LeRoy Johnston

Hi all--I have a 1996 M20J MSE. On attempted start-up yesterday I discovered the boost pump was inop. Checking the circuit board panel I discovered there is no circuit breaker for the boost pump. Does it maybe have a hidden fuse? Does anyone know how the circuit is protected? Since then, we have determined power is getting to the pump so we are looking to replace it with an overhauled pump. Pump is original and airplane has 2900 hours on it. But the question remains, why no circuit breaker? Thanks.

I appreciate all your comments. Thank you so much. This is a great forum. --LeRoy

I have a 1996 M20J MSE with the McCauley prop and the rpm restriction. The restriction area is right where I want my power during short final. I want to operate there for about 20 - 30 seconds. Do you think that will damage the engine? The book says avoid continuous operation there, but that seems a little vague. You have to pass through that range to operate the engine. Thanks. --LeRoy Johnston

Rags--Thanks for the input.

Just to close the loop, the plane is now out of annual with overhauled mags and new plugs (with fine wires on the bottom set). It is starting like a champ, hot and cold. I am using the book cold start and my IA's flooded technique for all other starts (warm and hot). It is pretty easy to not let the revs get too high when it catches. --LeRoy

I'm going to look into that Slickstart product, too. --LeRoy

Great discussion--My mechanic (who owned an M20J for years), deliberately floods it so every warm start is a flooded start. The idea is to start from a known condition. We tried that too and it worked for me the first time but not the next day. It's a little sporty because you need to be ready to back off the throttle. Because it is not starting 100 percent reliably, we are going to do a complete ignition service--overhaul mags (at 500 hours they are due now anyway), new plugs with fine wires on the bottom, and of course set timing and check engine controls. We know it's getting air and fuel, so this may be the answer. I have learned a lot about the system from reading these posts, for which I am indebted to you all. --LeRoy

Great discussion--My mechanic (who owned an M20J for years), deliberately floods it so every warm start is a flooded start. The idea is to start from a known condition. We tried that too and it worked for me the first time but not the next day. It's a little sporty because you need to be ready to back off the throttle. Because it is not starting 100 percent reliably, we are going to do a complete ignition service--overhaul mags (at 500 hours they are due now anyway), new plugs with fine wires on the bottom, and of course set timing and check engine controls. We know it's getting air and fuel, so this may be the answer. I have learned a lot about the system from reading these posts, for which I am indebted to you all. --LeRoy

Thanks again. Curious why does it start with the mixture at idle cut-off when that is what you do to stop the engine.

Thanks much! --LeRoy

Hi all--New Mooney owner here (1996 M20J MSE). I am having hot start issues. The book says crack throttle, mixture lean, crank till it starts and move mixture smoothly to rich. My engine coughs a few times and I move the mixture to rich but it doesn't start. What procedures have you had good success with? Any advice will be much appreciated.