Need instruction on pulling the rear seat and bagage floor for inspection

[Flyingtexan]

Doing a pre-buy soon and was wondering if the forum could give me a down and dirty how to instruction on removing the rear seat and baggage compartment floor so I can get a good look at the spars. Also how hard is it to get to the 4130 cage to look for corrosion? I can probably figure this all out by looking at it but someone with experience would be helpful.

Thanks

[Mooneymite]

What year model?

[Hank]

The cage is behind the interior walls, and they aren't easy taking out / putting in. Seems there's an SB (208?) for checking the cage with a magnet--check Mooney's website for a link.

[chrisk]

I seem to recall the cage can be checked by removing the belly (i.e. SB208).   However, I wasn't the one doing the work. 

[Andy95W]

To really look at the steel cage, you should to take out the side walls, or at least peel up the lower portion near the floor. You will want to look near the floor directly under where the 2 side windows meet. That is where the water,if there is a leak, would tend to drain toward and rust the tubes. While you're there, make sure the insulation is closed foam and not the fiberglass type that traps moisture next to the skin and steel tubing.

To look at the main spar, remove the rear seat cushion. Simple job, steel rod goes through a flap on the seat cushion fabric near the floor. Pick up the cushion. On the pan under the rear seat, there are inspection panels screwed and taped down. Remove 1-2 panels and use an inspection mirror. If you have the belly panel off, you can easily look at the spar from the bottom.

For the stub spar, look in the gear wells. It is the aft landing gear pivot point attachment spar. Between the gear well and the belly, there is a small inspection panel that will let you see the rear of the stub spar, with an inspection mirror you can see quite a ways outboard.

To see the belly portion of the stub spar, remove the aft most belly panel (the flap actuator panel). Do your best contortionist act with an inspection mirror and strong flashlight. You will need to go over and under the flap attachments, through one or more of the inspection holes just forward of the flap attachments, and then you can see the ugliest part of the stub spar where the water tends to collect and nobody ever looks at.

If we can figure out a time I could show you on my plane at Y47.

[Flyingtexan]

Sorry it's a 1968

[Flyingtexan]

And why can't I quote a post, dammit!

[Flyingtexan]

Thanks for the details Andy

[Mooneymite]

I seem to recall the cage can be checked by removing the belly (i.e. SB208).   However, I wasn't the one doing the work. 

 

Obviously, the lower cage is most susceptable to corrosion since water migrates downward.  However, there can also be pernicious corrosion under the windows and various other places not viewable from below.

 

Taking the sidewalls out is the only way to see it all and it really is just a matter of removing all the screws....however, putting it all back together and finding all the right screwholes and matching the screws which have over time been mixed/matched can be like a chinese puzzle.

 

There is no rocket science involved,  but if you're paying someone by the hour.....yeowtch!!!

 

If this aircraft has been stored outside for a portion of its life, you definitely want to look under the windows.  If it's been hangared "all its life", you still want to look, but there probably isn't any corrosion.

[AmigOne]

Actually putting the panels back is not that difficult, time consuming yes.  After you have 2-3 screws in the rest lines up easily.  I find more difficult in a 68 to put the seats back.  It is also a good opportunity to change all of the panels screws and repair/paint the panels.  The investment is minimal and the reward "priceless". 

[chrisk]

 "pernicious"

I always learn something here.   Today it was pernicious!  Not a word I hear every day.

[Mooneymite]

I always learn something here.   Today it was pernicious!  Not a word I hear every day.

 

Yeah....I used to date a girl named Pernicious.  I've never forgotten her after all these years.   

[DS1980]

Did she go downward as well?

Bazinga!

[Marauder]

Yeah....I used to date a girl named Pernicious.  I've never forgotten her after all these years.   

 

Due to the wonders of our modern technology, my first girlfriend tracked me down on FaceBook  . I'm such a lucky guy that she never made it past the "girlfriend" stage.  But then again, she may be feeling the same way!

[DrBill]

During my prebuy 3 years ago (wow time flies)  my A&P took out ALL the side panels (actually his helper did) , (LOTS of LITTLE SCREWS) and all the floor pans.  I had given him a copy of SB208 and he followed it to the letter.  Was not cheap but I had peace of mind afterward.

BILL