rblauson

I have a 1977 J model that went into a local shop where I live for my annual. The IA I typically use wasn't available this year so I had to use this company to do it. Reputation seemingly decent based on what little I knew. My airplane ends up there for 4 months. They wanted 9k for the standard annual portion which included a ton of labor hour charges that were ridiculous. They damaged my paint when inspecting for a fuel leak on one side. And regularly worked on other airplanes while relegating mine to the " side". One of the reasons why the annual took 4 months. Today is the first day I'll be test flying it, but they still have left a variety of things undone. I could use some advice on how to handle this. Thanks !

Can new SCAT tubing create a slighly sour plastic like smell? As previously stated I just came out of annual and when I open my heat push pull knob I get nice warm air but it smells sour. No oil on the shroud or lying around the engine compartment that I could see. The Scat tubing is all new. I am bewildered at what this could be. My Mechanic has no clue. If I pull a piece of SCAT tubing it sort of smells like the lining of it? Help!!! Any ideas welcome Mark N201SL

Can new SCAT tubing create a slighly sour plastic like smell? As previously stated I just came out of annual and when I open my heat push pull knob I get nice warm air but it smells sour. No oil on the shroud or lying around the engine compartment that I could see. The Scat tubing is all new. I am bewildered at what this could be. My Mechanic has no clue. If I pull a piece of SCAT tubing it sort of smells like the lining of it? Help!!! Any ideas welcome Mark N201SL

Hey A Sounds like you had a little scare there involving your situation with the smell etc. Not fun at all. I would also have been worried. In my situation there is no smoke and as weird as it sounds the Scat tubing itself was replaced and the smell smells like the interior of the lining of the scat tubing? its weird. my smell isnt going away, but my engine is clean, there is no oil on or near the muffler shroud and im baffled as to what it really is.

Without doing the seats (mine are already done) does anyone know the general cost of re doing the interior minus the seats from any of the 3 places you guys mentioned? a ball park figure is fine. i would not require leather if given the choice. whatever uis chespest, still looks good, is installed properly and wont fall apart in two years. cheers and thanks for the info. mark 77 M20J

What is this CV air fliter? Is it a replacement for the intake air filter (brackett)? I put a K&N in my J and so far it seems to work quite well. That is if Im talkig about the same filter you gents are? Cheers Mark

I have a 77' M20J. How can I determine of this SB effects me? Thanks guys Mark

Guys this is written also in the General Forum in case there are Mooney drivers that read one and not the other. So I write you seeking advice. My airplane just came out of annual. I know the mechanic that worked on it. Solid guy, good skills, Mooney experience. I think my problem is connected with this story. He notices an elbow joint valve with bad threads connected to my oil cooler. He replaces it during annual. I test fly the bird and complain about a bad smell I did not smell before annual as soon as I open the heat push pull knob. He removes the cowling and there is a fair amount of oil around the oil cooler area but not on the other side near the muffler/shroud etc. He replaces the elbow joint and suspects a crack in the oil cooler. Thats gets replaced too. Then I ask him to remove all the excess oil around the engine, he rewashes the engine.He removes the muffler and cleans it, he replaces the scat tubing that leads into the airplane with new stuff. Off I go to fly and this time its a different smell, almost sour, hard to explain but smells like residual oil. Can anyone offer suggestions as to what they think might be causing this now? I dont know what he used to clean up the muffler. That might explain it except the smell was different once he replaced the oil cooler and re washed the engine and replaced the scat tubing. It really smells, I do not think the smell is deminishing either. I have flown a few short flights since this and the smell might be getting a little less strong but in no way is it gone. Should I have him reclean the muffler or anything to do with it that might be the culprit? Is cleaning the muffler shroud even possible if oil had gotten into, or on it? I am very weak in this area and Im not sure what to ask him to do. He seems willing to assist but unsure where the smell is eminatiing from. Thank you for any advice on the matter. Cheers, Mark N201SL

Mooney compratiates. You have always helped and offered solid advice/info. on a variety of issues I have had with my 77' M20J. So I write you seeking advice. My airplane just came out of annual. I know the mechanic that worked on it. Solid guy, good skills, Mooney experience. I think my problem is connected with this story. He notices an elbow joint valve with bad threads connected to my oil cooler. He replaces it during annual. I test fly the bird and complain about a bad smell I did not smell before annual as soon as I open the heat push pull knob. He removes the cowling and there is a fair amount of oil around the oil cooler area but not on the other side near the muffler/shroud etc. He replaces the elbow joint and suspects a crack in the oil cooler. Thats gets replaced too. Then I ask him to remove all the excess oil around the engine, he rewashes the engine.He removes the muffler and cleans it, he replaces the scat tubing that leads into the airplane with new stuff. Off I go to fly and this time its a different smell, almost sour, hard to explain but smells like residual oil. Can anyone offer suggestions as to what they think might be causing this now? I dont know what he used to clean up the muffler. That might explain it except the smell was different once he replaced the oil cooler and re washed the engine and replaced the scat tubing. It really smells, I do not think the smell is deminishing either. I have flown a few short flights since this and the smell might be getting a little less strong but in no way is it gone. Should I have him reclean the muffler or anything to do with it that might be the culprit? Is cleaning the muffler shroud even possible if oil had gotten into, or on it? I am very weak in this area and Im not sure what to ask him to do. He seems willing to assist but unsure where the smell is eminatiing from. Thank you for any advice on the matter. Cheers, Mark N201SL

thanks to all of you as usual- excellent info that really helps. Ill let you guys know how it turns out. I will def clean my headphone jacks with scothbrite first and see how that works. Cheers, Mark

