22 others Posted January 21, 2014 Report Posted January 21, 2014 http://www.trade-a-plane.com/detail/aircraft/Single+Engine+Piston/1977/Mooney/M20C+Ranger/1732963.html What does the MooneySpace world think of this airplane? Anybody have some experience with it? Josh Quote
Shadrach Posted January 21, 2014 Report Posted January 21, 2014 Looks fairly clean. I'd be curious about the date of the OH, not just SMOH... Quote
John Pleisse Posted January 21, 2014 Report Posted January 21, 2014 It's gotta be one of the last serial numbers. Garrison sold a 77 not too long ago. Radios, panel clean up. Millenium Cyls........ 6k hours is a bit much. Quote
scottfromiowa Posted January 21, 2014 Report Posted January 21, 2014 Needs a 4-probe engine monitor... 1 Quote
Mooneymite Posted January 21, 2014 Report Posted January 21, 2014 Seems like a good prospect to me. When were the tanks last sealed? Only problem I see is that as a C model, the price bumps up where people start looking at F's and older J's for close to the same money. 1 Quote
rbridges Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 IMO, the price is a little on the high side. Quote
201er Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 The guy is willing to trade down a Mooney for a Cessna.... that must say a lot about that plane! Quote
Marauder Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 The guy is willing to trade down a Mooney for a Cessna.... that must say a lot about that plane! My guess is grand kids are getting too big for the C and he is looking for a heavy hauler 182. 1 Quote
MooneyPTG Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 I think 6k is a little high, the price seems in the game. I like his panel. The original paint may be iffy. Go see it, I find that high res cameras make thing look better than they are. 1 Quote
rob Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 For that sort of money I would want an autopilot. And maybe an Aspen *hint* And the Manual gear is so nice! *hint* 3 Quote
DaV8or Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 I personally would pursue this one. Down sides as I see it are the total lack of speed mods and the 3 blade prop. If you have visions of an M20C with all kinds of speed mods, skip this one. The mods are expensive and many of them aren't available anymore. If you're happy with the speed it goes and the way it looks now, then carry on. The panel is great and that's not cheap. Sounds like a good owner. At this point, get the logs and go over them with a fine tooth comb. If you don't know what you're looking at, post them up here. I bet many here will look at them for you for free. Go see and fly the plane. If that goes well, negotiate a price, write up a contract and schedule a pre buy inspection at a MSC. (Mooney Service Center) You have to pay for the pre buy. If you aren't sure where to go for MSCs, ask here. I like this plane. I personally would want some speed mods though, but that's just me. Quote
DaV8or Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 For that sort of money I would want an autopilot. And maybe an Aspen *hint* And the Manual gear is so nice! *hint* The ad does say it comes with a Century 1 auto pilot that is slaved to the HSI. So it'll track the GPS and the VOR track. Quote
22 others Posted January 22, 2014 Author Report Posted January 22, 2014 IMO, the price is a little on the high side. Where would you peg it, assuming no big surprises? The guy is willing to trade down a Mooney for a Cessna.... that must say a lot about that plane! Hard to believe somebody would sink so low. Google earth makes his airstrip look about 1200 ft. Otherwise I'd say a guy who goes the C rout shouldn't be trusted. I think 6k is a little high, the price seems in the game. I like his panel. The original paint may be iffy. Go see it, I find that high res cameras make thing look better than they are. What would you say is the downside to the 6800 hours? That's certainly no hangar queen. Seriously, though. What goes bad with high time that doesn't sitting in a hangar? I personally would pursue this one. Down sides as I see it are the total lack of speed mods and the 3 blade prop. If you have visions of an M20C with all kinds of speed mods, skip this one. The mods are expensive and many of them aren't available anymore. If you're happy with the speed it goes and the way it looks now, then carry on. The panel is great and that's not cheap. Sounds like a good owner. At this point, get the logs and go over them with a fine tooth comb. If you don't know what you're looking at, post them up here. I bet many here will look at them for you for free. Go see and fly the plane. If that goes well, negotiate a price, write up a contract and schedule a pre buy inspection at a MSC. (Mooney Service Center) You have to pay for the pre buy. If you aren't sure where to go for MSCs, ask here. I like this plane. I personally would want some speed mods though, but that's just me. Is the 3-blade quieter? Is that the redeeming quality of the 3-blade prop? Or is it just prettier, slower, and heavier for no gain? Quote
