1978 201 repair advice needed.

[johnbkeck]

I have some projects needed for the M20J and any input would be appreciated. First, my airplane has no entry step. Do you think it will be expensive to add? Maybe get a used 201 step from a salvage yard? Would a 1978 need the engine shimmed or mounts and spacers (engine drooping) due to it's age? Is removing the "towel-rack"antenna on the tail a big deal? Both push-to-talk switches on control wheels transmit (I see tx on Garmin 530) but I can't hear anything in my headset. Anyone have that problem? With a new PTT switch on pilot's side it didn't fix the no audio feedback in headset problem. I have a new Plane Power alternator, Zeftronics voltage regulator, and new battery and I still get intermittent red Low Volts light on annunciator. I think I read where it could be bad diodes in annunciator panel. Also on the Maxwell website there is an article about cleaning the master switch posts for electrical fluctuations. Any recommendations for a much smaller LED rotating beacon on the aft underside to replace the huge original unit? I remember some earlier posts about replacements. The black control yokes are mostly good condition but have those chips or chunks out of the nice shiny black finish. I do need a complete Aero Comfort interior ($$$$),  but do you have any touch up ideas for yokes?

Thank you very much!

John Keck

724-759-9900

[NotarPilot]

John,

i can comment on one of your questions. I own a 1978 J as well s/n 24-575. I replaced my rotating Grimes belly beacon with a Whelen LED red flashing beacon p/n 7108055. You'll need an adaptor from Whelen so that it fits in the same footprint. It's a very easy replacement and I was able to do it myself and have my mechanic inspect and sign it off. I paid about $465 as a promotional price but expect to pay about $550 plus whatever the adaptor costs. If you have any further questions about it feel free to PM me.

Steve

[Yetti]

• You also need a carriage return or bullet point. 
• The PTT just connect the circuit to ground.   If you are seeing TX then the PTT are working.   What headsets?  What audio panel?  What intercom?
• When were your engine mounts last replaced?
• Black nail polish and go crazy on the yokes

 

[Bob - S50]

Couple things:

John,

Why add a step?  It will be fixed and a drag (if you can even add it).  We simply bought a small collapsible step and keep it in the baggage compartment.  Only weighs about a pound and takes up very little room.  For those that need it, I put it down for them and then put it away before I get up on the wing.

I believe the 'towel rack' antenna is your VOR/LOC antenna.  I'd have to assume you would replace it with blade antennas.  I've wondered if there would be a significant drag reduction by doing that.  Pretty pricey thing to do if it doesn't help much.

No, we do not have the audio problem.  I would think it would either be a wiring problem or a problem with the intercom itself.

Yes, we get occasional flashing volts lights too.  Since we now have an EDM730 in the plane, I just check the voltage reading there.  If the volts are up around 14 +/-, I just ignore it and it eventually goes away.  However, I believe there is a pot in the annunciator that can be adjusted.  Check your maintenance manual for the procedure.  It involves exposing the guts of the annunciator, starting the plane, adjusting the RPM to get a desired voltage and then adjusting the pot to trigger the warning.

Steve,

We've got your sister ship, 24-0576

Bob

[Bartman]

We replaced the engine mounts and balanced the prop a few years ago with significant reduction in vibration. Last year we shimmed the engine due to droop, but I have to be honest I don't think they had the spinner centered properly when they changed mounts.  Nonetheless the spinner is now centered and looks great.  MIGHT have gained a few knots based on initial testing in the spring, but over the course of a year's data I'm not convinced it made much difference in speed.

[DonMuncy]

John, I sent a PM

[johnbkeck]

Wow! Thank you for all of the great suggestions. The folding step, voltage advice, Wheln strobe with part number, audio suggestions. The audio panel I think is the original. (King?) The headsets are older generation Bose noise cancelling.

Thanks again!

John

[carusoam]

• How does anyone one write a paragraph that long?
• And, keep it so well organized?
• Takes a good memory
• I'm just jealous.
• 

-a-

[N201MKTurbo]

Your sidetone (that's what they call hearing your self talk) comes from the radio itself. It is connected to the receive audio when you are transmitting. If it is not working the radio needs to be fixed. There is always an internal trim pot to set the sidetone level. It may need to be adjusted, or it may be dirty and adjusting it will clean off the dirt. Either way it is usually an easy fix for the avionics tech.