Anywhere know what options might be availabel to wrap the yokes in my 1977 M20J with leather or something like leatherette? Ive heard Aero Comfort does it but its spendy at over 500.00. Even one of those stretchy tube like devices that will fit over the yoke like a sock would be good to cut down on vibration through the yokes. Also, having some issues with crackling noises only on the receiving side of my #1 and # 2 radios. antennas are new, so are the radios. also, what about the noise filters they sell? worth it? Any advice much appreciated as usual. Mark

Anywhere know what options might be availabel to wrap the yokes in my 1977 M20J with leather or something like leatherette? Ive heard Aero Comfort does it but its spendy at over 500.00. Even one of those stretchy tube like devices that will fit over the yoke like a sock would be good to cut down on vibration through the yokes. Also, having some issues with crackling noises only on the receiving side of my #1 and # 2 radios. antennas are new, so are the radios. also, what about the noise filters they sell? worth it? Any advice much appreciated as usual. Mark

Im having issues with my dash lighting on my 77'M20J--Fuse keeps blowing--avionics shop has tried most everything to fix it to no avail. I have found this to be common among older Mooneys. I am ready to try something new like Ring Lighting.Im ready to retrofit and Ring Lighting sure sounds good on paper but Id really like to know what it really costs, how many instruments you need to backlight (if not all of them), how easy they are to install, what they really cost, do the NuLites have any worthwhile competition and why? Yes many questions, but I trust the Mooney owners answers!! Thank you and Happy Tday to everyone! Mark

Im having issues with my dash lighting on my 77'M20J--Fuse keeps blowing--avionics shop has tried most everything to fix it to no avail. I have found this to be common among older Mooneys. I am ready to try something new like Ring Lighting.Im ready to retrofit and Ring Lighting sure sounds good on paper but Id really like to know what it really costs, how many instruments you need to backlight (if not all of them), how easy they are to install, what they really cost, do the NuLites have any worthwhile competition and why? Yes many questions, but I trust the Mooney owners answers!! Thank you and Happy Tday to everyone! Mark

i dont disagree but im trying to figure out if stans option really is half assed or not. perhaps its not and if it works well and is a legit improvement over what i have, its not that expensive. the xe vision approval will require weeks to months to get approval i already spoke with my FSDO. thats just too long. if stans light is an improvement it will be worth it to me because the stock light sucks pretty bad.

Ok Stan Protigals H3 Landing Light might be my only legit option. Anyone have knowledge about what that kit comes with? Is it simply a bulb replacement? or does it require an intsall? If so how much time? I realize its supposed to draw less amps and last longer than the stock landing light in my 1977 M20J, but does it produce more light? The stock bulb stinks.I wanted the XE vision product but my local FSDO said 3 weeks to 2 months for the approval. LoPrestis product is 945 + install--too expensive. The two LED lighting options are a simple R & R of the bulb, are supposed to work great, last thousands of hours etc. but both Whelen and Teledyne's products are not yet STC'd for the M20J. That seems to leave only Stan Protigals option, but if its not a marked improvement over stock I think I'll just wait. Also, I emailed Stan a few days ago and have not heard back. I'd like to ask him a few questions about his product-does anyone have his phone number? He doesnt list it--likely for this reason lol. Again, I hightly appreciate and respect the input from any of you that respond! Cheers- Mark

Ok Stan Protigals H3 Landing Light might be my only legit option. Anyone have knowledge about what that kit comes with? Is it simply a bulb replacement? or does it require an intsall? If so how much time? I realize its supposed to draw less amps and last longer than the stock landing light in my 1977 M20J, but does it produce more light? The stock bulb stinks.I wanted the XE vision product but my local FSDO said 3 weeks to 2 months for the approval. LoPrestis product is 945 + install--too expensive. The two LED lighting options are a simple R & R of the bulb, are supposed to work great, last thousands of hours etc. but both Whelen and Teledyne's products are not yet STC'd for the M20J. That seems to leave only Stan Protigals option, but if its not a marked improvement over stock I think I'll just wait. Also, I emailed Stan a few days ago and have not heard back. I'd like to ask him a few questions about his product-does anyone have his phone number? He doesnt list it--likely for this reason lol. Again, I hightly appreciate and respect the input from any of you that respond! Cheers- Mark