Nemesis Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 What would you say is the downside to the 6800 hours? That's certainly no hangar queen. Seriously, though. What goes bad with high time that doesn't sitting in a hangar? Is the 3-blade quieter? Is that the redeeming quality of the 3-blade prop? Or is it just prettier, slower, and heavier for no gain? The downside to the 6800 hours is in perception when trying to re-sell. If there is a downside in reality, ie worn out parts, then a good pre-buy, done by one of the skilled Mooney specific mechanics / shops (that are listed in these pages many times), will find the problem areas. The closest to AR are probably Don Maxwell in TX and Cole Aviation in Rome GA. A 3 blade prop will give better climb performance. Perhaps that is why it is on this plane if it flew regularly from a grass field. It will degrade cruise speed by between 3 and 8 knots depending on who you talk to. Many say that a 3 blade on a 4 cylinder engine can generate a lot of vibration. I have a 2 blade on a 6 cylinder so I don't have any direct info about that. If doing a pre-buy, I would pay special attention to the undercarriage and fuel tanks given that it was flown from a grass field. No way to know the condition of that field unless you see it in person. I don't have an opinion about the price, other C owners might be able to help. Count me as another that would like to know the date of OH, not just the hours since. Except for the modest autopilot and lack of engine monitor, there are a lot of good features on this one. 1 Quote
Hank Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 Three blade props can run smoothly, mine certainly does. It was on the plane when I bought it, but it is supposed to make for shorter ground runs and faster climbs. My home field is 567' msl, and I can be in level cruise at 7500', power set and trimmed, in less than 15 minutes from when I turn the key. Some complain about vibration, there's only one way to find out . . . I occasionally visit a 2000' grass strip with no problem, but only when light since one end is obstructed. I do visit a 3500' grass strip at the beach, routinely departing 1/2 tank below gross (no fuel available there). Speed wise, I think the 3-blade and 201 windshield cancel each other out, as I make book speed. The important thing is mechanical condition and flight hours the last couple of years. Things go wrong when an airplane sits. This looks to have been someone's baby, those are often in better condition. Good luck with your pre-buy. The adventure awaits! Quote
NotarPilot Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 I'm going to disagree about the 6800 hours. I think condition is more important than number of hours. I routinely fly helicopters with more hours than that. Quote
neilpilot Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 I don't know this aircraft, but I have had 18 of my ~24 Mooney annuals done by Jewell Aviation, the shop in Kennett MO that did his engine rebuild. This engine shop does good work (I only had them do a cylinder, but know other's who fly behind their rebuilds). After they did my annuals from 1995 thru 2000, had Maxwell do an annual since he was doing a 1-piece windshield and bladders on my 64E. Based on what Don found, and my experience since then at Jewell, the annuals and occasional maintenance I had done were done well. I don't know if Jewell has also done the annuals on this aircraft. As to 3-blades on 4-cyls, I switched to a 3-blade on my 64E after a prop strike and initially had some vibration. After a dynamic balance, vibration was a non-issue. Might have lost 1 kt but definitely thought I gained better climb and decent characteristics. Bought my current 65C in 2012, with existing 3-blade, and engine and prop are very smooth. Quote
Alan Fox Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 Three blade props on 4 cyl mooneys usually mean gear ups , ran a history and it had a gear up in 79 , not a big deal at this point , the down side of this aircraft is it has been over radio'ed , Not that it is terribly overpriced , but it is in the price market with F's and J's , I also dont like that it's home base is a grass strip..... If the price doesnt scare you . its worth a looksy... Quote
rbridges Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 Where would you peg it, assuming no big surprises? just seat of the pants, I'd say higher 40's, but I haven't been watching the market too close. Beautiful panel, but it would be nice if it already had a 201 windshield IMO. Very similar sentiment to what Dave said above--lack of speed mods and questionable future availability. the airframe time is a little on the higher side, and that can affect market perception of its value. Quote
cliffy Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 Actually it's worth a look but as mentioned the price may seem a little high (trying to recoup the radio work) but he's probably got a lot more in it than that and could you find a similarly equipped F or J for that price, just price the radios alone + install. I would take a real good look at the gear for wear (6800 hrs and now on grass), tank leaks (same, grass) how old are the gear pucks? (old and hard and on grass means tank leaks) and make sure you shake the tail for any looseness in the hinge bushings! As said, a good MSC pre-buy is in order before money changes hands. Quote
Parker_Woodruff Posted January 22, 2014 Report Posted January 22, 2014 The airframe time isn't worth worrying about. Getting a good, clean, well maintained airframe is. And this one looks like a step in the right direction. Quote
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