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Mooney expert on c models

Herk

By Herk
in General Mooney Talk

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MB65E Grand Master

MB65E

Posted
Posted

There are many experts here on MS! Welcome Herk!

Tell us what you'd like to know. Most of our opinions eventually aligne with the prudent safe decisions about the aircraft.

Best,

Matt

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

Posted
Posted

Welcome aboard Herk,

There are several types of experts regarding Cs...

What are you looking for?

What are you expecting an expert to do for you?

Can I make a guess...?

You have a C. It is doing something funny. Now you want an expert to help identify what the funniness is...?

I am not an expert, but I used to own a C.

Do you know what an MSC (Mooney Service Center) is?

Best regards,

-a-

Andy95W Grand Master

Andy95W

Posted
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I did a search for the registration number on your post, N1126x, and it shows as a PA 28R- 200.

You might be looking for the Piper Arrow site.

If its a typo, please post your questions. We can probably all learn from them.

rubixcube2k3 Community Regular

rubixcube2k3

Posted
Posted

Welcome Aboard Herk, as everyone has stated, there are lots of experts hanging around here. Many members here are also MAPAList and Aviating.com Members and know the "Who's Who" of the Mooney world. If you want to use this forum as a sounding board, I bet you'll get some good direction, and if it's a question or two that have been addressed before, you probably won't have to look long before someone can share the link from a thread that has already addressed it previously. This is a great community with excellent camaraderie and I'm happy to be one of the  Many C Drivers here to welcome you aboard!

 

~Abe

'75 M20C N7463V

Based at 1R8 Bay Minette, AL

Herk Rookie

Herk

Posted
  • Author
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Hi all and thank you! Looking to purchase an early 60's C that I have located. I'll have to double check the tail number. Over all I'm interested in talking to an expert and locating someone in the north Georgia or Tennessee area for a possible pre buy.

I'm looking for the pitfalls of the model. I totally appreciate the insight and I currently own and operate a Stinson 108. I also serve as the international stinson club president as well so I really value the thoughts of owners especially when considering a new aircraft.

Some of the items I look to clarify are is the aircraft tough to work on? Does it require special tools? Does the gear require a bunch of maintenance? Are the flaps problematic? I had heard all from an a and p yet the aircraft looks straightforward for the most part.

Thank you in advance.

Andy95W Grand Master

Andy95W

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You'll love the C model. Straight forward to work on, inexpensive for a retract gear airplane, slightly more than caring for a C-172 .

Easy to work on if you or your guy has even a little Mooney maintenance experience.

AD's aren't bad. The prop AD is every 100 hours but a lot have been converted. Mine has not and I'm not worried. Very few fail the inspection.

I love the hydraulic flaps, others don't. As trouble free as electric with all those microswitches, I live in Michigan and the cold weather will cause 1-2 fluid drips in the winter. I overhauled all my components 2 years ago when the drips got really bad. After 48 years, that's acceptable, in my opinion.

You definitely need a guy who has Mooney experience to do your pre-buy, but I'm sure you knew that.

bonal Grand Master

bonal

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Let the games begin, me first I have done 2 owner assistance annuals and have found working on my 64 C to be pretty straight forward. Things are kind of tight but no more than any modern car. In fact compared to working on a modern car they are a piece of cake. They are tight for a reason to make them fast and efficient flyers. Welcome and enjoy the Mooney ride. More to follow.

Herk Rookie

Herk

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Haha keep it coming! Anyone know of a pre buy mechanic in those areas? Also anyone overhauled a fuel pump? I'm told over $800 for that! Is that true? I want to make sure I have the right figures. Plan on what $ for an annual? I know that's a loaded question.

Andy95W Grand Master

Andy95W

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I believe the $800 fuel pump is for the 30psi fuel injected ones. The carbureted C model pump seems to be extremely reliable.

Yet another reason to love the C model!

Hank Grand Master

Hank

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I've heard good things about Joey Cole, he is now in Dalton, GA and is a Mooney Service Center. Other members in E. Tenn. may know someone else. Joey impressed me when I met him, but I have no experience with his shop.

You'll enjoy a C, even though mine has electric gear and flaps. Most of my gear maintenance is done with a grease gun, there are eight (8) fittings on each main gear and eleven (11) on the nose. After greasing, I spray everything else that moves with Tri Flow. Same for the control rod support blocks, bell cranks and heim rods in the belly and wings.

My owner assisted annuals run a little over 1 AMU, plus whatever is repaired / replaced. Each year I do a little more work, but will be starting over with a new A&P next month. Working isn't bad, but I've not done anything under the panel where space us tight. Access to accessories on the rear of the engine is tight, it can be a challenge to get a tool down in there with room to turn it.

Jerry 5TJ Grand Master

Jerry 5TJ

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Richard Collins recently wrote a retrospective on his single retractable aircraft reviews and summarized his early model Mooney impressions as:   

 

".... I always thought the 180 hp Mooney with the manually-retractable gear was the most enjoyable to fly. It is rather like something simple that you put on and then fly away."

 

 

source:  http://airfactsjournal.com/2014/10/retractable-singles-good-fad-ugly/

  • Like 1
BigTex Mentor

BigTex

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I believe the $800 fuel pump is for the 30psi fuel injected ones. The carbureted C model pump seems to be extremely reliable.

Yet another reason to love the C model!

That's about what I paid for my boost pump after getting my core back...

47U Mentor

47U

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Welcome Herk!

I've had a '63C for six years now which my Dad bought in the early '70s. I've put a little over 400 hours on it. The same shop maintained the airplane all those years he had it and my first annual was an ordeal. Prop overhaul, rebuild/replace doghouse engine baffeling, replaced the original hydraulic hoses, prop oil line AD, cracked oil cooler mount in the nose cowl, battery box corroded, carb heat system shot, cracked generator mount tab, the list goes on. Why would anyone get a prebuy on an airplane your Dad owned for 35 years? Other than the AD on the prop oil line nothing was really immediately grounding or dangerous, but after 28 years maintaining Air Force aircraft, I had to clean some of this stuff up. I am happy to report my Dad bought a lot of parts for me that first annual.

Make sure your prebuy includes an inspection of the fuselage tubing and various wing spar locations for corrosion. Several threads here cover those topics. In fact, I think LASAR has a good Mooney prebuy inspection on their website. See if you can get a copy of the aircraft CD from the FAA to compare the 337 history to what the logbooks say. That can be an eye opener, too.

You'll want your own set of landing gear tools (available for rent or LASAR/eBay), but unless you're changing gear biscuits or rigging primary flight controls, the stuff I accumulated after 20 years of PA-28 ownership was adequate... except for the cable tensiometer. You won't need that anymore. :-)

Good luck in your search!

Tom

carusoam Grand Master

carusoam

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ever feel like you are in the right place at the right time...?

you are not alone.

PPI is a must. Purchase agreement is a good idea. Transition training is for everybody.

best regards,

-a-

Herk Rookie

Herk

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  • Author
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ever feel like you are in the right place at the right time...?

you are not alone.

PPI is a must. Purchase agreement is a good idea. Transition training is for everybody.

best regards,

-a-

I assume you mean a Private Pilots License? Absolutely! I also have a CFI ready to transition me with the aircraft. He also did my High performance / complex with me. Agree on All if that's the case!

47U Mentor

47U

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The '63C does. Mine are adjustable (manually), but I think on some models they are fixed. The adjustment procedure is in the maintenance manual and there are several variations depending on which year/model.

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