Rear Seat Spar Inspection

[Sabremech]

Carusoam, not so much the rivets now as it's been over 5 years since it had been Corrosion X'd. It's going to be a pain and I expect problems when I paint. I like Corrosion X and ACF50 but I don't think I'll spray this airplane as it can also ruin a new paint job. Most likely will use it only in spots where I think it's necessary.

David

[tomn]

I am putting together a setup for spraying atomized CorrosionX or ACF-50. The systems for sale at Spruce are quite expensive for what they are and I want something I can use any time I pull a panel and feel it would be worth a little shot into the area. I'll post here when done if it works out well (about $25 for everythng).

I too pulled my rear seat and looked down into the area. Some dust and such but no corrision. I'm going to spend some time this weekend cleaning the area the best I can and the giving a fresh coating of ACF-50 (my IA prefers this over CorrosionX). I think the area can be inspected from underneath by removing two small inspection panels and using a mirror. I noticed the inside of the inspection panels the other evening when I pulled the inspection panels under the seat but did not look to see how much of the area is visible through them. I'll look closer at this and maybe post some pictures.

Tom

[tomn]

With a once piece belly it isn't necessary to remove the seat bottoms. With the belly removed you can easily see the back side of the spar from the under side. There is also a small triangular area behind the very end of the rear spar that is very difficult to see. The nearest access panel is almost 3 ft away and you have to look through a hole in the rib to see into this area. I found a rat nest in that area that had been missed for many years, luckily there was no corrosion.

Can you please give some more detail on the location etc. of this area?

[moodychief]

If you have taken your seat apart you ought to think about doing the modification piperpainter did that allows the back seat to flip down for carrying oversized items.

[mooniac15u]

I am putting together a setup for spraying atomized CorrosionX or ACF-50. The systems for sale at Spruce are quite expensive for what they are and I want something I can use any time I pull a panel and feel it would be worth a little shot into the area. I'll post here when done if it works out well (about $25 for everythng).

 

 

You mean something like this?

 

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/cspages/corrosionx.php?clickkey=8978

[mike_elliott]

I am putting together a setup for spraying atomized CorrosionX or ACF-50. The systems for sale at Spruce are quite expensive for what they are and I want something I can use any time I pull a panel and feel it would be worth a little shot into the area. I'll post here when done if it works out well (about $25 for everythng).

I too pulled my rear seat and looked down into the area. Some dust and such but no corrision. I'm going to spend some time this weekend cleaning the area the best I can and the giving a fresh coating of ACF-50 (my IA prefers this over CorrosionX). I think the area can be inspected from underneath by removing two small inspection panels and using a mirror. I noticed the inside of the inspection panels the other evening when I pulled the inspection panels under the seat but did not look to see how much of the area is visible through them. I'll look closer at this and maybe post some pictures.

Tom

You might want to consider this: 

http://www.triconsprayers.com/materialsprayers.html

 

Recommended by Lise Pearson of ACF 50 to me a few years ago, Works great. (Shameless plug: Lise is going to donate some ACF50 for the next Mooney Summit. Thanks Lise!)

[jetdriven]

A friend of a friend bought a 1976 M20F, a real nice looking model, about a year ago. Fresh annual with sale deal. He just texted me. Corrosion "bigger than dallas" on the rear stub spar. A trip to Dugosh and 20 grand will make it alright again.

[urbanti]

Jetdriven - does you friend think that the corrosion was there when he bought the plane, and if so was it just not discovered during the prebuy?

thx

Tim

[jetdriven]

Oh it was there for years. Either the mechanic who did the annual was blind, or he knew the seller and kept shush.

[Sabremech]

Or he just didn't know where to look.  Many if not most mechanics with only limited Mooney experience don't.

 

Jim

. Do you have data to back this statement up? It's kind of offensive to most A&P's.

 

 I had zero Mooney experience when I bought mine and did my own pre-buy. No major corrosion found.

 

 David

[Sabremech]

Hi Jim,

The reason I posted what I did, stems from the myth that somehow a Mooney is so different than any other plane and requires a level of expertise only found in a select few people or only at an MSC.

 I'm not an expert, have plenty to learn, but am confident in my abilities and so are Most of the A&P's actively engaged in aviation or we wouldn't be doing what we do day in and day out.

 

 Byron's statement might be true, but yours follows the Mooney myth which drives me nuts.

 

 

 David

[scottfromiowa]

I have NEVER seen the seat bottom/back out of my plane in the the decade+ ownership. The one-piece belly cones off and it has been fogged from below...but...

That is why I started this thread. I am amazed that most pull the rear seat every annual. I am not sure I am buying it, but why would someone lie about this?....Just another thing I have learned about Mooney's during my tenure as its steward. Hope there are no Black Widows and maybe a vintage PlayBoy under there when I/we peek.

We shall see...

[N601RX]

When I removed the bottom skin that is riveted on the back side of the skin had 40 years of dried oil on it.  No corrosion on it.

[rbridges]

so you can inspect the spar from below by removing the one piece belly?

[scottfromiowa]

I know my A&P does spray Corrosion X (with one-piece belly removed)...so hopefully I am good.  Still want to look for that Gold Bullion or PlayBoy under rear seat though...and see for myself.  I have not done a super thorough look at spar with belly off.  I have closely inspected the wheel-wells with every belly cleaning.  (Most recent this weekend).  All good there.

[rbridges]

I think so, Rob.  Fly that bad boy back down here to the panhandle sometime soon and we'll pull the belly together and find out. 

 

You may be kidding, but I'd take you up on that offer.  My wife is always looking for an excuse to see the beach.

[N601RX]

With the 1pc belly off, the spar is easily accessible from the bottom.

[Alan Fox]

Scott , the only thing you will find under there is some old gooey sticks of Beemans , and Jimmy Hoffa (soaked in corrosion X ) ...

[preinke]

My interior refurbishment was a several year process. I completed what was necessary but really didn't enjoy the plastic work and would fly instead The back seat was out and the A&P used to refer to it as a station wagon. I could inspect the spar every time I flew. I kind of miss that view as I have all the interior installed There were several inspection panels on the top side under the seat. I didn't think that space was accessible from below but could be wrong. It would be hard to get Jimmy in there in one piece.

 

Paul 

[scottfromiowa]

Scott , the only thing you will find under there is some old gooey sticks of Beemans , and Jimmy Hoffa (soaked in corrosion X ) ...

UH, OH. I thought that smell was the d.o.g....

[N601RX]

He is a picture with the one piece belly off looking up through the bottom at the rear side of the spar.  I labeled the inspection cover under the rear seat for reference.  Looking up, you need a mirror to inspect the bottom of the spar, where if looking down from the rear seat you need a mirror to inspect the top of the spar.