btbunch

Many thanks to all who have replied. The advice has been informative. My A&P/IA is out of town until next week, so if do fly, I guess I'll be flying it as a M-20-d below 120 mph. This is a great board and I hope I'll be able contribute to it in the future. Again, thanks to all.

Thanks, DXB, after reading the first reply, I got my spray lube out and started getting ready to go out to the hangar and do just that. If only it is as simple fix as a little grease I would be one happy Mooney man!

i have lubed it every annual. The majority of the annuals were done by a Mooney A&P/IA. who is unfortunately no longer with us. The aircraft has gotten very good maintainance , but is 52 years old. When the release button is depressed the u-shaped pin moves right buy the sleeve will not slide down the bar.

I have flown my 1965 M-20-C, 5798Q, for 20 years. Yesterday, The johnson bar locked in the gear down position and won't budge. The release button moves, but the sleeve will not slide down. I tried everything I couls , but no-go. What has broken in the release mechanism/ I know I'm lucky to have locked gear down, but...