jeremyc209

You won't get insurance in California as a student pilot in a Mooney, @Parker_Woodruff tried to get it done for me last year. I'm glad though, I ended up doing most of my training in a 150 and passed my checkride in it, then bought my Mooney at around 100TT. There's a lot more going on in the Mooney, in the 150 I could concentrate on stick n rudder skills and it's harder to get behind flying a 150. Also, since I was in a club, the 150 had 100hour inspections and I never had to worry about maintenance etc other than a couple scheduling issues. Just another distraction avoided so I could focus on my training.

It works! A little inconsistent, I'm not sure what a normal functioning PC system is like though. Sometimes it will return to level but overshoot, then come back. At least once or twice in the short time I was up today, it would overshoot but not come back. Maybe something sticking in the gyro? The roll trim on the yoke is not super responsive, is it supposed to be a fairly faint trim adjustment? The Accutrak still gets off course a little then starts overcorrecting hard. I haven't tried making any adjustments to it yet since the PC system still isn't 100%.

Don't tell your wife!

Yep! I feel dumb for not realizing. It was mounted upside down by the last person who worked on it. I got the left/right lines on the correct ports when replacing all the lines but just hooked up the vac and inlet filter to the same ports it was on before, which were reversed. Haven't had a chance to test it yet but I'm guessing that solves my issue, hopefully today.

Here's a hint from one of the diagrams in the service & maintenance manual:

All the lines are connected, those red capped ports are test ports. I did pull the TC and check the gyro before realizing the problem, it spins fine. Side note for anyone wanting to check if the gyro spins:, an easy way is to run a little compressed air into the inlet side, it'll spin it right up. I just hit it with some nearly empty canned air since that's what I had on hand and it spun for a couple minutes.

Yeah they were definitely shot but the problem was present before and after replacing them. Hard to spot the issue without knowing the system I think.

Ok, this is how the PC turn coordinator looked before I replaced all the vac lines. See the problem? I just put all new lines on and fixed up the connections in the tail but I missed a fairly important detail.

I don't even turn the boost pump on to start after refueling usually. Doubt that's the problem though. I'd be inspecting/replacing cables in the starting system, possibly heat is causing the resistance to rise enough in a bad cable that it can no longer support starting amperage. Maybe the master relay/contactor?

Got those sorted, thank you.

Finally getting into the Positive Control + Accu-Trak system The previous owner gave up on it years ago, and I want to get it working before I install a GPS and better CDI. I’ve made some good progress, but I’m pretty sure the tail gyro is dead, and Accu-Trak seems way too aggressive. What I’ve done so far: Reinstalled both aileron servos — surprisingly easy with a short 4" ratchet and a cheap borescope for visibility. A square-handled rubber ratchet helped keep orientation by feel. Vacuum tested the ailerons from the tail Replaced all vacuum lines in the tail. Reconnected the pilot valve to the remote gyro (the hose had been knocked off under the panel). Vacuum pump was replaced (unrelated failure); vacuum gauge now shows ~5.25 in Hg in flight. IIRC it was reading a little lower before I fixed the pilot valve -> gyro connection. PC System — possibly dead gyro? No spin-down sound from the tail gyro after shutdown (checked with my ear right at the tail). Controls feel stiff and override works fine. Yoke doesn’t react on the ground or roll level in flight when released. It does hold heading pretty well now when trimmed, so vacuum is definitely reaching the system. Thinking I may pull the gyro to clean and re-lube the bearings, I saw a thread where another member did the same. Also considering getting a differential vacuum gauge to dial in restrictor #3 properly. Accu-Trak — acting way too aggressive Currently hooked to a KI-209 CDI. When tracking is enabled, it banks hard (well past standard rate), then overshoots and reverses hard the other way. Needle deflection doesn’t seem to affect how hard it banks. Hi/Lo switch doesn’t seem to change behavior. L/R turn knob works, but not sure what’s considered “normal.” I’m planning to check the internal gain trim, confirm the Hi/Lo switch wiring, and possibly have the shop dial vacuum back slightly if it was cranked up when the pilot valve was disconnected. Before I call Kevin, just wondering if there’s anything else worth checking.

Tommy is an A&P/IA, he was going to sell this plane to a family member but I guess the deal fell through. I was interested in this plane before I bought my C in Feb but he was holding it for said family member at the time. If I didn't have mine, I'd be looking at this one now that it's back on the market.

Hey Rob, this isn't my listing, you'll want to contact the owner through the Facebook listing I linked.

Not mine, its at my local field and I'm not sure if he's on here so thought I'd share 135 SMOH 1920 Total time airframe $65k https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1122058219681199/

This is the problem with that idea. Even posting my plane here with a couple pictures I had members showing up to theory craft on how much of a deathtrap it was. (it isn't) You'll get the full spectrum of opinions on every aircraft you invite them on. I've thought about doing the same thing with a website where people register and can upload actual, paid prebuys of planes, but that would no doubt piss off a ton of people. In the end it seems the best option is always finding a competent and trusted mechanic to do your first look (if you aren't able) and prebuy. I ended up buying a plane that was within driving distance to me because I wanted to thoroughly look it over myself before sending it off for a prebuy.

At least you can power cycle a glass panel to correct a "freeze" (does that happen often though?) but when steam gauges or legacy radios or vacuum pumps crap out, not much you can do in flight.

Anyone have a picture of what the tail section vacuum lines are "supposed" to look like with the PC (rear turn coordinator 1965) + Accutrak installed? Mine came disabled with two aileron servos gone and the lines in the tail cone are all different types. I'm about ready to reinstall the servos and replace all the lines but I'm curious what baseline I should be shooting for. What do you guys use for vacuum tee's back there? Clamps?

I would let the owner know everything you posted here, and based on their reaction/effort to correct the situation, leave a detailed review of the shop on Google. You certainly don't have to let them continue working on your plane, but they should be given the opportunity attempt to make it right and if they come up short, you should let others know about your experience with a review.

Funny how @Garmin Aviation Team has yet to weigh in on any questions or feedback offered in this thread/ad. It's probably going to take a tad more effort to get people away from FF.

Yeah I was just curious which button was used for PTT and what you used for the vacuum dump. I'm in the process of getting my PC system running again and considered the panel vac dump + yoke PTT replacement.

Yeah it's just a lot of money to test out another app, I do see used Strarux units for a couple hundred on ebay though. Then deal with having to sell the Sentry if I did switch etc. Would love to get away from the iPhone too. Simply testing out a different app is a bit of a commitment.

What button did you use for this? Got a pic?

I'm still getting a few drops of water in samples out of my right tank and it's been hangared/dry for well over a month with quite a few flights and top offs since it last saw any rain. Some steep turns seemed to work some more out early on. I haven't experienced any engine roughness on that tank that I could detect though.

I wish Garmin Pilot could use my Sentry, I'd give it a shot if so.