danb35

For database updates, can you use any SD cards of appropriate capacity, or do you need cards that have been "blessed" by Garmin/Jepp?

Don't really have anything to add other than to notice that we're practically neighbors, but hopefully something here will be helpful... Rather than buying an optical tach, there are apps available for Windows laptops, Windows Mobile PDAs, and even the iPhone/Pad/Pod Touch which will determine the engine RPM from the sound it makes. The iPhone app is $9, but the Windows ones are free at http://www.tunelab-world.com/rpmsound.html. Or, if you decided that you wanted an electronic tach in your plane, this might be a good time. The point is, of course, to confirm that you're getting a good RPM reading, and that you really do have a problem. Assuming that your tach is anywhere near accurate, my guess would be the prop is the more likely source of the problem, just because it seems that it would be a simpler explanation (fine pitch stops set too coarse). When you apply takeoff power, does the RPM rise smoothly to your max RPM (and what is max on your takeoff roll), or does it overshoot and then settle back down? If the latter, it would indicate that the governor is acting to reduce the RPM. Do you have an engine monitor? It could answer a lot of questions that might help diagnose the problem.

From your favorite MSC, for the airframe. You should also pick up a copy of the parts catalog. The Rocket mods wouldn't be relevant to this issue, but I'd expect (hope) that the materials relevant to them could be bought from Rocket. You can also find them on eBay from time to time.

If the powder coat looks like it has dust in it from 16-18", it must be a really bad job of powder coating--I've seen plenty of powder coating that looks just fine. Matching color shouldn't be a problem either; a good paint shop (probably an automotive shop) should be able to do it easily. I don't think powder coating the panel is necessary (I painted mine when I redid it last year), but I'd think that a paint shop would be a better source of information.

Quote's still broken... To address some of your other questions/concerns, if the engine runs smoothly LOP (say 20-30 LOP), there isn't any significant mixture imbalance. If there were, particularly if some cylinders were still ROP, those cylinders would be producing quite a bit more power than the cylinders that were leaner, and you'd feel that as engine roughness. "How far LOP" depends on your power setting; at 75% LOP I'd probably want to be at least 50 LOP, at 65%, 20 LOP or so. When LOP, power depends entirely on your fuel flow--take your fuel flow in gph, multiply it by 15, and that's your power output. So, a fuel flow of 10 gph corresponds to 75%. If I were marking the guage, I'd put a yellow arc from 380-420, and redline at 420.

201er, how you operate your engine is up to you, but how do you determine that "LOP is not an option"? Most Lyc IO-360s run just fine LOP without GAMIs or anything else special.

GTWreck, unless you replace your engine monitor with one that's STC'd to replace the engine primary gauges, you're legally required to keep the factory CHT gauge operational. EI sells a probe that will piggyback on the factory CHT probe (rather than piggyback on a spark plug), but in my installation, that one reads ~100 deg F below the opposite-side cylinder. I don't know if it's something unique to my installation, or maybe if something was done wrong when installing it (though it looks like it matches the instructions), but I'm having trouble believing that reading.

Quote: Piloto I always carry HF on these crossings. You never know when the Greenland VHF repeater is going kaput. I use the Icom 706 with the SGC-237 tuner and a fix wire antenna from tail to wing front edge or fuselage top.

Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the forum (where it lists the individual threads) and you'll find the "new topic" button on the left. Not too easy to see.

Quote: jetdriven well, XM is $600 a year. The full logical bundle for the Garmins is $1503 a year. Throw in a second garmin 430/GTN and its way over, or an Aera/496 (500$) thats about 3k.

Quote: jetdriven Dont get me wrong, I think it is an excellent tool. So are GPS WAAS approaches. But when the subscriptions for these things approach 3 grand a year, I'll pass.

A UAT is a device that transmits and receives ADS-B data.

Quote: N9154V If you can sue Cirrus for flying your plane into a building or VFR into IFR, what would many widows do with an electronics manufacturer?

Have you tried running LOP without GAMIs? It seems that many, if not most, IO-360s will do just fine without them, and if the engine will run smoothly LOP without them, no need to spend $800 (plus labor).

Quote: N601RX The FAA sees a STC as intellectual property much as a patent. That is the reason that you need a letter from the holder stating that you have permission to use it.

What's being reported as "NO on STC's for used equipment" is somewhat incorrect. There are a couple of issues here. First is the STC itself. In the case of the Aspen, the STC allows installation of various Aspen devices in any of a long list of aircraft. The second is permission to use that STC. Federal law (the U.S. Code and the FARs) requires written permission from the STC holder before making use of the STC. Some vendors do this with a blanket statement--Garmin, for example, gives permission in the 430W installation manual for anybody to install it in any aircraft. Other vendors give aircraft-specific permission, i.e., you may use STC # XXXXXX to modify Mooney M20F S/N 670234. Of the latter type, some vendors are more accommodating at transferring the STC to another aircraft than others (and it is up to the STC holder's discretion and/or business sense how accommodating they want to be). I have my own opinions about the legitimacy of this requirement, but it seems that another thread might be the best place for continued discussion of this subject--we're a bit far afield from the "death trap" Mooney that's the subject of this thread.

Quote: allsmiles I'm really getting annoyed that we are still discussing this! I can't believe how naive people are! If some one hands over a check for thousands of dollars (in this case it's probably ~ 45K !) blindly to someone for anything without any research then YES they are complete idiots and morons! They should not be flying!

Quote: allsmiles It is not ilegal to be stupid (buyer) or to lie (seller)!

What did your engine monitor show while the engine was running rough?

Quote: fantom Rationalize all you want, getting an IFR ticket will make you a better pilot,

Quote: allsmiles Mooney needs to build the M20J for less than 300K. Period.

Quote: thinwing I believe he is correct to totally avoid IMC unless his aircraft is equipped with a good 3 axis autopilot including alitude hold.

Quote: JimR Perhaps one of these days I'll go to the trouble of jumping through the hoops that I would take to fly there privately.

Quote: allsmiles As for the J I don't think it's a dream. I think it can be done. Which aircraft would you chose if Mooney put out a brand new J for 200K?? I know I would chose the J.

Quote: flyboy0681 1. Reminder to switch tanks.