Retractable Step

[M204ever]

My POH indicates 5-6 kts less if not retracted.

Installed manual lever to point approximately down when extended.

[scottfromiowa]

I have been flying for awhile with our step extended (needed servo rebuilt). The ball was not centered as a result of the step being down...Just back from Brittain. All new/re-built servos to include step. Will be nice to hear that "clunk" after you shut down...and gain airspeed and eliminate the out of balance it caused with the anchor hanging out

[1964-M20E]

The "servo boot" is better known as rolling diaphragm. We use a lot of them in water flow products we manufacturer.  The company below has many stock sizes to choose from.  They may have something that will fit if you know the measurements. They start on page 17.

 

http://www.marshbellofram.com/bellofram-corporation/files/2012/07/design_manual1.pdf

Well I finally found the spare actuator and measured it.

 

According to my measurements we need a 4” x 3.69” bellow with a 4” height class 3 diaphragm.

 

Look on the right hand side of the sheet the last 4” diaphragm should work.

 

I’m not sure how we could order them especially when you are looking for 1 or 2 at a time.  Also not sure what the cost is.

 

N601RX do you have a contact to get these?

Retract step bellow.pdf

[scottfromiowa]

Well I finally found the spare actuator and measured it.

 

According to my measurements we need a 4” x 3.69” bellow with a 4” height class 3 diaphragm.

 

Look on the right hand side of the sheet the last 4” diaphragm should work.

 

I’m not sure how we could order them especially when you are looking for 1 or 2 at a time.  Also not sure what the cost is.

 

N601RX do you have a contact to get these?

So why not get one from Brittain? How can you substitute this on a certified airframe? I have been working with Brittain a lot recently and they have "fixes", but they can not do them as they re not approved....they deviate from the original such as rubber compounds.

Has this been STC'd for your Mooney? Just curious how this is done...without a hanger fairy.

[PMcClure]

Ours never worked on the F. It was zip tied up. We saw 3-4 knots loss with it down and it caused some adverse yaw as well in the down position. 

[Hank]

Wonder how they ironed out that yaw for those of us whose step is welded down? Yes, it left the factory like that in the spring of 1970, not that long after your Fs was built.

[Bob_Belville]

Hank, your fixed step doesn't look like ours. The leg on ours is a fat square tube. Nothing aerodynamic about it. 180 mph with an oar stuck out the window... turned flat.

[SkyPilot]

The factory ones that I have seen are streamlined but the retractable ones like mine are square tubing.  I think mine is not retracting all the way too.  I was just watching a 3 year old video my wife made of the run-up we did when I purchased the plane. The step is not retracted all the way even at 1700 rpm. I figure it should be up at that point. Any thoughts on that?

[Bob_Belville]

Your vacuum gauge should be reading in the green @ 1700 and that's all the step is going to see or need. Make sure the servo rubber is not split. (Battery access door.) And make sure the step moves freely, I think it calls for silicone spray but check your maintenance manual. You can manually move it from inside or out. (While I was waiting for an exchange servo I tied the step full retract and carried a light weight step for my wife to step over the flap.)

[SkyPilot]

Here's a video of the non-retracting step. I tried posting it directly on here but to no avail..

 

[DaV8or]

Here's a video of the non-retracting step. I tried posting it directly on here but to no avail..

 

 

Have you tried pushing it up by hand to see if it gets jammed, or stuck somewhere? Maybe stick your head in the battery hole and have somebody else push it up and see what you find. Maybe an adjustment issue? Failing that, must be a vacuum issue.

[scottfromiowa]

There is a five dollar metal rolling spring that could be out of whack. You need to be careful manually lifting the step from the outside as this spring (rolls up like a sardine/kipper can) can get out of position and need replaced...

[SkyPilot]

Thanks for all the pointers guys.

 

Until I get it figured out, I will likely take Yvesg's advice and wire it up and get a step for my wife and dog.

[funvee]

Well I finally found the spare actuator and measured it.

 

According to my measurements we need a 4” x 3.69” bellow with a 4” height class 3 diaphragm.

 

Look on the right hand side of the sheet the last 4” diaphragm should work.

 

I’m not sure how we could order them especially when you are looking for 1 or 2 at a time.  Also not sure what the cost is.

 

N601RX do you have a contact to get these?

 

Has anyone figured out how one of these can be ordered?  I would like to try one too but the ordering process on their site made it difficult to find a part number to order or quote.

[tony]

Britain Industries

 

918-836-7701

 

ask for Ceci

[bonal]

Is that what that crank is for. I thought it was to put down the window and just broken. Kidding, I leave mine up all the time accept when I fly with my CFI then I ask him if he wants me to drop the old man step.

[rockydoc]

 My mechanic replaced the cables and the step works fine EXCEPT...it won't stay in the fully retracted position.  It gradually goes down about 10% of the way even though I keep using the crank to raise it.  Is there some adjustment I can do or part I can replace that keeps it in the fully raised position?

[funvee]

Has anyone figured out how one of these can be ordered?  I would like to try one too but the ordering process on their site made it difficult to find a part number to order or quote.

 

I got a quote/info back from Bellofram for the ones mentioned above.  The contact I have is Nancy (ngamble @ bellofram.com)  and she quoted $100 / each or $50 each if purchasing 5 or more.

 

They ship within one week.

 

Class 4 Rolling Diagphragm

 

DC        DP      H       Wsw   (in)2         C        Stroke SA/SB

 

4.00     3.75    4.00     F        11.79   .125*              3.49

[scottfromiowa]

That is a 1000% increase in price in ten years...No new old stock...? What a rip-off...

[SlickWilly]

 

I got a quote/info back from Bellofram for the ones mentioned above.  The contact I have is Nancy (ngamble @ bellofram.com)  and she quoted $100 / each or $50 each if purchasing 5 or more.

 

They ship within one week.

 

Class 4 Rolling Diagphragm

 

DC        DP      H       Wsw   (in)2         C        Stroke SA/SB

 

4.00     3.75    4.00     F        11.79   .125*              3.49

 

Have you tried the part and does it work?  And thank you for sharing your findings.  I just spoke with Kevin at Brittain and he quoted me $155.49 for an exchange for a rebuilt assembly.  He said they are "having problems with their mold" and added me to their call-back list. 

[scottfromiowa]

Are we talking little metal rolled spring or rubber?...

[1964-M20E]

Are we talking little metal rolled spring or rubber?...

Rubber

[cliffy]

Usually sticks because of crud on the big square tube where it slides through the guide blocks. Clean and dry and you might use spray silicone that dries completely. My hand crank sits right where my left knee wants to be so I want to dump the crank up one and install a fixed type from a later Mooney.

[DrBill]

My step used to hang when it got wedged up too far.  I  adjusted the cable 1/4 in longer so the step would not be pulled up so far and VOILA no more sticking step.  My A&P worked on it for about 2 hrs trying to  find the bind.  The  only thing we can think of is that when it's pulled up all the way in it rocks or twists one  way into a jamming position.  Not anymore !

BILL

[HRM]

Have you tried the part and does it work?  And thank you for sharing your findings.  I just spoke with Kevin at Brittain and he quoted me $155.49 for an exchange for a rebuilt assembly.  He said they are "having problems with their mold" and added me to their call-back list. 

 

Good god, they have been having problems with their mold for at least five years