Skyland

Maybe you just offered an explanation for my dual mag failure last year. The follower blocks on both points wore or melted down simultaneously causing both point gaps to go to zero. Turns out the A&P who installed the mag unknowingly had a condenser wire touching the cam or shaft.

As long as we're waiting to hear back from the trim motor resolution... Lucas - "Inventor of the intermittent wiper"

Similar problem on a 77 J trim motor a while back. Removed the cover and discovered the brush ring had come loose. After reinstalling the brush ring the trim motor functioned normally again. Sometimes you get lucky. I like the electrical engineer's mantra in that most electrical problems are really mechanical problems - a broken wire, bad connection, cold solder joint, etc. The components themselves on a properly designed circuit are usually quite robust.

The fuel selector in my 1979 J also was very stiff. Mine is an Anderson Brass unit located in the center of the floor just aft of the center console. The parts manual says serial numbers 24-0378 to 24-1176 could be Airight or Anderson Brass. That's in the 78-79 time frame. It was an easy fix. If the Airight is similarly constructed maybe it can be serviced as follows. Lower the fuel levels (of course) then unscrew the selector nut that surrounds the shaft. Lift the selector nut over the shaft along with a spring that applies downward pressure to the diverter cone. Lift the one piece selector shaft and conical diverter cone out of the fuel selector body. Apply a VERY thin coating of EZ Turn Lube (Aircraft Spruce) to the cone and reassemble using new orings. MS9388-016 (1/16x5/8x3/4) for the nut and M83248-1-011 (1/16x5/16x7/16) for the shaft. Use oring lube on the rings, not EZ Lube. All this can be performed from inside the cabin without removing the fuel selector body or fuel lines. Hope this helps.

Mine is doing something similar. Flew to the east coast a few months ago and all was perfect until about an hour from my destination. Just flying along and the engine started fluctuating a bit as you describe. Analyzed engine data best I could, saw some RPM variance, oil pressure solid, fuel pressure slight variation but I don't know how solid it should be, CHTs, EGTs all normal. So is it the prop governor or is the engine power changing and the governor is doing its job to keep the RPMs constant? The return flights to the west coast were mostly fine with the issue only occasionally occurring. Just returned from another coast to coast trip and the engine ran perfect. So I'm still in the watch and see mode but it would be nice to know what's up on those rare occasions.

If the Amphicar had wings I wouldn't want to fly in it. But it's a piece of transportation history and always draws a crowd. The fun factor needle is way up there.

Nice day yesterday in Hollister. Cal Fire tour, glider introduction and a nice lunch. Look forward to the next Mooney west coast fly-in.

Hollister Mooney fly-in tomorrow - Saturday, May 27. Yes, the all too common IFR in the morning but forecast to burn off around 10 with VFR after that. Show up when you can, parking near the fuel island. Glider introduction, Cal Fire aircraft tour and lunch. Hope to see you. Ken 408-605-9702

Hollister in a week - May 27. I confirmed with the Cal Fire folks for our aircraft tour as well as Hollister Soaring Center. I’d like to give the restaurant a heads-up on the number so if you think you may be coming send me a quick note (if you haven’t already) and I’ll let them know beforehand. Thanks and looking forward to seeing you all. kenchambers2 at “gee”mail dot com

Hollister is in a big open valley clear all the way to San Jose. A low mountain range to the west between it and Salinas helps keep the summertime coastal fog away. All the California valleys can be shrouded in morning fog at times but usually burns off by noon.

Two weeks for the Hollister get-together. I’m out in Georgia now with my Mooney but returning in a week or so. I see several have expressed interest in attending. Kindly reply here or privately to me if you think you may come so I have some idea of the numbers. Thanks kenchambers2 at “gee”mail dot com

Reminder for the Hollister fly-in three weeks from now. Look forward to seeing a friendly crowd.

Weekly ping for the Hollister Mooney get-together May 27 Let's get together in Hollister (KCVH) for some fun. Hollister is one of CalFire's 14 air attack bases in California. https://calfire.blogspot.com/2012/05/cal-fire-hollister-air-attack-base-is.html The friendly CalFire folks look forward to giving a facilities and aircraft tour for us Mooney pilots. Their firefighting aircraft arrive beginning of May for the season along with ongoing training activities. Hollister Soaring Center is located next to CalFire and they'll also give us a tour of their glass ships. https://hollistersoaringcenter.com/ And what's a Mooney fly-in without food? Seabrisa's Eatery is very good and right there as well. (The restaurant doesn't appear to have their own web page. This link didn't seem to work last time but try it again or Google it). https://savorsanbenito.com/places/seabrisas-eatery/ Tentative schedule: 11am - arrive and tour the glider operation noon - CalFire tour 1pm - Seabrisa lunch Looking forward to seeing you all.

