47U

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About 47U

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  • Gender
    Male
  • Location
    LHM
  • Reg #
    N6847U
  • Model
    M20C

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  1. 47U
    Yes, condolences... In the 23 years since overhaul before your purchase, the average was around 35 hrs/year... were those hours accumulated early after the overhaul? Did the airplane sit for any extended period of time before your purchase? Tom
  2. 47U
    A couple short lengths of vinyl tubing with safety wire spikes works to keep the birds off the nav antennas. Tom
  3. 47U
    i installed a 4-cyl EGT CHT over the winter. I was surprised that #3 on the factory CHT is quite a bit higher than #3 on the new gauge. It was expected that the #3 gasket probe (under the factory bayonet) reads cooler than the bayonet probes on the other three cylinders. But the factory CHT is warmer than any readings on the new gauge. As much as 50 or more degrees warmer. Tom
  4. 47U
    Airport managers/operators report the N-numbers on their field. Our self-serv fuel island also requests your N-number and prints it on your ticket, along with your full name from your credit card. Luckily, back in 2008, I was able to avoid the use-tax with a 'family transfer' exclusion when I brought my Dad's vintage C in from IA. Tom
  5. 47U
    Besides the air vent ducting, check the drain line connection to the airbox. Mine was petrified and leaked like a sieve. I also had three splits in the aluminum drain tube from water being trapped in it and freezing. Tom
  6. 47U
    I think OP might be talking about this little gem, mounted at a right angle just in front of the windscreen. On my '63C, it holds the aft row of screws on the avionics access panel and his '64C might be the same. Might take a call to Dan at LASAR to find it. As a temp repair, I tapped my four or five stripped 8/32 nutplates out to 10/32 and deferred for phase for a more permanent repair. If I can find the nutplates. Tom
  7. 47U
    I'm not familiar with the 'C' and previous models, but beginning with the 'R' in '68, the vertical fin is attached to, and moves with, the horizontal stabilizer. An electrically controlled, hydraulically driven jackscrew and scissors mechanism runs the stab trim. As Rich previously mentioned, the aft fuselage doesn't move with the stab trim. You can see the vertical stab white 'slick slide' Teflon sheet where the vertical stab rotates into the fuselage fairing. Tom
  8. 47U
    Old dog and new tricks. There may be some truth to that, I mean the ‘can’t teach’ part. I started writing a novel (confessional?)... nobody wants to read that. So, instead I’ll pose a question to the CFIIs on Mooneyspace. How many IFR students have you had that couldn’t hack it? Tom IFR rated at age 58 (presenently non-current, and have a lot of work to do before getting back on the single-pilot IFR horse).
  9. 47U
    As a temporary fix, you might try a countersunk screw through a dimple washer on the outside with a flat washer on the inside. Install wet with RTV and cleanup the excess.
  10. 47U
    Dave, I found this photo on the internet when I was researching my own E.I. red cube install a couple years ago. I’m not sure how far forward in the cowl your exhaust downtubes extend, mabe this location won’t work for you, but the fuel line routing looks similar to yours and this xducer doesn’t have any 90 degree elbows. Again, I found this on the internet so cannot vouch for its ultimate success. Good luck with your install... Thomas
  11. 47U

    Igor_U,  Yes, Aspen flush mount.  The Aspen cutout dimensions are in their install manual, available online.  I ended up recutting the panel shown in the thread picture.  The Aspen component that would go in the bottom hole (of an Aspen upper/lower two-hole surface mount)  is much smaller diameter than a standard 3 1/8" instrument so there's no yoke tube interference, but I found the Aspen flush mount bracket was too close to the yoke phenolic ball mount and I didn't like it.  (I cut out a template from card stock.)  It wasn't touching, but I couldn't pass a credit card between the Aspen mount rail and the ball assembly.  So I moved the Aspen up in the panel about 1/4", recut the panel, and now it's fine.   Beware that powder coating might decrease the cutout dimensions slightly and cause an interference fit.  I had a buddy do the CAD changes and should have increased the dimensions a thousandth or two.  Same for the round instruments... laser cutting is very precise.  Everything fit pretty tight after powder coating whereas it was perfect before.  I probably should have masked off the holes to keep them clean metal.   

    Aspen_Interference.jpg

    1. Show previous comments  4 more
    2. Igor_U

      Igor_U

      Thomas,

      I really appreciate your help. I opened .dxf file at work using CATIA V5 and transfer it to .CATDrawing V5 native file. As you said, it is what the PDF was created from, just no dimensions.

      I have a question, though. Was this design done in mm? I’ve opened it on my machine that is set to inches and dimensions are just over 440 for a 17.35” panel so it must be. Definitely it’s scaled 25.4X. 

      No mater, I’ll use your PDF file and dimensions of the upper contour.

      I have already created a 3d model of my panel but I know I didn’t have the right contour so your PDF will help.

       

      BTW, I work in as Design Engineer in Aerospace, currently contract for Gulfstream but was years in Seattle for Boeing and small design firm that subcontracted us to Boeing, Bombardier, Lockheed etc…

      My plane is home at KPAE (where widebody Boeings are made) so really work will be done when I get a job back home and have more time for that.

