinarily don't get water in the tanks from rain. The cap wasn't put on correctly by whomever filled the plane.

We bought some aerospace grade epoxy paint that worked great if you are not in a hurry. I think 1 quart with catalyzer was about $115, sot it's a little pricy, but 1 qt. was more than enough. The stuff smells to high heaven though. We applied the epoxy paint when we replaced the back windows so at least they were out for added ventilation. We patched our ABS panels with "plastic grade" epoxy over fiberglass mat after roughing up the back with some coarse sandpaper. I think the reinforcing is going to promote longevity. A little coarse Dremel sanding cyl. action on the face, plastic spraypaint, and viola! Like new.

Thanks @RLCarter! Pneumatic muscle!

I posted a "WTB" ad in the parts section. A MS "member" with 0 posts PM'd me twice with an offer to "help me get what I need". I reported it and ignored. How many posts did "user" harrylyod35 have? If contacted by a noob regarding a transaction, I think ignoring/reporting is good policy. I think that posting in the marketplace/parts category when buying/looking/selling also has the benefit that others can help to spot scammers.

It's here. GOES true color image shows the Saharan dust cloud has reached the gulf coast. I wouldn't fly through it unless I had to. The filter won't catch these particles. The risk is to the most expensive part of our aircraft. Our engines ingest almost 1000 lb of air per hour. Add a teaspoon of dust passing through the filter each hour. If you are ok with that, have fun flying. Numerical simulations call for it to move north over the southeast then back out to the east over the mid-Atlantic region over the next few days. There is another dust cloud behind this one, not sure it will make it to CONUS.

Wish we had a FAQ section. I'd nominate this for inclusion.

Some folks say you should never weigh your plane. Unwelcome surprises often await those that do, I hear.

Prelim. NTSB report indicates engine failure and in-flight fire. Everyone's worst nightmare. RIP

To quote Jeremy Clarkson: "Then some poo comes out."

Aerographics offers complete Mooney placard sets.

Towers sprout and grow. I update the terrain database once per year. Towers are the real threat descending into strange fields on a hot, bumpy, busy VFR day. A friend told me that having the GPS scream at you about a tower ahead is a real attention getter.

Google search "fuel transducer site:mooneyspace.com" turn up a lot. Example:

Yesterday we flew to SEM and saw a several Navy guys with their T-6 Texan II's parked out front, loitering round the FBO with no PPE. It doesn't seem to be a Navy thing.

Another one from 2012...

Regarding sealing the instrument access, @Hector provided a good, workable solution. You probably would do yourself a favor to fashion a "roof" over your avionics stack to prevent falling water from ruining your gps.