Mixture/Prop swap

[DaV8or]

Is it possible to trade possitions on an early M20 on the mixture and prop to put them in the now more standard ordering without needing new cables? Anybody done this? All of my flight time is with the standard throttle-prop-mixture arrangement and I would like my Mooney to be as well.

[Immelman]

Dave,

I can't anwer your question but I had the same concern when I bought my Mooney, because of my prior time in complex a/c with the more usual arrangement. All I can say is that it has been a  non-event. Just positively identify a control before you move it. Also, in my airplane, the three controls are different in a tactile way; thus its easy to positively identify the critical one (throttle) when you need to do something like put the flaps down further and then get your hand back to the throttle on approach to land.

[eaglebkh]

I agree with Immelman - it's not a neuron drainer.  And in the 2 events when I have reached for the wrong control, I was able to catch it quickly because I was watching the appropriate gauge - i.e. watching the RPM's while trying to adjust prop.  If you don't see or hear the RPM's changing, then you're adjusting the wrong control.  Same for mixture, if you start adjusting and the engine sound changes...

Also, I think the vintage Mooney arrangement is better, since the 2 controls that are getting changed the most are on the outside.  It's hard for me to adjust RPM's in a normal control layout, especially during turbulence, without bumping the other controls.  It's easier for me to avoid the center control while adjusting the outer ones.

[Urs_Wildermuth]

Dave,

as they have been changed in my Mooney, it must be possible. No idea when it was done or who did it, but I now have the standard arrangement of Throttle, Prop, Mixture.

 

 

[Ned Gravel]

Dave:

I agree with those who tell you it will be a non-event.  After this amount of time in mine, I am completely used to its apparently backwards arrangement.  You will get used to it so fast, that by the time your 20th hour rolls around on your Mooney, you will wonder why you even asked this question.

[Stefanovm]

10 hours was enough for me to get used to the positions. I would not think about swapping now, after 40 hours. It is different, but so are a lot of other things. 400+ in a 182 with TPM and 200 in a C310 with TPM in a quadrant an two of each. My Mooney's TMP is just another difference to remind me that I am flying a Mooney. I also do more by feel (tactile) so it is a non-issue.

[DaV8or]

Thanks for the replies. I will be having my whole panel apart, so I guess I will look into it then. Just curious what would be involved. I'm hoping it's just a matter of moving from one hole to the next.

[N201MKTurbo]

The cables need to be disconnected from the prop governor and the fuel servo, the firewall bulkhead fittings need to be unscrewed, the cables need to be pulled out through the holes in the panel and fished back again. It is kind of a pain in the butt. If you have the panel apart it would be a good time to do it. Don’t forget to re-do the panel markings.

 

I flew a 67F for 19 years. I think the Mooney arrangement is correct and all the other planes are wrong!

[carusoam]

If you are taking it apart anyway.  Get a good look at the connection to the throttle.  Looking for wear.  Throttle cables are known to let go (in all types of planes), the power on our mooneys will fail to idle.....

Consider a change to new while you are doing it.  You will probably get the blue red black combination of standard controls.....

Or just leave it alone and call it a classic mooney.....somebody before you did it for 40+ years......

-a-

[DaV8or]

Quote: carusoam

Or just leave it alone and call it a classic mooney.....somebody before you did it for 40+ years......

[Guest Anonymous]

I did it.

My mixture cable was getting brittle near the carburator end, so I replaced it with one from MdFarlane.  It was cheaper than the Mooney one and also had the starndard red shaped knob.  McFarlane has an STC for using it on an M20C, so my mechanic put it in on a Form 337 with a reference to the STC.  It is a PMA part, so no issues.

I did the postion swap becasue I flew too many brand P and brand B in the past, and I did confuse them in the Mooney at least once under stress.  Once can be enough under the right circumstances.  I used the McFarlane cable because it was less than half of the Mooney price for the parts.  It is a quality unit, well built and acutally heavier duty that the one I removed.

Oh, almost forgot - I also changed it from a simple push-pull to a push-pull with a vernier control and lock, so now I have much better control over my temps when leaning.

RFB

 

 

[carusoam]

Dav8,

You're very right, somebody did spend copious amounts updating the panel to get far away from classic......

While you are selecting your new throttle control, check out the following thread.

http://www.mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?mainaction=posts&forumid=3&threadid=876

It's time to decide whether or not you like the vernier type or the regular/push pull.....

It seems more people like push/pull,  RFB and I like the vernier....

Best regards,

-a-

[DaV8or]

Quote: carusoam

Dav8,

You're very right, somebody did spend copious amounts updating the panel to get far away from classic......

While you are selecting your new throttle control, check out the following thread.

http://www.mooneyspace.com/index.cfm?mainaction=posts&forumid=3&threadid=876

It's time to decide whether or not you like the vernier type or the regular/push pull.....

It seems more people like push/pull,  RFB and I like the vernier....

Best regards,

-a-

[carusoam]

There are two human errors that seem to come up in training.

[1] Have you ever pulled the red knob on final approach in place of pulling the throttle to idle?  That will get your flight instructor's attention.

[2] Have you ever forgotten to switch a VOR or GPS source to ILS (and confirm) for the final approach?

Easy mistakes to make, do whatever it takes to keep it from happening (again).

I see you have a real turn coordinator, standard altimeter and a hole bunch of instrument lights also.  Very nice.....

-a-

[Guest Anonymous]

Quote: DaV8or