Aileron interchangeability?

[garytex]

My plane (M20 F) got hailed out, and it's soon time to paint.  The hail dents are too deep to fill and the aileron still balance.  So I am thinking about comparing reskin to buying out of a junkyard.  Does anybody know which ailerons will interchange?  Or anybody have any good straight ones floating around the hangar?

Thanks, Gary 

[Marauder]

My plane (M20 F) got hailed out, and it's soon time to paint.  The hail dents are too deep to fill and the aileron still balance.  So I am thinking about comparing reskin to buying out of a junkyard.  Does anybody know which ailerons will interchange?  Or anybody have any good straight ones floating around the hangar?

Thanks, Gary 

Gary -- I have been on the search for a set for a couple of years. Most of the stuff out there needs work. Lasar had a set, unpainted but they wanted $5k for them when I called them a year ago.

I'm exploring re-skinning at this point.

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[Marauder]

Also -- I was always told that only flaps could be filled. A couple of the paint shops mentioned a new filler that could be used on flight controls. I will pursue this again in a couple of months.

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[jetdriven]

West 105 epoxy and micro balloons can be used to fill flight controls, as long as you use it sparingly. It weighs 5 lb per gallon when mixed dry.  I filled about 13 hail dents on my elevator and it balances right at the min limit, but some more paint on that elevator it will be fine.  Block it with urethane filler primer.  If you have 20-30 small dents it may be worth it but if it's more than that it's too much work to make it look right.  

New silerons are 3500$ each and to reskin yours is half that, but they won't guarantee them to be straight. 

[Guest]

Gary,

Have you checked with Williams Airmotive? http://www.airframecomponents.com/photos

Clarence

[garytex]

Jetdriven, thanks for the heads up

M20Doc, Yeah, time to round up the usual suspects. I'll start that soon, but wanted to run the traps here first.

[garytex]

M20Doc. Just looked at the Williams site.  I think that these are the reskin guys that I have a bid from.  I'll check.

Jetdriven had some ailerons reskinned that did not come out straight, and the reskinners said "sure enough, we do not guarantee them to be straight".  Part of the reason I'm seeking alternatives.

[Guest]

4 hours ago, garytex said:

M20Doc. Just looked at the Williams site.  I think that these are the reskin guys that I have a bid from.  I'll check.

Jetdriven had some ailerons reskinned that did not come out straight, and the reskinners said "sure enough, we do not guarantee them to be straight".  Part of the reason I'm seeking alternatives.

I understand your concern, I would contact them and ask if they have a jig for your Mooney aileron, if not how do they assure that the aileron will be correct when they complete the repair.  Also what is their warranty policy.

The process can't be overly difficult, thousands of homebuilders have built thousands of ailerons for thousands of Vans RVs.

Clarence

[KSMooniac]

Talk to DMax if you haven't already. Years ago I think he had a guy that built jigs to do this and make them straight.

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[jetdriven]

9 hours ago, garytex said:

M20Doc. Just looked at the Williams site.  I think that these are the reskin guys that I have a bid from.  I'll check.

Jetdriven had some ailerons reskinned that did not come out straight, and the reskinners said "sure enough, we do not guarantee them to be straight".  Part of the reason I'm seeking alternatives.

Warning, Aileron rant.

I called wiliams and they said they "never have complaints" but I read of a few here on MS. I said, tell you what, whats it gonna take... He said,  you build a crate to ship them in, and if they dont get damaged either way, you get a set of reskinned ailerons in the crate back in about 4-6 weeks.  for 2700$ each (thats for both sides, IIRC one side was 1800$.  Anyways.. I mentioned these complaints on MS and how they come back bowed, and after 600$ of re-riging and flight testing the ailerons are bowed or twisted, no way to fix that. He reiterated the "no complaints" thing. I said, OK, tell you what, I'll send you mine, and if they are bowed or twisted more than 3/16", I'll send them back. He told me they cant guarantee that.  thats kinda when the trail gets cold.

So, I ordered 7500$ worth of new Mooney ailerons. Now we talked to the lady, come to find out Mooney employee,  at the MAPA Homecoming a couple years ago,  and she made 10$ an hour and guess what, she built ailerons. Like 6 a week so divide that by 40 hours, its 70$ labor each to build these, plus some stamped aluminum.  but anyways,  I wanted straight and nice for the new makeover, and we send the money, waited 6 months and they showed up. one was bent on the corner and the other was bowed like 3/8".  Mooney insisted they went through quality control, and the bent corner was a shipping issue. They were placed in boxes and loosely wrapped with bubble wrap, none on the corners.

So, I ended up driving to Kerrville to get a set of replacement ailerons, because they refused to ship them unless I built two crates and shipped the old ones back.  Its only 600 miles round trip from Houston and about 11 hours or so...  But I did get my straight ailerons  

Edited March 7, 2016 by jetdriven

[bradp]

Weber in PA is about to reskin mine in a couple of weeks.  They have the jigs.   Mooneys lead time for skins is 2-4 weeks.  

 

Brad 

[garytex]

Well I would like to hear how yours turn out, and 'How much costee?'

I'm hoping to find ailerons where I can go look at them, or talk to someone I trust who says "they're straight"  If a C aileron will fit I have one exchange for 16 lbs of Hogdon Tightgroup smokeless powder.  Great way to do business.

Gary