Smokin_Joe

Thanks for the comments. I'm not sure what version the voltage regulator is, but I suspect it is still the original (pre digital) style. My radio guy changed the diodes when I first reported the problem. It was the alternator field CB that I pulled and verified it was out by observing the ammeter showing a discharging current.

According to the JPI 830 in my 231, the voltage during full power operation sits between 14 and 14.3v most of the time, but does vary occasionally from 13.8 to 14.7v. Can anyone tell me what the acceptable voltage range should be with the 6 cylinder Continental engine please? The reason I ask is that recently I've been getting a howling noise in both my noise cancelling headsets after I level out in cruise and have backed the power off. Sometimes the howling starts withing 10 or 15 minutes, or it can take an hour or longer before it starts. The howling stops if I turn the noise cancelling function off on the headset. I don't think the headsets are the problem as its occurring with two different head sets. Pulling the alternator CB does not stop the howling. Long story short: another Mooney pilot here in Queensland had a similar problem and he spent a lot of money overhauling his alternator, only to discover that the problem was with his voltage regulator. Hence my query as to what the acceptable voltage variation is and whether it could be the culprit.

It was the throttle I will see what the engine does with 27", 1800 RPM and mixture back to where it just keeps running. I had read that cutting power with mags ran the risk of interesting backfires when restarting. I had planned to kill the engine with mixture if I had to.

Has anyone had a stuck MAP vernier before and if they did, how did they deal with it? The vernier in my 231 jammed on Sunday for 30 minutes, right after levelling off at top of climb at F130 and throttling back. I could depress the button on the vernier knob but only rotate the knob about 1/2 a turn. I couldn't push the knob in or pull it out at all. The resistance in the vernier knob to rotation increased as though I was winding the cable up with the other end jammed. Not knowing what may happen if I broke the connection at the other end of the MAP cable, I didn't try to force it. After fiddling with it for half an hour, it eventually freed up. The MAP was stuck at 27 to 29" so I was able to set RPM and fuel flow to suit so the engine ran OK, but I didn't fancy my chances of landing with 27" of MAP. My plan, had the knob remained stuck, was to kill the engine at 1000' and land dead stick, with help waiting to tow me back to the shop. I had flown through some light icing on climb but it had melted off the windscreen and wings once clear of cloud. Any comments would be appreciated.

I had the exact same problem last year: having to push the red over ride button to get the gear up and the airspeed warning sonalert going off when it should not have when I was in the circuit. Had to replace the airspeed safety unit that sits behind the airspeed indicator. Luckily the Mooney agent had a serviceable unit in a wreck that has worked well ever since. Joe Luxford Brisbane Australia

The gear warn circuit breaker is popping on take off when I retract the gear in my 1981 M20K 231. My mechanic put the airplane up on jacks and cycled the gear about 20 times and it did not pop the circuit breaker once. Something appears to be happening in the air that we are not replicating on the jacks. He jiggled the wiring and could not see any chafing of wires or anything that appeared to be binding as the gear cycled up and down. I would appreciate any suggestions of things for my mechanic to look at for possible causes of this gear warn circuit breaker popping after taking off.

What turned out to be the problem? I had similar issues with my 231 - which were due to failing turbocharger and a Merlyn waste gate in need of an overhaul. The problem went away with a new turbo and refurbished Merlyn.