New Carpets Showed, Happy (Edit after install)

[Yooper Rocketman]

My new carpets showed from Aerotex.  They didn't cut the fuel selector hole out and trim it, like my old carpet.  Not sure if that was done by someone after the plane was built or if the factory does that?  My old pilot side carpet had a nice leather trim sewed around the inside of the hole, making it look very professional.  Anyone know if this is normal or something special done to just my K model?

 

The other thing is my old carpets had Velcro sewed along all the edges so they would stick down nicely to the floor.  The new ones come without.  Was this another "special" feature for my plane or do all K models have Velcro along the edges?  I don't have the option to just glue them to the floor, as they overlap side panels in the front and need to be pulled up for side panel removal.  I have noticed, as the glued section of Velcro on the floor has come loose, that the edges of my carpeting push up in flight, which means I am getting a fair amount of air coming through the floor.  Seems the Velcro, attached properly, would slow this penetration some, which in the flight levels in the winter, would mean a slightly warmer cabin.

 

Appreciate any feedback.

 

See posts later after install.  I am very happy with Aerotex quality

Edited March 31, 2015 by Yooper Rocketman

[Guest]

For a few hundred dollars the Airtex carpet is a DIY affair. If you want it finished like the original Mooney install, it will cost a lot more. You can trip it to fit and then have a local upholster add the finishing details.

Clarence

[TWinter]

I just installed mine from SCS and the fuel cutout was done by them. I did have to pull my side kick panels so the carpet could be put under the panels. While I had them pulled I noticed several screw holes had cracked through over the years so it was a great time to send the old kick panels to Plane Plastics and get new ones. As far as the fuel selector cutout goes, my plane (73 M20E) has a plastic piece of trim that inserts over the carpet to finish the look, I assume it will also help keep the carpet in place. The biggest plus was also ordering the sound proof insulation that went on the back of the carpet. It makes the carpet heavier and the foam backing prevents the carpet from moving.

 

I think after your carpet is installed under the panels that it will stay put. The other option would be to call and ask them if they have the sound proof foam backing. Between the foam backing and being tucked under the side panels it should be pretty stable.

 

Good luck,

 

-Tom 

[Yooper Rocketman]

Thanks, guys.  Good suggestions.

[Yetti]

Alum foil tape from the AC ducting section of homer dan to seal all the gaps and holes up prior to velcro/ two sided carpet tape.

[Houman]

I just installed mine from SCS and the fuel cutout was done by them. I did have to pull my side kick panels so the carpet could be put under the panels. While I had them pulled I noticed several screw holes had cracked through over the years so it was a great time to send the old kick panels to Plane Plastics and get new ones. As far as the fuel selector cutout goes, mine plane (73 M20E) as a plastic piece of trim that inserts over the carpet to finish the look, I assume it will also help keep the carpet in place. The biggest plus was also ordering the sound proof insulation that went on the back of the carpet. It makes the carpet heavier and the foam backing prevents the carpet from moving.

 

I think after your carpet is installed under the panels that it will stay put. The other option would be to call and ask them if they have the sound proof foam backing. Between the foam backing and being tucked under the side panels it should be pretty stable.

 

Good luck,

 

-Tom

I just ordered my carpet from Aerotex, I was wondering how much SCS would cost for a K model and what is their turn around time ?

Thanks !!!

[TWinter]

If I remember correctly it was just under $300 shipped. That included the soundproof back-pad. Took about two weeks to get it. Fit is good, just needed to pull a few panels to lay flat.

 

-Tom

[Houman]

wow, that is almost the same price as I paid at aerotex and their time is 3 weeks turn around.

I willl give the guys a call tomorrow and see if I can cancel the other.

Thanks for the info.

[FlyWalt]

I notice on both the SCS and Plane Plastics websites they show selections for the M20J but not the K model. I would assume that the interiors are identical. Correct??

[Yooper Rocketman]

I just installed mine from SCS and the fuel cutout was done by them. I did have to pull my side kick panels so the carpet could be put under the panels. While I had them pulled I noticed several screw holes had cracked through over the years so it was a great time to send the old kick panels to Plane Plastics and get new ones. As far as the fuel selector cutout goes, my plane (73 M20E) has a plastic piece of trim that inserts over the carpet to finish the look, I assume it will also help keep the carpet in place. The biggest plus was also ordering the sound proof insulation that went on the back of the carpet. It makes the carpet heavier and the foam backing prevents the carpet from moving.

 

I think after your carpet is installed under the panels that it will stay put. The other option would be to call and ask them if they have the sound proof foam backing. Between the foam backing and being tucked under the side panels it should be pretty stable.

 

Good luck,

 

-Tom 

 

Got them installed this evening and they went pretty well.  The fuel selector cut-out looks fine without the trim on the carpet.  Thanks for the great idea on putting them under the plastic.  That worked fine and will hold them down better.  I had already done the tape thing, but I must still be getting air in.  I did a lot better job on the center carpet than how the old one was installed.  Overall, pretty happy.

