Awqward Posted October 21, 2013 Report Posted October 21, 2013 I have finally got my new (to me) Mooney back to home base....unfortunately the landing light has blown....I have a replacement GE 4553 lamp ready to go in but am not sure how to do it myself....there is no shop on the field and certainly no one who knows Mooneys here....does anyone have some detailed description of how to replace the lamp? It is an '87 205 with the single cowling mounted PAR46 light....any advice welcomed! AnthonyQ
BillC Posted October 21, 2013 Report Posted October 21, 2013 Hi Anthony, I'm not sure if your 205 is the same setup as my 201, but let's see. Open your cowl flaps. With a flashlight, look inside the cowl at the back of the landing light. There should be 3 phillips head screws, for adjusting aim, and 3 nuts with springs behind them, which hold the lamp in place, going around the outside of the light bezel. If this is how your airplane is configured then proceed as follows: 1) Remove the nuts and springs and washers. 2) Do NOT remove or unscrew the phillips head screws. These are for adjusting the aim of the landing light ONLY. 3) Remove the plexiglass cover on the front of your cowl covering the landing light. 4) Gently pull the landing light out from the front of the cowl. You should have enough room to remove the two wires with a slotted screwdriver. 5) Reinstall the new lamp in reverse order. An assistant is helpful to hold the lamp in place while reinstalling the washers, springs and nuts. (Install with the same tension on the springs as when removed.) A lot of people I know put the landing light in with the filament in a vertical position instead of the horizontal position most lights are installed in. It's suppose to stop the filament from an early demise from banging up and down when hot and shorting it out. I did this on mine. Time will tell.
Awqward Posted October 21, 2013 Author Report Posted October 21, 2013 Thanks Bill, really appreciate the help! I will take a look tonight, but it sounds like it should be the same... I am also looking into putting in a LED light....maybe after this one blows! btw, your picture looks like a Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog)?....we had a couple on the farm back home in Australia...great dogs...and they really do nip at the heels of cattle...
BillC Posted October 21, 2013 Report Posted October 21, 2013 Your welcome Anthony. And yes, my dog Kora is an Australian Heeler. Being from down under I thought you might pick that up..lol. I found her on a trip to Sydney when I was flying the 747's. I wasn't looking for a dog but a friend's dog had a litter and she wanted to find homes for them. When Kora came over and fell asleep on my foot, I had to have her. She got to ride home in the cockpit with me. Cheers, Bill & Kora 1
Awqward Posted October 25, 2013 Author Report Posted October 25, 2013 Well I managed to change the landing light....In the end I just removed the cowling as trying to access the upper nuts through the cowl flap was becoming a little frustrating...even with a flexible socket drive extension...unfortunately the new lamp doesn't work either...I suspect it is the connector...but I didn't have a multi-meter to hand to check and it was getting late...in any case the old lamp was in fact a taxy (fog) lamp and pretty useless anyway! But the bad news is that in the course of removing the three spring-loaded nuts, one of the studs broke off from its soldered connection with the lamp retaining bracket...so I will have to get this repaired...also I noticed the perspex cover is pretty crazed...how hard is it to get a replacement?
PTK Posted October 25, 2013 Report Posted October 25, 2013 Awqward, here is a link. They will predrill it for you if you want. I believe you have to send them old lens to use as template. http://www.glapinc.com/cart/index.php?cPath=639_144_155_817
Awqward Posted October 25, 2013 Author Report Posted October 25, 2013 Thanks for that....I have sent them an inquiry by email AQ
laytonl Posted November 5, 2013 Report Posted November 5, 2013 Automotive shops have a cleaner that may unfog your lens. I've used this stuff on my lens cover and it worked well. Lee
Seth Posted November 5, 2013 Report Posted November 5, 2013 I've been looking at LEDs for over two years now and have not yet pulled the trigger but plan to I'm 2014. -Seth
Awqward Posted November 5, 2013 Author Report Posted November 5, 2013 I have ordered a new lens from Great Lakes Aero Parts...$57.78 + shipping to Scotland ($46.75!)...Plus I have bought a Whelen Parmethius LED light...will probably install tomorrow during oil change Anthony Q
Kefferch Posted November 7, 2016 Report Posted November 7, 2016 @Awqward Would you mind linking me to the Whelen Parmethius LED landing light that you installed. Is it a 1 for 1 swap from the halogen lamp?? Chad
Zwaustin Posted November 7, 2016 Report Posted November 7, 2016 Check out the alphabeam. Good for taxi and/ or landing light. Has the wide angle of taxi light with distance of landing light. http://www.teledynelighting.com/products/alphabeam.asp
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