       

      My plan is to go with 8-hole but modified for 2 G5s. Those need 7.2” tall cutout so it’s somewhat more than Aspen but there should be enough room.

      Instead of full size 9th hole, I’d like to have 2.25” hole for new clock; 8-day clock in yoke can be covered by iPad and such.

      Originally, I wanted to buy panels from LASAR but now I think I might go custom and start with 8-hole as baseline. I might still go with LASAR, at the end.

       

      My concern was excessive trimming of substructure as you described and read years ago from Johnathan Paul in his internet post.

      Also, with 2 G5s I can get rid of the DG and ILS/VOR1 and I still keep the AI at top right location where ILS would be. Or move it to the right panel if I decide to move my Primary engine monitor closer, to pilot’s panel.

      I still have PC system with autopilot and retractable step so removing vacuum pump is out of question.

       

      I would be curious to see your finished panel. I don’t remember seeing it on MS but I’ve seen many. Do you have it in your profile?

      You said you had to trim a substructure on Right hand side of this panel. Do you think your instrument holes (Vor1/2) are too close to the RHS edge?

      I see that LASAR 8-hole panel is more spaced out – perhaps to much for my idea of having a 2.25” hole for clock.

       

      I just saw your instrument holes are quite spaced out vertically. Like 3.75” (center to center) according to your dimensions.

      That might be a reason of the clash on top and need to trim. Some panels I’ve seen were much less, like 3.35 or 3.5” max. I know for Garmin G5, 3.6” is magic number if one wants to install those troughs the holes and not flush as I’d like to do.

       

      Anyway, this will help me create a 3D model (and drawing) that I can maybe forward to few shops and see what they say regarding the cost of cutting it.

      I would be interested in laser (or any other) engraving of the labels as well. I’m not sure I’d like a stick on labels if I do all this work.

       

      How did you solve this issue? Are you happy with panel and results?

       

      Many thanks

       

      Igor

    3. 47U

      47U

      Igor,

      Design done in mm?  Hmmm.  I didn't think so, but we did this a couple years ago so I'm not sure.  I think your 8-hole plan will work out fine, even with room for the clock.  Like you said, dimensions off the .pdf will keep you on track.  I moved my clock up above the radio stack where the old ARC autopilot control head used to be.  Or, that's the plan, as soon as I cut out the panel and mount some nut plates.

      The only substructure issue (in my opinion) is the radio stack rail.. Yes, I probably should have tried to squeeze everything left a little more.  But, looking at the pics, there's not much left to move left too.  None of the rest of the sub-panel is airframe-structural, they're only to mount the instrument panel isolators.  And, I could have moved the top row down some and save a 1/4" of trimming the subpanel.  No, my panel isn't on my profile... I haven't finished my Aspen install (after two years, I know) as I got sidetracked with family issues, work issues, other airframe issues, you name it.  I'm trying to work up the nerve to call TGH and ask them how long the backlog is for avionics installations.  As soon as I finish the annual.  I've been telling my IA "two or three weeks from now" for about a year.  I did get my medical back... some progress.  I'll have to go rent something for a flight review.  Ugh.

      I had been surfing for some professional looking labels but hadn't settled on anything yet.  It'll be the plain old label maker for now.  See pics... this is about where I am right now.  I'm almost done relocating comm antennas so I can put the Aspen RSM and GPS antenna where the comm antennas used to be.  We'll get there...

      Aspen_Panel.jpg

      Filler.jpg

      OMG.jpg

      Shotgun.jpg

    4. Igor_U

      Igor_U

      Thomas,

      As for labeling, years ago, after I refinished old plastic overlay I used Dray Transfer Panel labels like these:

      http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/panelmarkset.php?clickkey=5006843

       

      It turned out quite well but I had to clear coat the panel overlays to protect from rubbing. You can see the picture here.

      Regards,

       

      IMG_4300.thumb.JPG.d9990cefe6964d476141ed5f93e331ca.JPG

  12. 47U
    As previous posters suggested, I had good luck with a small automotive scissor jack (similar to the pic I found on the internet) although it looks like they're using some kind of hydraulic scissor jack. The screw type worked good for me. As in the pic, I do not have inner gear doors. They might cause a problem if you have them. I also rotated my calipers which are now in the way, but if you're pulling the wheel off the caliper has to come off anyway. I like this method because you're not unloading the shock disks which keeps everything lower to the ground and more stable.
  13. 47U
    Did Phil Corman (The Mooney Flyer) own this airplane back in the late 2000s? He might be able to shed some light on its history.
  14. 47U
    When my C was new to me, I learned that if I pulled down on the unlock handle without pushing the thumb catch, that about an 1/8" of slop was enough to set off the gear warning. I got in the habit of making sure I seated the handle all the way up in the block when lowering the gear. Still, the horn blaring when I retarded the throttle turning base didn't impress my wife on her first ride in the Mooney.
  15. 47U
    I replaced mine during annual a few years ago, but I had some pretty rough areas on the tire bead, also. But for that fact, I might have been inclined to let it slide. I was drafting up the talking points for the sob story I was going to give my IA. Lucky for me, Dan (LASAR) checked the factory inventory. They hadn't yet restarted the line at that time so had a couple nose wheels on the shelf at the old price. Dan saved me about .3 AMU.