loose access panel screws?

[peevee]

On our K the access panel on the pilots side, aft of the wing (battery and oxygen?) the screws are always working loose, since they're painted I hate to lose one, though I think they might be captured somehow. Anyone else have trouble with them and is there a solution besides carrying a screwdriver and tightening them before every flight? I think locktite might be a little extreme?

 

[Shadrach]

 

That's odd, my bird (67F) utilize a flat head "quarter turn" (Dzus I believe). They stay in place and you never have to worry about matching them to the paint.  I could understand why Mooney might upgrade to something else, but machine screws don't seem like an up grade..

[peevee]

 

That's odd, my bird (67F) utilize a flat head "quarter turn" (Dzus I believe). They stay in place and you never have to worry about matching them to the paint.  I could understand why Mooney might upgrade to something else, but machine screws don't seem like an up grade..

Maybe they are quarter turn, I've never taken one out and that would explain why they don't fall out. But literally every flight half the stupid things are loose. With my luck one of these days I'll just have the whole panel come off.

 

Maybe the fasteners are worn at the "lock" end? If they're quarter turn maybe I'm not tightening enough to get them clicked in?

Edited October 27, 2015 by peevee

[Bob_Belville]

Maybe they are quarter turn, I've never taken one out and that would explain why they don't fall out. But literally every flight half the stupid things are loose. With my luck one of these days I'll just have the whole panel come off.

 

Maybe the fasteners are worn at the "lock" end? If they're quarter turn maybe I'm not tightening enough to get them clicked in?

Take that panel off... it's about time you looked inside anyhow! That battery deserves a little inspection now and then, anything loose? Shine a flashlight in there, any mouse tracks, bird's nests? 

You'll figure out how the panel fasteners operate and if any of them need a little adjustment. My 50 year old E model has 1/4 turn fasteners and I've had to squeeze the flange of the nut on 1 or 2 to get the bolt to lock nicely. If the bolts are slot heads the slots will be either vertical or horizontal when they are locked.

Edited October 27, 2015 by Bob_Belville

[MB65E]

What you can do is remove the panel, take an AWL to the steel receiver, and push in to expand the tangs on the reciever.  This has helped me with some of mine. Be careful not to push too hard- the steel may have work hardened and can break.

-Matt

[peevee]

Take that panel off... it's about time you looked inside anyhow! That battery deserves a little inspection now and then, anything loose? Shine a flashlight in there, any mouse tracks, bird's nests? 

You'll figure out how the panel fasteners operate and if any of them need a little adjustment. My 50 year old E model has 1/4 turn fasteners and I've had to squeeze the flange of the nut on 1 or 2 to get the bolt to lock nicely. If the bolts are slot heads the slots will be either vertical or horizontal when they are locked.

I guess that's the easy answer, I have time this weekend I'll mess with it. I'm wary of removing panels, the 182 I had if you took the upper cowl off and didn't put it back in the right order you'd never get the thing back on, so I learned from that lesson, lol

[Shadrach]

Maybe they are quarter turn, I've never taken one out and that would explain why they don't fall out. But literally every flight half the stupid things are loose. With my luck one of these days I'll just have the whole panel come off.

 

Maybe the fasteners are worn at the "lock" end? If they're quarter turn maybe I'm not tightening enough to get them clicked in?

Mine are 48 years young and have yet to need maintenance. The should have a very definitive stop when you twist them.

[DonMuncy]

Taking that panel off is easy with the 1/4 turn Dzus fasteners. Putting it back on requires some jiggling and maybe loosening a few you have already installed to get them all started at the same time. But no big deal.

[N201MKTurbo]

FWIW they are Southco fasteners 

[peevee]

Mine are 48 years young and have yet to need maintenance. The should have a very definitive stop when you twist them.

they have a hard stop but doesn't feel like they're in a detent of any kind, like they can back out easily. Not all of them, but about half.

[N201MKTurbo]

Is it possible you tried to tighten them and rotated them past their locked position? You can ruin the spring detents on the airframe.

[N201MKTurbo]

 http://www.southco.com/en-us/81-82-85

 

[preinke]

What retainers are supposed to be there. I don't have a single one.

[Guest]

What retainers are supposed to be there. I don't have a single one.

The split lock ring is a S1115-9, the receptical is a S1115-19. Search Southco fasteners at Spruce.

Clarence

[cliffy]

Also when you put the panel back on align the fasteners into their respective holes and then tighten the rows from the middle to the ends alternately one side to another and the corner fasteners last, It helps settle in all the fasteners. pull the panel down evenly and makes the job easier

[Hank]

I usually do the corners first, just so it will stay in place. Then go along the edges, generally the top first, just for support.

But they should turn and lock in place. When I'm done, all of the slots on too and bottom are horizontal, all the ones on the front and back are vertical--it's a quick check to make sure I didn't miss any. You'll also like checking it in preflight, a screw. It aligned with the rest stands out at a glance.

[Mike A]

If you give the middle of the panel a little love tap during preflight, you can hear if any of the screws are loose. 

[peevee]

The split lock ring is a S1115-9, the receptical is a S1115-19. Search Southco fasteners at Spruce.

Clarence

I'm guessing we're missing some too then, hopefully it'll be obvious.

You'd think the A&P would notice and fix it if we were, he's been in there recently.

[preinke]

Will the panel not be flush with the retainers ?

[peevee]

Looking at it today some they definitely hard stop but there's a handful that will reverse really easily, I can almost turn them with my fingers. I couldn't see how to bend anything to make it tighter, the outer spines look like they stop and the inner keep the fastener from backing out? 

Maybe I just need new fasteners? 

[jclemens]

They do come in different lengths.  It's stamped on the head, 120's are common.  Not uncommon to find the wrong size has been substituted by someone that assumed all southco fasteners are the same.  As far as quarter turn fasteners go, southco fasteners are one of my least favorite, they are always falling out.

[jetdriven]

I replaced all mine with flush 27S4 camlocs.   AKA the Milspec Products 2700 series quarter turn fastener you find on your cowl parting line. 

[PTK]

5 minutes ago, jetdriven said:

I replaced all mine with flush 27S4 camlocs.   AKA the Milspec Products 2700 series quarter turn fastener you find on your cowl parting line. 

How did that work Byron! Did it require surgery to the panel and holes?

[jetdriven]

Install new receptacles to the backside.  Mine required a .023 shim to make the fasteners sit completely flush.  Dimple the panel for the fasteners.   sorry I can't upload photos it only allows 1.6mb.  

[PTK]

The paint shop installed new quarter turn fasteners in my panel. Also installed the appropriate "wear washers" to protect the paint primarily. They are nice and snug with the perfect amount of retention.

I inquired about the flush 2700 type fasteners but it requires some alteration to the panel and opted not to have it done.