[Marauder]

Looks nice. Is that lever in the middle a mechanical speedbrake lever? Can't read the label next to it.

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[Yooper Rocketman]

Looks nice. Is that lever in the middle a mechanical speedbrake lever? Can't read the label next to it.

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Yes, a mechanical speed brake

[Houman]

Were these from SCS ?

 

I wonder if I can cancel with Aerotex and go with SCS...

[TWinter]

That looks great..Can't get any better than that. Congrats

I did not get the center piece and actually that looks great, the icing on the cake. Might have to call and get a center strip.

[chrisk]

Got them installed this evening and they went pretty well.  The fuel selector cut-out looks fine without the trim on the carpet.  Thanks for the great idea on putting them under the plastic.  That worked fine and will hold them down better.  I had already done the tape thing, but I must still be getting air in.  I did a lot better job on the center carpet than how the old one was installed.  Overall, pretty happy.

 

Wow!  Someone else has manual speed breaks!  There can't be too many of us.  The carpet looks great from the pictures.

[Shadrach]

The reason they don't cut it is so you can trim it precisely to fit under the fuel selector trim ring.  AFAIK, this is the way the planes were delivered from the factory.  Mine came with a mark on the back side of the carpet showing the approximate location of the fuel selector cut out.  When matching carpets to hand built airframes it's best to "custom fit" portions of the carpeting.  I don't think it has anything to do with cost savings on their end. Unless we're talking about the cost savings from not having to remake carpets over and over because of slight variations from one airframe to the next.   

[Yooper Rocketman]

Were these from SCS ?

 

I wonder if I can cancel with Aerotex and go with SCS...

These are Aerotex.  After looking at it and fitting them, I agree it is better they NOT cut the fuel selector hole.  I was able to mark it off the old carpet (on masking tape), cut the hole a bit small, and then work the hole larger in the plane, small cuts at a time.  It did not line up real good to the marked hole, so there may be some variation in the selector locations.  These ARE hand built.  I wish I could change the subject line, as I am clearly happy with the results now.

 

Another plus with these over the factory carpets; the Aerotex ones have resistant material sewed in where the feet slide against the rudders.  This was why my carpet was bad, major hole rubbed through in this area.

 

Thanks for the nice comments.

[Shadrach]

 I wish I could change the subject line, as I am clearly happy with the results now.

 

 

I think you should be.  The fit and finish of the carpet in your pics looks great and is as good as any I've seen!  

[Yooper Rocketman]

I think you should be.  The fit and finish of the carpet in your pics looks great and is as good as any I've seen!  

 

Thanks Ross,

 

I looked into doing that, but don't see it's an option.

[Two Oh One]

Thanks Ross,

 

I looked into doing that, but don't see it's an option.

One thing you could do, that I'm sure the family operation at Airtex would appreciate, is edit your first post so anyone who opens this thread knows you changed your mind after the helpful discussion with Mooneyspacers..

[carusoam]

It is possible to edit the thread name as well.

In the past things were more challenging.

Best regards,

-a-

[Yooper Rocketman]

Thanks,  I didn't see the "full edit" option the first time I looked into this.

 

Done.

[Houman]

Wow, I ordred my carpet from Airtex last week, they told me it will take 3 weeks to get it ready, but that it will arrive before mid April when I'm scheduled to to the work, but today I learned that it has arrived.

 

/cheap bastard on : Nice surprise to get it so fast, a bit less nice surprise that they shipped it 2 days delivery and it ended costing me about 110$ for shipping and customs. If it was going to be ready this soon, I wouldn't had to ask for expedited shipping...

/cheap bastard off

Oh well...

[Shadrach]

Wow, I ordred my carpet from Airtex last week, they told me it will take 3 weeks to get it ready, but that it will arrive before mid April when I'm scheduled to to the work, but today I learned that it has arrived.

 

/cheap bastard on : Nice surprise to get it so fast, a bit less nice surprise that they shipped it 2 days delivery and it ended costing me about 110$ for shipping and customs. If it was going to be ready this soon, I wouldn't had to ask for expedited shipping...

/cheap bastard off

Oh well...

 

My experience with Airtex has been that they "under-promise" and "over-deliver".  When they delivered my carpet (ahead of schedule) the center strip was clearly made for a Mooney with electric gear.  I called and made them aware of the issue.  They apologized and said that they don't typically make center carpet for manual gear airplanes. I asked if they would and they asked for a pattern. I made one out of thick butcher paper. I rolled it into a document tube and sent it out to them. I had a perfectly cut center carpet in my hands in less than a week.  People often refer to Airtex as the economy option. Maybe that's so, but I think of them as the value option. They did everything that I didn't want to do and left me to do everything I wanted to do...fitment, installation and detail of the final assembly.  

 

I have only good things to say about the finished product.

[Yetti]

Some #6 stainless screws and finish washers would brighten up the trim pieces.   Looks good