Costa Leite Posted May 2, 2015 Report Posted May 2, 2015 Dear fellow Mooney Pilots / Owners, Our 1998 M20J Allegro has now 1030Hrs, and on this year inspection we must do a lot of services related to 500Hrs / 1000Hrs maitenances. One of the item to be replaced is the FUEL SELECTOR VALVE - 500Hrs. We received a quotation from Mooney for a new selector valve for 1.638 Usd... Quite expensive, but the intriguing thing is that the Mooney Parts Seller wrote: "... if there is nothing wrong with the fuel selector, it does NOT have to be replaced unless it is beyond repair..". Our Mechanic inspected the fuel selector in our J, and it is just fine. Do you know if we need to change it or not? It is stated on the Service and Maintenance Manual that we need to change it, but I am starting to wonder if it is really necessary to replace this Part. Any usefull information to share? Regards, Frederico Costa Leite @ Porto, PT Quote
carusoam Posted May 2, 2015 Report Posted May 2, 2015 Very few ever get replaced... They are mechanical devices and experience some wear or could get dirt in them... Biggest challenge is the inability of a certain pilot condition to be able to reach the selector valve.. I have seen at least one reference to one getting stuck. I'll see if I can find it... Best regards, -a- Update: See if this thread helps... http://mooneyspace.com/topic/14529-fuel-selector-stuck-in-flight-m20k-231/?hl=%2Bstuck+%2Bfuel+%2Bselector+%2Bvalve Quote
Guillaume Posted May 2, 2015 Report Posted May 2, 2015 It is stated on the Service and Maintenance Manual that we need to change it, but I am starting to wonder if it is really necessary to replace this Part. According to the manual, you don't have to. The latest revision of the M20J service manual says (section 5-10-01) "on condition or 500 HRS". It seems that it is up to the aircraft operator to choose if you want to run this item "on condition". Quote
M20Kid Posted May 2, 2015 Report Posted May 2, 2015 The person with the stuck fuel selector was me. In the end, the valve itself was fine but the "O"Ring started to slip out of the groove and was binding on occassion. When the valve was removed for inspection it had some dirt that could have been cleaned off. That and new "O"Ring would have worked like new. BUT, the wisdom of the valve Gods said I needed a new one so I spent the 1.5AMUs for the valve and another 0.9AMUs getting it installed. If only I could have bought a $1 "O"Ring and cleaned the mechanism ... AAAARGH! Quote
Flymu2 Posted May 2, 2015 Report Posted May 2, 2015 I just went through this exercise with my Eagle. The selector was very difficult to move, basically stuck. I called all over and posted on the list. There is no source to overhaul the valve legally, including the manufacturer. I would say that if the valve moves freely and the detents are distinct, soldier on. If there's any doubt, I wouldn't screw with it. I've already lost an engine from a stuck fuel selector (on a Bonanza), and would not like to repeat the experience. The $1500 hurts for sure, but less than ending up in the trees (or worse). Quote
M20F-1968 Posted October 23, 2015 Report Posted October 23, 2015 For what it is worth - I have an Ovation Fuel selector and gascolator, both with 400 hrs total that I will not use. I bought them when I was rebuilding my F thinking I may have use for them. That did not happen. If anyone needs them email me at john.breda@gmail.com Thanks, John Breda Quote
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