Cabin vent scoop

[bjoseph604]

As a new mooney owner...  Is this exterior scoop supposed to move when I twist the vent knobs in the overhead cabin?  Or is my scoop stuck and in need of attention?  I twist both interior vent knobs and the scoop doesn't move.

 

thanks!

[RLCarter]

Both knobs? My E has 2 knobs but one is the dimmer for the lights. If memory serves its a goofy contraption that I had to fiddle with to get mine to work (open & close the top scoop) 

[Hector]

My c also 2 knobs one for the air scoop the other for the overhead torpedo lights. Mine requires a little bit of force to close in the air against air loads. Works freely on the ground. It's the knob closest to the pilot

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[cnoe]

Yep

27 minutes ago, bjoseph604 said:

As a new mooney owner...  Is this exterior scoop supposed to move when I twist the vent knobs in the overhead cabin?  Or is my scoop stuck and in need of attention?  I twist both interior vent knobs and the scoop doesn't move.

 

thanks!

What year and model? Being posted in the vintage forum it's likely the scoop with the screen in the scoop. It's not unusual for the cable to break or get stuck. See if you can pop it open by pulling up on scoop with your fingernails. If it opens but then falls back closed when released then you may have a broken cable. It's been a few years since I've been through that issue; others likely have better repair advice.

[gsxrpilot]

When I bought my C, the vent didn't open either. It turned out that one of the trim screws went through the pulley. Backing the one screw out, fixed the mechanism.

[Bob_Belville]

40 minutes ago, bjoseph604 said:

As a new mooney owner...  Is this exterior scoop supposed to move when I twist the vent knobs in the overhead cabin?  Or is my scoop stuck and in need of attention?  I twist both interior vent knobs and the scoop doesn't move.

 

thanks!

If you have a model that has four circular ceiling vents the knobs in the center of those vents should turn only 90 deg to open and close the shutters in each vent.

There is a heavier knob on the center line of the ceiling that operates the exterior scoop. It probably turns about 270 deg stop to stop. The connecting mechanism between the knob and the scoop is similar to a lawn mower throttle cable with a solid cable (0.050"? - check your parts manual) inside a sheath. If the knob won't turn and scoop can't be lifted you'll have to take the ceiling down and find the problem. After 50 years things get stuck. It's a very simple mechanism but it will take several hours to r&r. Before tearing it apart, put some pliers on the knob - you might be able to free it up. I think I lubed with graphite but verify that with your A&P or maintenance manual.   

(You'll get more precise advice if you provide the model and year of your Mooney. Your name and location are nice to have as well. You'll find this community very helpful as well as patient. Most of us anyway.)

[bjoseph604]

Yeah sorry!  I updated my profile info.  Mine is a 1975 M20F.  The scoop is actually stuck in the UP position.  Rotating the knobs doesn't seem to lower it at all.  I took pics but I guess they are too big,. Can't seem to upload them to the threa.

[Marauder]

Yeah sorry!  I updated my profile info.  Mine is a 1975 M20F.  The scoop is actually stuck in the UP position.  Rotating the knobs doesn't seem to lower it at all.  I took pics but I guess they are too big,. Can't seem to upload them to the threa.

I have a 75 F. If the scoop doesn't retract when you turn the knob, the cable may be binding or it has released from the knob. Try spraining the cable from the outside and see if it can loosen it up. I like use Sea Foam's Deep Creep, seems to loosen up everything I ever used it on without ever needing to treat it again.

You may need to remove the panel and spray the entire cable.

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[bjoseph604]

here are pics of the scoop.  I cant move it from this position from the inside using the knobs or from the outside trying to lift or push down on the vent.

[Marauder]

If the knob is spinning, then most likely the cable either broke or slipped off.

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[Hank]

That's open about halfway or a little less. Try cable lubrication as above, and add a little to the hinge at the rear. Good luck!

[Yetti]

Should be a knob on the pilots side of centerline about 2 inches off centerline right above your head.  should be placarded.  Mine is a aluminum knob.  I have to look at it to see which way is open.   On the scoop the cable connects on the pilots side.  Should be able to get a screw driver in there to undo th set screw.   Then lube as suggested.

[cnoe]

You're lucky; that vent is much easier to work on than the older style. First of all remove the knob inside and see if the shaft will rotate with vise grip pliers (don't be too forceful though). I had to replace my knob which wouldn't clamp securely on the shaft. It felt like I was turning something but wasn't actually turning the shaft.

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[cnoe]

Here's what the knob mechanism looks like above the headliner. Quite simple.

It's for sale on Ebay. Been there quite a while.

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[Guest]

2 hours ago, bjoseph604 said:

Yeah sorry!  I updated my profile info.  Mine is a 1975 M20F.  The scoop is actually stuck in the UP position.  Rotating the knobs doesn't seem to lower it at all.  I took pics but I guess they are too big,. Can't seem to upload them to the threa.

I heard somewhere that if it stays up for more than 4 hours, you may need professional help.

Clarence

[carusoam]

He's gonna need to call the m20doc.  Then follow Byron's advice below...

It can be a pain to access where that simple device is.  While in there, if you go that route...., be looking for the drain tube to make sure it is working properly.

Best regards,

-a-

[jetdriven]

Just eliminate the scoop.  It's quieter and flows more air. This is a 1977 airplane. 

[Marauder]

Just eliminate the scoop.  It's quieter and flows more air. This is a 1977 airplane. 

When you remove the scoop and installed the dorsal intake, did you re-skin the top?

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[jetdriven]

Nope.  Flush patched it.  Moo-jet wants 700$ for that skin.  Just fill the hole and roll on..

Edited August 15, 2016 by jetdriven

[Marauder]

Nope.  Flush patched it.  

Well you did a fine. It looks great in the photo!

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[cloud116]

I have a 75 F model also. If your cable is still intact, I advise using some thin stranded cable (like the kind used to hang pictures) as a stop gap for the scoop to travel. I was flying with my scoop open and, wham, I heard something above. When I landed my cable was broke and my scoop Was flapping around. Had there been that stop, I doubt my cable would have broken. You will need to put a small hole in the screen to run the cable (the cable will end up being about 3-4" long) but that will prevent what happened to me. 

[HRM]

Remove the scoop? You must not live in Tejas.

Like all the other mechanical stuff in the plane, it just needs some TLC. Once you lube it well it will work fine.

 

[cnoe]

... and I want to replicate his blade VOR antenna and clean up the mess on my vertical stab. Getting rid of my towel bar and old whisker mounts ought to be worth about 15 knots (that's 1.5 actual knots and 13.5 "visual " knots).

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[KSMooniac]

Jim's replacement probably took less time to accomplish than Byron's, too.   Much faster to swap tails than install those boogers.

[jetdriven]

1 hour ago, KSMooniac said:

Jim's replacement probably took less time to accomplish than Byron's, too.   Much faster to swap tails than install those boogers.

1 hour ago, KSMooniac said:

Jim's replacement probably took less time to accomplish than Byron's, too.   Much faster to swap tails than install those boogers.

Yes it took about a day or so to even figure out how to do it, a day to get them installed good anush patch the holes in the stab. 

Edited August 15, 2016 by jetdriven