Hey Ken Thanks kindly for the answers. SkyChartsPro will be unbeatable if they can implement a decent low enroute charting graph--same goes for the VFR charts. Also, once they get geo refrencing on TPP charts that will be a huge advantage. I still have not had the opportunity to test SkyCharts airborne so I have another question for you regarding enroute georefrencing. Any particluar IPAD settings that have to be either enabled or disabled to make it work? If so what are they? Also, what technology is the IPad using to do the airborne georefencing?? I thought WiFi wont and cant work airborne and I already know from my iphone that most of the time you cannott get a 3g signal airborne at altitude. Therefore I am at a complete loss to understand how it could possibly georefrence at altitude. Assuming some function of the Ipad allows for this to work how accurate is it? or will it be one of those things where the airplane symbol appears then consistently dissapears etc? so is there a better GPS system that can be added and would it even be worth it. Yes, lots of questions but all of you have helped me immensely!!! Cheers- Mark

Guys I just found out the hard way that in spite of XE Visions product being simple, effective, higher wattage and brigther than LoPrestis, half the cost, simple and quick to install---its is not STC'd for a M20J. So my FSDO here in Hartford told my avionics shop that the field approval to get that pre approved for install will lekely take about 3 weeks and as much as 2 months???? Are you kidding me!! Its a landing light and a serious, OBVIOUS safety enhancement that not only assists me in seeing better at night, but provides work for the installers, provides a sale for the seller and contributes to a horrid economy. So hmmmm seems as though red tape and politics will force me to spend twice as much on a similar product that appears less popular with the Mooney Forum users who I trust most, and will be less bright etc. XE Vision did send me a copy of a 337 letter specfically approving this install on a M20J in KA. That wasnt enough to convince them I guess. Lopresti charges 945 bucks for a 35 watt version. XE Vision charges 550 for a 50 watt system. Go figure--I guess having that STC like LoPresti does makes that light worth double????lol

I just bought into Sky Charts Pro. So far I love it but I do have 3 questions for you guys that have some experience with it. 1) If i want to use the flight planning function I simply hit the Direct to key then type in the routing. But it uses a default 10 gallons an hour and 110 knots on the speed for its performance. Can that be changed/adjusted to reflect your own airplanes #'s? and if so how do you change those settings? Does the flight planning have a "typical routing"/"preferred routing" function for flight planning between two high density airport points? 2) I figured out you have to cache the VFR and IFR charting that you want to have airborne as the WiFi and 3G signals will obviously be gone soon after takeoff. I could not find for example a low enroute overall selection map (Grid of the US with the low enroute oiptions) so I could visually see which ones I would need. Same goes for the VFR Sectionals. Is there such a function? if so how do I get to it? 3) I presume Geo refrencing with these charts is only available on the ground BUT if for example I have an airport diagram up will it display my airplane symbol moving about the taxiways? if so how accurately does it reflect it? and at what point will it stop showing the aiplane symbol? (presume as soon as it loses either wifi or 3G or both. (My Ipad is a 3g version). Also, is there any GPS attachment options (i.e. something blue tooth driven) that might make it possible to geo refrence airborne? Yes I know my 3 questions are more like 10!! But you guys have all already helped me IMMENSELY! I thank all of you- Mark B.

the 696 im sure is a good product, but i have an IPAD and id love to use it unless i get enough feedback suggesting there just isnt enough good apps for it yet. the one i did a little research on was foreflight. for about 80 bucks they claim to provide all inclusive, user friendly site that allows for approach chart use (NOS only) lFR and WFR charts alike as well as some weather data. Anyone have operating experience using their IPAD along with foreflight? and if so how is it working out? any complaints? any good advice? cheers mark

makes sense--lopresti wants me to pay for the STC. however, seems like the XE product is a good one (ive heard nothing negative--only positive) and I called the local avionics shop and they said they think the local FSDO will approve. i hope so! many thanks to all of you for the input. i hate learning stuff the hard way!! cheers mark

Hey Scott and Dan- Thank you both for the input. Scott sounds like the XE Vision is the way to go. That kit is 550.00 while LoPrestis is 945? Im still not sure why LoPrestis is more when the bulbs have the same wattage etc? Also, Scott did it take Lynn 3 hours or less to install the light--do you remember? and do you have a Mooney M20J from 1977 or 1978 because if you do, Ill just order that same part # you did. My airplane is in the interior shop a ways away so I cant go view the dimensions of the current bulb but I do know it is stock. Many Cheers!!!! Mark

ehscott i am a true rookie. i am not familiar with most of the products being mentioned. what exactly is a 696? is that a garmin product? size? cost? where do you mount it? and would it replace my ipad for what it does thereby rendering my ipad as useless at least in the airplane? any advice and info greatly appreciated. mark

I just bought a 1977 J model so I am a rookie regarding how all this works BUT I am an IPAD owner and was also trying to think of some way to mount it and be able to see it. Did you ever figure anything out? One option someone mentioned was a flexible boom mounted to the center floor pedestal on the right side, the IPAD attaches to the end of the boom and you can manipulate the boom and Ipad to move where you want. If you want to see it better you flex it up but if someone is sitting in the right seat it would greatly limit your options. Also, I use good reader as an app along with reader plates.com which is a free NOS service. so i get the NOS plates free but no enroute stuff. Any ideas how to get charts on the ipad including TAC for NY etc? I tried Sky Vector which is a good product but its just not engineered for an IPAD yet. Many cheers! Mark rblauson@aol.com