Decline in the value of a Mooney

[RJBrown]

Quote: aviatoreb

That is the thing.  You may get a beautiful M20F for say $60-70K?  But what would such an airplane cost new in today's market?  $350k?  So as far as maintenance and replacing aging parts, you are maintaining a 350k airplane. My Mooney Rocket developed two squaks in one flight yesterday - my ammeter started bouncing and my cowl flaps wouldn't close - not even on the ground.  Compare that to a piper cub where the ammeter never bounces since there is no electrical system and the cowl flaps never get stuck.  I presume my alternator will need to get replaced and it will cost the same in my 81 rocket as if it were a 2007 newish acclaim.

[aviatoreb]

Quote: RJBrown

[RJBrown]

The part I had the problem with was easily adjustable on the ground without pulling the cowl. I carried a small pair of pliers to bend this part back to the proper shape. But in a pinch it can be done without tools. The cowl is 2 position only. "Closed" is not fully closed it is what Rocket calls "in trail". Open is fully open and there is no in between. As you pull it open the mechanism goes slightly over center. The cowl opens fully and then closes just a fraction. This is why it gets hard to push against high airspeed. As you close it you push it open against the airflow slightly before closing. The amount of "overcenter" is important none and it wont stay open. Too much and it is hard to close. Way too much and it can't close. In operation I would push the cowl knob just before leveling off when the airspeed is lowest. Once closed and up to speed it is impossible to reopen. The in-trail position is fine for short or slow climbs. At 200+ knots you can trade airspeed for altitude and "zoom" climb in 1000'+ steps quickly and easily. Closing below 100 knots makes it easier to push and puts less pressure on the part that bends. Kind of a cheep solution by Rocket. I considered machining a replacement out of aluminum block but never did. I was always worried that the part that keeps bending would eventually fatigue and break.

[aviatoreb]

Quote: RJBrown

The part I had the problem with was easily adjustable on the ground without pulling the cowl. I carried a small pair of pliers to bend this part back to the proper shape. But in a pinch it can be done without tools. The cowl is 2 position only. "Closed" is not fully closed it is what Rocket calls "in trail". Open is fully open and there is no in between. As you pull it open the mechanism goes slightly over center. The cowl opens fully and then closes just a fraction. This is why it gets hard to push against high airspeed. As you close it you push it open against the airflow slightly before closing. The amount of "overcenter" is important none and it wont stay open. Too much and it is hard to close. Way too much and it can't close. In operation I would push the cowl knob just before leveling off when the airspeed is lowest. Once closed and up to speed it is impossible to reopen. The in-trail position is fine for short or slow climbs. At 200+ knots you can trade airspeed for altitude and "zoom" climb in 1000'+ steps quickly and easily. Closing below 100 knots makes it easier to push and puts less pressure on the part that bends. Kind of a cheep solution by Rocket. I considered machining a replacement out of aluminum block but never did. I was always worried that the part that keeps bending would eventually fatigue and break.