Let's get together in Hollister (KCVH) for some fun. Hollister is one of CalFire's 14 air attack bases in California. https://calfire.blogspot.com/2012/05/cal-fire-hollister-air-attack-base-is.html Just visited the friendly CalFire folks there and they look forward to giving a facilities and aircraft tour for us Mooney pilots. Their firefighting aircraft arrive beginning of May for the season along with ongoing training activities. Hollister Soaring Center is located next to CalFire and they'll also give us a tour. https://hollistersoaringcenter.com/ And what's a Mooney fly-in without food? Seabrisa's Eatery is very good and right there as well. https://savorsanbenito.com/places/seabrisas-eatery/ Tentative schedule: 11am - arrive and tour the glider operation noon - CalFire tour 1pm - Seabrisa lunch So mark your calendars for May 27. As the date approaches it would be good to get a headcount so the venues can get a heads-up on our numbers. More later.

Alternator troubleshooting guide may help. https://planepower.aero/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Troubleshooting-Single-Engine-Externally-Regulated-Alternators.pdf

My '79 J had a similar issue after a pitot static transponder certification. Upon departure the landing gear would not retract, had to push the override button. Upon testing the airspeed gear safety switch it would click the microswitch at 105 knots instead of 75 knots. Don't know why the cert process whacked it out of adjustment. The shop denied doing anything wrong and wouldn't own up to it. Fortunately, I was able to adjust the switch back to specs and it's been working correctly for two years now. At least on the Whitman General switch there's a set screw on the side to move the plunger in and out to get the switch to click at 75 knots. It's a sensitive adjustment but doable. I used a long length of soft silicone tubing from the pitot tube to inside the pilot window. By rolling the tube you can accurately control the pitot pressure to make the adjustment.

A recent thread on the topic.

At Livermore KLVK. At their hanger or they make the rounds to Bay Area airports. http://www.precisionstatic.com/PST-services.htm

Ya, we'll order up better weather for the next one.

The weather has been quite dynamic on the west coast the last few days. Was hoping today would work out. Nice at Watsonville now. Good for a short flight this morning, scattered clouds clearing out. I’m here at the restaurant if anybody shows up today. Let’s try another weekend soon.

As just mentioned in another thread, the Watsonville fly in has been changed to tomorrow from Sunday due to weather concerns. Tomorrow, noon Saturday 2/25 Watsonville KWVI. Lunch at Ella’s in the terminal building around 1. Sorry about the last minute change. Hope to see you there. Fly safe.

Okay, weather is looking a bit nasty with low ceilings and rain for the Sunday fly in at Watsonville. However, tomorrow’s forecast shows nearly clear skies and dry. Added benefit of seeing all the snow topped mountains around the Bay Area. So tomorrow it is, Saturday 2/25, Watsonville Mooney get together at noon. Lunch at Ella’s in the terminal building around 1. Sorry about the last minute change but given the weather conditions it’s the right thing to do. Hope all those who were planning to come on Sunday can make it tomorrow instead. Looking forward to meeting all those who show up. Fly safe.

Agree. Bakersfield area - KPRB - KSNS - KWVI. Watch the restricted area NW of Paso Robles. Just stay slightly east of it. Stay above Salinas Class D (2500 MSL), or contact the tower to transit, or skirt the Class D. From Salinas that will put you on the 45 degree entry to Watsonville runway 20. That's the preferred runway nearly all the time. Watch the weather this Sunday. Ceilings look to be in the 3000 MSL range around Watsonville, higher around Paso and unlimited for Bakersfield. Maintain cloud and terrain clearance over the hills east of Paso. Nice low valley from Paso to Watsonville. Congrats on getting back into flying and we look forward to seeing you.

Watsonville KWVI this Sunday, Feb 26 for those who can make it. Weather looks to be a bit unsettled between winter storms so fly safe. Hopefully the day will be clear enough to witness the predicted winter wonderland of all the Bay Area mountain ranges. A rare event for around here. I’ll be on the ramp welcoming people. Lunch around noon.

To be clear, the original talked about date for the Watsonville Mooney get-together was for this coming Sunday with a backup date of Feb. 26. Being that I'm based in Watsonville I volunteered to organize some activities. However, I'm traveling and won't be back until next week so I enlisted the backup date of Feb. 26. Unfortunately, the weather forecast is looking much nicer for this weekend than the next. Not much I can do about either the weather or my schedule so fingers crossed that the weather will be flyable for everyone on the 26th. If anyone wants to make a command decision to change the date to this Sunday, feel free to do so and put out the word. Let me know and I can help by calling the restaurant and the airport management. Otherwise it's Feb. 26. ---Ken Chambers 4zero8-6zero5-97zero2 And, that would be the historic Giant Dipper wooden roller coaster. https://beachboardwalk.com/rides/giant-dipper/