Do you have the same problem on both radios?

I assume that you are actually transmitting audio, if not then you have a mic circuit problem.

[ArtVandelay]

• How does anyone one write a paragraph that long?
• And, keep it so well organized?
• Takes a good memory
• I'm just jealous.
• 

-a-

I'm going to take a guess that you do a lot of PowerPoint presentations in your day job.

[INA201]

I'm flying 24-0578.  Is 24-0577 out there? Oops thread drift.  Mine just has the white tail position light, no step, no belly beacon.  I've got scratchy radios but I'm told it's a grounding issue to look into. I'm planning on redoing my yokes from these guys.     https://www.saircorp.com/product.php?productid=16139  $550.  I don't know their quality level but if someone could chime in would be great for all of us.  I plan on going through my electrical connections with contact cleaner at some point and clean out non used wires and such.

[Yetti]

Hanger faries have been known to take a small allen wrench and reseat the radios

[N201MKTurbo]

An airplane owner can reseat radios. Except the transponder. I've been told that a strict interpretation of the rules requires a transponder re-cert if it is reseated, so I let the hangar fairies do that one.

[N201MKTurbo]

Actually it is a bit of a grey area. If you are lubricating the connector, which most contact cleaner has lubricants, then you should be OK.

(6) Lubrication not requiring disassembly other than removal of nonstructural items such as cover plates, cowlings, and fairings.

Radios are nonstructural.

[Guest]

Well at least after that long paragraph he ended it with his name!

Clarence

[PTK]

Replacing the towel rack antenna is a big deal. It requires some metal work because the holes don't match. Also a doubler needs to be added to mount the  blade antenna. I don't see any real benefit really to do all that.

 

[johnbkeck]

Thank you for all of the great responses. Interesting that some 201 airplanes did not have the step installed. I think I will leave the antenna alone, get a folding step, and look/hope for skilled helpful hangar fairies.

John

[bradp]

Don't forget about the hangar elves.  They don't like to be left out.  

[markejackson02]

20 hours ago, INA201 said:

I'm flying 24-0578.  Is 24-0577 out there? Oops thread drift.  Mine just has the white tail position light, no step, no belly beacon.  I've got scratchy radios but I'm told it's a grounding issue to look into. I'm planning on redoing my yokes from these guys.     https://www.saircorp.com/product.php?productid=16139  $550.  I don't know their quality level but if someone could chime in would be great for all of us.  I plan on going through my electrical connections with contact cleaner at some point and clean out non used wires and such.

I had the yokes in my 67 C redone by them and they turned out great.  Much better than the leather steering wheel wraps a lot of people put on.

[INA201]

Thanks for the pirep on the yokes.  I think .550AMUs is not bad for both yokes.  I found 24-0577, N5201C, down in Texas on Flightaware.  Now I will sleep better.  

[LANCECASPER]

On 1/13/2016 at 3:07 PM, INA201 said:

 I'm planning on redoing my yokes from these guys.     https://www.saircorp.com/product.php?productid=16139  $550.  I don't know their quality level but if someone could chime in would be great for all of us. 

For $600 AeroComfort is the way to go. The leather feels great.

[gsxrpilot]

4 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

For $600 AeroComfort is the way to go. The leather feels great.

My C is getting new AeroComfort yokes as soon as Mooney can whip up a couple of shafts for me. They say two to three weeks. I already have the yokes.

[Yetti]

for $536.00 you can get 3 leather hides and redo the whole interior in leather.  I have the big burly yokes and thinking of doing them in plastic dip.  But there is also some left over leather from the interior..

[Tony Armour]

When I bought my 201, I paid to have the step removed :-) maybe a mistake but I sure wouldn't paynto put one back.

[cliffy]

Not really a gray area  One needs to read further down the page- :-) :-)

(31) Removing and replacing self-contained, front instrument panel-mounted navigation and communication devices that employ tray-mounted connectors that connect the unit when the unit is installed into the instrument panel, (excluding automatic flight control systems, transponders, and microwave frequency distance measuring equipment (DME)). The approved unit must be designed to be readily and repeatedly removed and replaced, and pertinent instructions must be provided. Prior to the unit's intended use, and operational check must be performed in accordance with the applicable sections of part 91 of this chapter.