Cowls open in cruise

[Vlakvark]

New user. We just got a Mooney 231 M20K. When in cruise. Its difficult to close the cowl. On landing we inspected it and notice that the spring is too strong for the cowl. Did some reading and they say the cowl needs to be moveable inflight. Any light on this. 

[carusoam]

Welcome aboard, Vlakvark.

I am challenged by your description...

cowl needs to be moveable in flight?

or cowl flaps need to be moveable?  They should move full range in flight.

Your K doesn't have motorized cowl flaps, does it?

Stand by for somebody more knowledgable about Ks than me,

-a-

[N5756v]

My k does not have motorized cowl flaps it's a 1984

[Houman]

My 79 K Rocket Converted doesn't have motorized cowl flaps either, it's also very hard to move in Cruise, it is easier to move it near the end of the climb before leveling off.

[Vlakvark]

Thank you for the reply. The cowl open and close with a spring. When levelling and the plane gain speed. Its difficult to close the cowl. What we notice is. Is after awhile the lever pushes to the open position about 1/2inch causing the cowl to open. The only way to keep the cowl close inflight is to hold the lever in the close position. In the POH it says that there need to be some play on the cowl to open and close in cruise by itself( regulate airflow). I am not to familiar with that statement. Should I just try and get a better spring to keep it closed?

 

[Ratherbflying]

7 hours ago, Vlakvark said:

Is after awhile the lever pushes to the open position about 1/2inch causing the cowl to open. The only way to keep the cowl close inflight is to hold the lever in the close position.

 

Mine used to do that when we first got the plane. My mechanic replaced the cowl flap cable with a button lock cable and now it stays closed.

[grami-air]

I had the same problem as you described, once in cruise, the cowl flaps would always open to the trail position.  I tried mounting the "L" bracket in different positions and nothing seemed to fix the problem.  Ordered a new spring from LASAR and that did not resolve the problem.  Upon close inspection, I noticed there was another screw hole in close proximity to where the existing "L" bracket.  I removed the screw from that hole, and moved the "L" bracket over, and problem resolved.  Cowl flaps now remain closed in flight and I can open/close them in all flight regimes and airspeeds.  Send me a personal message if you need more info.

 

[Guest]

If the manual cowl flaps open while accelerating in cruise, the system is mis rigged.  It is designed to lock over centre when fully closed.  

Clarence

[KSMooniac]

Agree...it is mis rigged and should close securely and stay that way. The links are adjustable to get enough over center travel.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[Vlakvark]

Grami-air. How do a send you a personal message. Remember I'm a newbie

[carusoam]

Touch the avatar of the person you want to PM.  Find the button for sending a message there...

PM sent to you.  As a test...

 

Best regards,

-a-

[DonMuncy]

As far as I know, there is not way to go straight to the page for a individual. But you can do a search for his name  (pseudonym). That will probably pull up some post he has made. Click on his highlighted name, and that will take you to his page. Then select "message". That will open up the box to put your PM.

[Hank]

To send a PM, touch someone's avatar and click on "Message." If you're starting without looking at their post,you have to know their username. Then go toothed top right corner and click on the envelope,then "Compose New."

Welcome, and happy shopping! Good luck with this one.

edit:  Wow, we're fast! Three at once . . .