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Nice day, took the Moonship for a spin. First landing the J-bar didn’t feel right, but it was solidly in place and withstood solid tugs on downwind, base and final. Still hear bit chin’ Betty on landing, and the gear unsafe light was on. Damn, I’ve danced this dance! Flew to my second destination, this time decided to do it right, get the gear safe light. Couldn’t do it with one hand. Hit the autopilot, got both hands on the top of the bar and pulled up with all I had. Got a nice click and a gear safe light. Flew home with the gear hanging out. What really honks me off is the panel mount Johnson bar holder (still sounds risqué) is the newest part on this aircraft. Thanks Mooney! Oh well, I suppose I’m lucky to have a part at all. Might not be an option in the near future. Hopefully soon I’ll take the Lucky Strike aloft and spray some lube up in that thing.

Please direct this to the appropriate thread if there is one but I couldn't find one... Recently purchase a M20J -- LOVE IT! However, on about 3 or 4 of my take off in the last 2 months since I've bought it, I've noticed that the "Gear Unsafe" light seems to stay on a few seconds longer than what I (with my whole 10 hours of Mooney time...) would consider normal. It eventually goes out, but I'm not sure why. I've found myself making "really" sure that the landing gear handle is "REALLY" up by pulling it out and wiggling it and then making "REALLY" sure about 2 or three times that it is "REALLY" in the UP position. Meanwhile I've checked the indicator between the seats and it shows the "red, hey, idiot, the gear is up" indication. And about then, the light goes out. Note that most of the time the "gear up cycle" is about what I'd expect in my 400+ hours of retract time (granted only 10ish hours in the Mooney). It goes like this: move the gear handle up, hear noises for about 5ish seconds, hear a "klunk", see lights or indicators change from "gear down" to "gear up", the end. My Mooney, does the same thing, most of the time. It's just about 3 times now it's done what was described in the first paragraph -- or in other words a delayed gear up indication. Additional notes, I find that I'm fairly consistent: at 80 - 85 knots with positive rate and no more usable runway, I'm selecting gear up. I know for a fact I'm not over speeding the gear when this happens nor have I ever over-sped the gear going up or down. Does anybody have any insight as to what may be going on? Is this normal?

I have a 1975 F model and believe I have a squat switch and a gear safety bypass switch which I think was added after original manufacture. I also have a manifold pressure indicator switch which turns off the gear warnings over 13" pressure. I don't believe I have an airspeed activated switch. Here is the problem: 2 days ago, at a visiting airport, after being tied down in a heavy cross wind all day, I started up and after idling a while, the gear unsafe light and audible alarm went off. It continued until I pressed the bypass switch. I then taxied and it went off again and I did the same thing and it went off again. After figuring it was just a problem with the warning system and not the gear, I took off. Looking back at it, it was probably a bad decision, not knowing what was really wrong. At the time, I thought the turbulence on the ground might have temporarily disturbed something as well as some moderate turbulence on the way there. The gear retracted normally, I flew for 2 hours, no warning lights, sounds and landed at my home airport with no malfunctions. I then taxied back to my hangar and no warnings occurred. I plan on having it looked at ASAP. I am wondering if it is a gear down position (over center) sensor switch malfunction. I should of let the warning continue and see if it went off during the run up when the manifold pressure was raised. I was wondering if anyone knew what could of caused it. Thanks in advance. Larry