Matthew P

Sorry to trouble you, searched POH, AFM and MAPA references and only see reference for 52 gallon total fuel, don't see anywhere that lists usable fuel, checked a few comments online and have heard everything from 48 gal usable to 52 gal usable, but no reference for 48 gal and the absence of usable reference to state that all 52 gal is usable. Doesn't really matter in that I NEVER go 6 gallons in either tank, just curious What an I missing? TIA

Where are you located, maybe I can fly to you

Hope you have a speedy recovery, currently located at KMDQ (Huntsville Executive Airport, AL)

Who are you using to insure your Mooney, currently paying $3600 a year, looking to finish up my Instrument and Commercial add-ons as I'm already a Commercial Rotary wing /Instrument rated pilot..had hoped to complete it before April (policy renewal) but having trouble finding a CFII that meets the insurance requirements to conduct the training....so looking to shop around.

Thanks, how much are you asking?

Original Ignition Switch going bad, the wafers in the tumbler are worn, new switch is $700, looking for alternative, as I understand it, for the age of the aircraft (1966) it's form, fit and function and a field approval 337 to use the following switch, can anyone tell me if they currently use this switch (with the start position) ACS Keyed Ignition Switch With Start Position A-510-2 FAA-PMA https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/elpages/igswitches.php Aircraft configured with SureFly on the left, Mag on the right, SOS removed.. TIA, Matt

MAKE SURE, you tell the seller that he needs to completely top off the tanks BEFORE you start the pre-buy so that you can check for leaks, I got hosed on this as the leaks were at the top side of the tank (Right Side) and I didn't find out till after the sale when I topped it off to fly it home.

Thanks, may take you up on it if the locksmith can't do anything with it..

And yet, when you buy a used aircraft you assume that the ones doing the maintenace...do the maintenance and don't pencilwhip it, but we know that's not the case, I bought a plane last year that had come out of a $10K annual from one of the best known MSCs, and it is amazing what was missed on that annual....so I'm a little skeptical and concerned.

Well, you are lucky thus far, but gears and motors don't last forever

I understand there is a rebuild kit for the Bendix Ignition for the Contacts, etc. But is there one for replacing the tumblers that are worn to the point the key can be removed from ANY switch position? NOT looking forward to forking out $700 for a new one as the used ones seem to have the same issue. TIA matt

The FAA has assigned a case manager (engineer) to our request, awaiting word back from him/her. To answer your question, probably more than I'm willing to spend as an individual.

Some good news. I heard back from the FAA this morning, they have agreed to assign my (our) request to an FAA Aerospace Engineer to look into and assist with a solution, I made them aware that there is a company that states that they are making that gear set but that their "customer" isn't interested in making those parts available, so maybe they can persuade the "customer" to make the parts available to us or provide the original drawings and metallurgy report needed to verify that the gearsets we are wanting to have produced under OPP meet/exceed OEM.

So, involving the DER is premature at this point until I am able to determine the material and heat treatment (if any) that is used, once I have that information and can show that the parts will meet/exceed OEM then I can get the DER to review/approve. Unfortunately, the process isn't as easy as one would think, I haven't been in contact with a single gear manufacturer that is interested in dealing with an individual, they only want to deal with a "company." I've texted Mooney's CEO" ...crickets....but I'm still working the issue...I DID find a company that is willing to do a Rockwell Hardness Test and determine what material and whether they used a heat treatment on the gears, so once I get that report we will have the CAD Drawings and Materials Specification...just a reminder that I only had access to a 20:1 gear set, I'm sure someone knowledgeable could take the CAD files and render a 40:1 drawing as i would prefer the 40:1 if possible. If anyone has any personal contacts in the gear manufacturing business, please let me know..

DER not needed until I get the drawings, which I have, and the Material Specifications to show that the gearset will meet/exceed OEM, then it would be looked at by the DER,

I asked them if they would forward my contact info, hopefully they will call...My thought is, if the gears aren't going to be used in their "brand aircraft" they won't sell to us to use in our Mooneys...

That vendor will no longer work with me due to COI concerns in that we are trying to manufacture gears that compete with an existing customer, yet they refuse to provide that customer's info so that I can reach out to them, would rather buy from the customer than continue down our current path..

So, it appears that the 20:1 gear set use Steel for both gears and the newer 40:1 uses steel for the worm and brass/bronze for the circular gear...would be better to have one softer than the other in hopes that the wear would be relegated to one part as opposed to both, or that one would last longer...

So, trying to get this old set of 20:1 Actuator Gears tested to determine the materials used, but once again, since i am an individual and NOT a company, none of the companies that do the testing will do so. Does anyone know anyone that can do the Rockwell Hardness Test? V/r Matt

Yes, they produce the same gear set however, they reached out to the company that they produce them for and the company said that they were NOT interested in speaking with me in regards to us ordering the gears from them, nor would they tell me who the company was....Avon also said, since they make the identical gear sets for an existing company that they could not use the drawings I have to build gears for us nor could they recommend anyone. I'm really surprised, that whatever Company it is, wouldn't be interested in selling 100 gear sets...just wish I could find out who the company is.

Thanks, I'll reach out to them as well..I appreciate your time.

So, I found a gear manufacture that manufactures the same exact gear set, that we are looking for, for a "CUSTOMER" that ISN'T Mooney, he is reaching out to said customer to see if he is willing to contact me to discuss the ability of us ordering the gear sets from them. Was told it will be a day or so before the customer will be available to reach out. So, hopefully this pans out and allows us an immediate sourcing for these gear sets...will let you know what I hear. I am still looking at other vendors though, just in case. V/r Matt

Don Maxwell, is one of the quickest and cheapest for getting it done, reach out ot him, he quoted me a 1 week turn around from when they receive it, 1/2 the price of buying one from LASAR

I've contacted them (aerofluidproducts.com) and currently waiting for them to respond, they said it may be sometime next week before they do so. will let you know. They are the ones that Transdign gave the old Dukes account to.

Thanks, I may have misspoke in regards to heat treated, may be hardened though, I'm not sure...from what I understand the 40:1 gear set uses brass for the worm gear and steel of some sort for the worm shaft