Aileron Rudder Max Weight ?

[Gilt]

1963 M20C at the paint shop...plane gets painted, time to balance ailerons and rudder...all are too heavy on trailing edge. 1963 MM has no info on adding or subtracting weight. Email to Mooney Tech support engineers explaining issue...after a few conversations Mooney Engineers say " use detailed instructions from the M20J MM, the methods apply to all models". Problem solved...Almost...now The paint shop wants to know max weight for ailerons and rudder...(for paint thickness) M20J MM states no max Weight, just paint and balance.

Anyone ever hear of a max weight for the ailerons or rudder?

Thanks

[KSMooniac]

How many paint jobs are on your control surfaces?

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[Gilt]

Was completely stripped...painted, then couldn't balance....then stripped again to balance. (Bare aluminum now).

[1964-M20E]

As long as it is balanced within MM limits I wouldn't worry about the total weight unless there is 50 years of crud accumulated on the inside.

[MB65E]

Some manufactures have a max weight published. Extra does. It's hard to have the aileron balance and be with in the max weight on the E300L's. On a spare mooney aileron I have I needed to strip it to get it to balance. I have asked around about adding weight to the aileron fwd of the hinge line. No luck. The next step would be to add weight with epoxy and shot to the cavity at the aileron tip. Finally, most paint shops hang the ailerons from the hinge points because it is easier. If you were to hang the aileron from the trailing edge and be careful with the paint application, it should come into balance.

Good luck,

-Matt

[cliffy]

Just a couple of thoughts

Is it an aviation paint shop or auto paint shop? Auto shops may use too much paint.

Are they using primer/surfacer before color coat? Adds to the weight. 

How many coats total are they putting on? 

What kind of paint are they using?

How "light" is the aileron when weighed clean (no paint)? That will tell you how much room you have to work with.

Use as little primer and color as you can get away with. 

One last thought- are they pristine surfaces or have they ever been repaired? No repairs allowed on flying surfaces. Check your logs. 

Could there be any dirt or dried stripper hiding between the aluminum surfaces aft of the hinge line?

I've not seen anything relating to "adding weight" to balance a Mooney surface.  

[Gilt]

It's an aviation paint shop and the surfaces are pristine. They prime then paint (PPG). Talking with a Mooney engineer, no Max weight...prime, paint and balance per M20J MM methods ( add or subtract weight as needed to balance aileron ) Engineer explained the M20J MM expanded the "How To" method and it applies to all models...refer to figure 27-17 and the Note below it in the M20J Service and Maintenance Manual...