M20J Spinner on M20C Pros and Cons

[francisg]

What are the Pros and Cons, such as parts costs install costs, install difficulty, regulatory issue / documentation and performance impact, of installing a M20J spinner on a M20C either with or without any cowling mod. Thanks to all for the input.

Francis G

[N601RX]

The ARI cowl mod takes care of the paperwork issue.  The problem is that unless you can find a good deal on a used one a new spinner alone is about $1800.

[FloridaMan]

The big con is that the pre-J Mooneys, as far as I'm aware, had Hartzell props and finding a J spinner for a Hartzell prop is next to impossible. I know this from experience when my spinner bulkhead cracked (I have the LoPresti cowling that requires the J-style spinner). AFAIK, the only real source for used was from a few early J's that had Hartzell Q-Tip props and the occasional C/E/F owner that installed the spinner years ago. My understanding is that Hartzell now makes a replacement spinner assembly to the tune of around $2400. Also, the Mooney spinners have these cheek plates that like to crack and will cost you $400 each to replace. 

Edited January 6, 2016 by Antares

[Andy95W]

Con: without a cowling mod, an M20J spinner would look goofy, IMO.

(full disclosure- I'm a CB so I think most anything that costs extra looks goofy)

[carusoam]

Are you familiar with the efforts being put into a C cowling modification by another MSer here?

What are your objectives?

- Speed

- efficiency

- looks

- improved temperature control

Do you have a cowl closure already?

How flexible is your budget?

If you go cowling mod first, then match the spinner to it next.  Not all spinners are the same diameter.  Check your details.

For comparison, when I had my C, I couldn't afford any of these wonderful add on devices...

Lasar has things that can build your C into a full E if you have the budget.

For the price of the spinner quoted above, I really got to like the bullet shaped one.  Kinda like the painted one that came on my O.

Hope that helps,

-a-

[francisg]

Thanks to all for your replies.  posed the question as i have found a spinner and bulkhead for a decent price (i now have to verify for which prop it was made for...). I already have many of the speed mods, cowl closure, wing root fairing, rudder fairing, tail gap fairing, flap gap seals, rudder/elevator hinge fairing. I am thinking about the next step, such as the new cowling mod from Sabremech which requires the M20J spinner. The looks are not that important but lower temps and speed are.

[Pictreed]

Francis,

If you pass on the deal let me know.  I am looking at a '65 E model and it has the prop hub that requires the 100 hour inspection so I'm considering replacing the hub so this would be a good time to change the spinner.  It has the mod under the spinner but like others said I would need to make sure it would look ok without doing one of the more detailed cowl modifications.

If there is a significant performance/looks upgrade with using the new cowl that's being worked on or an existing mod, I might change the cowl.  I know the new cowl being developed might have a spinner option.

Tim