WeldWade

Spring pressure problem, valve guide problem, lash problem possible. Too late to check lash but I would be checking spring pressure on every spring and the guides. Do you have a bent push rod? Don't rule out a valve train issue. I'm not an aircraft mechanic but I've worked on engines all my life. Looks like a possible loose lash situation to me. Poor heat treat or metallurgical issues usually aren't just one lobe in my experience. Just my .02 from my experience with racecar stuff.

I will shoot him a message for sure. I have not ruled out buying a C to train in, gain hours, experience and ratings. If I did it right it could be a smart thing to do. Wouldn't be a wash when I would be ready to move to a Bravo but, it is an option that I think needs to be considered. It would sure help with insurance I'm guessing. Springerville needs to build some hangars! Wind is the issue here most of the time for me. A calm day is a rarity around here.

Every camshaft with beginning lobe failure that I've ever seen looked like that. If it were me I'd replace it.

Yes the back up. I watched a couple of videos on YouTube that showed its operation. Looks easy enough. I will definitely be looking for flights in Mooneys. I have a year or more before I get serious looking for a Bravo.

Fuel burn is not an issue that is most important to me. Less fuel usage is in no way a bad thing either. From my home airfield I depart at 7k+ so climbing to 15k in a Bravo would not be too hard. DA is the challenge here. Peaks south are 11.4 and 10.9 respectively. So FL15, or higher, is perfectly fine with me. Humphreys is 12,637 to the west. O2 will be a must for me. The Bravo has enough fuel capacity and useful load for me. I am not ready for a twin and wouldn't consider it at all at this point. A Bravo is a giant step up from the 172 Im training in. A properly equipped Bravo would be hard to beat for me. The Bravo checks off every box and then some for me. Safe, fast, and more than capable A NA twin at my airfield in the hot summer would have to work to FL15. A pressurized turbo twin would be the only thing I would consider in the future. Apples to oranges anyway.

That is funny! If I do purchase a Bravo, and I most likely will... At this point I don't see myself getting into a twin in the future without major changes in my life that are unlikely. A pressurized cabin, useful load, and twin safety are the only real benefits I see at this point. That aircraft would be big money! The Bravo will certainly give me Smiles Per Mile! The more I learn about the Bravo, the more I like about it. Must have equipment for a Bravo? What are everyone's thoughts? IFR, TKS/FIKI, three axis autopilot, smooth belly panel, speed brakes, tank bladders, LED lights, wired for ANR, etc.

I agree the Bravo is my best option. It is within a budget that I can afford and I will not grow out of it anytime soon. 17-18 in a Mooney at those speeds is far under a twin. Fuel cost and usage in any Mooney is not a huge concern for me at all. I'm feeding each of my Peterbilts 500+ dollars a day in diesel/DEF and fuel prices continue to rise... so I am no stranger to fuel costs, high cost of equipment, and maintenance costs. The later models are outside of my budget at this point I believe. Transition training with the best Mooney specific flight instructor will be a top priority. Whatever it takes is what will happen.

Another good reason to take my time in my search and explore different options for finding a great aircraft for me.

Too bad they don't offer a similar kit for the Mooneys! I didn't see anything on their website.

I'm sure I will run into a few and hope I do. I've got some time to make up my mind and I am not in a hurry to do so. I am enjoying the experience!

What would the price tag be for the TAT WWIII? Just curious.

I honestly figured that out on my own last night while digging more into the models. Regardless, I am still a fan of the non strut Mooney landing gear and the gear design and operation. There is so much to like about the Mooney! But yes, I did have a misconception that all early models had a Johnson bar and manual hydraulic flaps. From what I've been able to learn so far, the Bravo has a "ripcord" like manual gear deployment system? Reminds me of starting my chainsaw after the winter. From what I can see it looks like it works easier than starting my chainsaw after a long winter!

I worked in mining for about 25 years. I spent many of those years as a crane operator as well as all sorts of various heavy equipment and machinery. I worked for Tucson Electric Power after mining and I have owned a trucking company since 2000ish. We haul propane in the lower 48 but do not get east of the Mississippi often.

The Bravo will most likely be what I choose. I will not rule out an aircraft that is not TKS equipped to begin with, as it can be added at a later time when I am rated and experienced. I am keeping an eye on the market and watching what is available to gauge what I will need to save for a purchase. I don't want to rush into anything and feel like I made a bad decision for me. Experience is invaluable! I appreciate everyones thoughts and guidance.

Thank you for the welcome! I have at least a year before I buy. I am in no hurry at all to make the decision or buy. It would be foolish for me to be overconfident. However, I have operated complex and deadly heavy equipment my entire adult life without incident. I am confident that I will gain experience and ratings in the future safely and responsibly. I am not the type to push beyond my limits. I will not be financing my purchase. So it may take more than a year to have the cash to buy depending on what model and equipment I decide on.