Alan Maurer

Hi Paul, great advise, Thanks,, I will watch out for every retail. I have a question. Thinking that the thru bolts are not the deck bolts that attach the cylinder but just hold the case together. Should they not just have their original torque or should they be removed, relubricated and then put back in and re-torqued. .Are they not located in between the cylinders? Seemed like they shoud be left alone or should they have a torque wrench put on them to ? re tighten?? Thanks Alan

Hi Skip, Thank for the note. The mechanics here at Sarasota Avionics are very competent and careful. I believe a set of new cylinders will keep me flying throught the suggesed TBO and maybe beyond. Thank you] Alan N913ND KVNC

Hi Everyone, Thanks for the replies. I believe Sarasota Avionics has excellent mechanics. But having read Mike Busch, he does not like top overhalls. I think he did top his 310. I will speak to the shop about the quality of the valve guides on new cylinders. I would hope that Conti is doing better and that it is old news. I absolutely do not want to sell the airplane. It is a member of the family, but I am an old fart and concerned each year about renewing my insurance. I re attend our Mooney MAPA training every year and I hope the real training and flying 100 hours per year helps.Have never had an insurance claim in over 50 year of flying. Ovation is a 2008 with just over 1000 hours. Alan KVNC

Hi, I did the STC also. Ovation 2 to Ovation 3. I take off at 2700 RPM. At 1000 AGL i dial back to 2500 for climb. . 2500 is not, in any way, a minimum. You can be more efficient and easier on the engine at a lower RPM. I hope that Skip will jump in. He is smarter than me Alan

Hello Mooney People, I have six brand new cylinders , boxes not opened yet. My Ovation has over 1000 hours since factory new and adding a quart of oil around every three hours or more. Decided to take the plunge and top the engine. I have read Mike Busch's essay " Be Afraid" I have read all about lubrication, torque, cleaning ad nauseum but still nervous about it. I believe everything comes assembled in the box from Continental. ( piston rings already in cylinders etc. Thought alot of fellow Mooniacs have done this and would be glad to have some suggestions of anything to keep an eye on. Sarasota Avionics will do this and I thought I might hang around I did have one cylinder changed at the last annual and told cam looked fine. The rebuilt cylinder from last year has been fine also. The new cylinders do not include new nuts and I asked about not re using the old nuts. I have stocked up on Xanax Alan

I have an Ovation 3 M20R. and I am fairly firm about 75kts indicated on final. Agree that a few knots slower works OK but it seems that anything faster can result in a bounce. After round out , I can close the throttle or leave a touch of power to keep things smooth. . And since these airplanes like to float, I am just patient. This works OK for me. Hope to see a few more opinions! Alan N913ND

Mooney People, Ovation has just over one thousand TTSN and adding a quart of oil around every three hours. Last annual compression were in the fifties and boroscope did not see any valve issues. I am guessing that the rings let the oil get burned but not sure if that deserves a top. A six pack from Continental , if it can be had, is around 20K. Engine runs well and smoothly. Would be glad for some opinions. #6 cylinder was changed at last annual for very low compression and it is fine. It was not a new one as they are hard to get. It came from Zephyr Hills in Florida. Thanks Alan

Mooney People Just completed the yearly course....great instructors and you learn a lot. Locations around the country. a great idea for Mooney pilots Cheers Alan N913ND

REALLY FANTASTIC

That is what I will do.The 24-15. Thank you Alan

Thank You Alan

Mooney People, Just wanted to check battery type for 2008 Ovation. I believe it is a Concorde 24-15 Platinum but not positive. Can anyone tell me? The POH just says 24V 10 ampere hour battery! Thanks Everyone Alan

Hi Will,thank you...I will o. look for it. Alan

Mooney People, A question. Just got a Black Max dehydrator to keep moisture out of engine here in Florida. I. understand some engine breather tubes have some holes drilled in case of icing. I have not looked yet. Does Ovation have these holes and if so , how far up the opening? Are they hard to see? Thanks Everyone Alan

Hello Mooney People I probably cannot fly my Ovation for three or four months. It is in a hangar and would like advice in having the engine. pickled. I was a bike crash in ....Sarasota and have a broken arm and out of commission for a few months. ....bummer thanks Alan

I recently replaced my #1 cylinder (Continental IO550) because of very very low compression. It was sent Zephyr Hills in Florida. They failed the cylinder because of a crack and I wanted a factory new cylinder. Cannot get one from Continental either. So was aa able to get an overhauled one from them. Alan

Mooney People, a question.....Flying Ovation with G1000. Airplane has no manual rudder trim. Only the electric switch. I find I am always having to re trim to keep the ball centered. It seems to drift out of trim frequently. It should stay put once trimmed I think. Anyone have any thoughts about this?? Thanks Alan N913ND

Thanks everyone...great ideas Alan

Mooney People, What do you think about landing at X01 with good 2400 foot runway on hot day in Ovation. POH. lines are a little tricky to follow on graph. Usually use 75 knots approach speed. but can slow to 70 and put out speed brakes and retract flaps on runway.... it has been very hot here in South Florida. Any thoughts? Alan

I Have occasionally just bumped the switch with my hand and it will switch ff the autopilot. I am not a mechanic. Using G1000 avionics in 2008 Ovation Alan

Mooney People, Lots of great notes about oversize bushings, steering horns and steering pivots.Can someone actually explain what these things are or maybe a photo? I just fly the plane (M20R) and never work on it. Sarasota Avionics does that. Thanks Alan

hello Everyone...Thanks for the notes Alan

Mooney People, I have noticed a tendency on rollout to feel a tug to the left and small swerve. I have been thinking I just don't have the rudder trim set correctly. Does that make any sense?? Thanks Alan M20R

Mooney People, read the notes above but where to buy the collars for the circuit breakers? Thanks Alan

That is worth a try!