Jump to content

Resurrecting a J


Fookz92

Recommended Posts

8 hours ago, KSMooniac said:


I'd prefer a cleaner hole, perhaps with extra thickness (like a doubler) and some threads, but that is pretty close! emoji2.png

Sent from my LG-US996 using Tapatalk
 

This is just to gauge the market.  The production version will be much neater and have a plug with safety wire provisions.

Clarence

Edited by M20Doc
Link to comment
Share on other sites

9 hours ago, M20Doc said:

This is just to gauge the market.  The production version will be much neater and have a plug with safety wire provisions.

Clarence

with sabremech's cowling and your inspection hole hitting the market, mooney owners will have lots of options.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/23/2017 at 8:23 AM, gsxrpilot said:

A borescope won't do it.

I was always wondering if the forward upper oil galley port (where you’d put an aftermarket JPI oil temp probe) could accommodate a 4mm inspection scope.  Just don’t put one of those little mirror things on there. Not somewhere where I’d want to lose an item. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/24/2017 at 10:39 AM, jetdriven said:

No because the crankcase closes up below the crank. There are a few slots for oil to drain through but no way to sneak a borescope through that, then past the crank to the cam.  

 

On 10/24/2017 at 10:50 AM, KSMooniac said:

It would be great if we had a borescope plug in the top of the case that we could remove for inspections...otherwise no way to see in there without pulling jugs.

Sent from my LG-US996 using Tapatalk
 

Figures, that would have made way to much sense :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/22/2017 at 9:53 PM, Fookz92 said:

Being a Cherokee owner for 2 years has been fun, but I was always wanting to go faster. Mooney's quickly climbed to the top of my list because of their speed and economics. My story starts this past May as I was finishing up an instruction lesson with a owner of a Saratoga II TC. I mention to him that I was in the market looking for something faster, like his Saratoga. He says, "follow me" and we walk across the small airport together to another hangar way in the back. He walks up and points to a 1 inch gap in the door and tells me to "take a look." What I saw was a Mooney M20J 201  sitting in the corner of the hangar that hasn't been flown in a very long time. I took down the N# in attempt to find the owner and ask what the status was of the airplane.

Here is what I found:

The owner had fallen very ill 10 years ago and stopped flying until he got well. Unfortunately his illness progressed up until he passed away this past June. The airplane has been sitting for 10 years now in the corner of this hangar. He was the original owner of this 1977 201J serial #0017 all these years! It was a delicate and lengthy process all summer long with the now widow who had just inherited the aircraft. She finally gave me the "green light" in September to do a Pre-buy inspection to find out the value and what it would take to make it airworthy again. I contacted the MSC at Freeway airpark, MD and the mx guys came over on a Sunday to do the inspection. (great guys) 2 cranks and it fired right up! Put it up on jacks and the gear swung nicely.  Here is what the conclusion was:

No corrosion on roll cage. No rust of corrosion on the camshaft. Both fuel tanks leak. Brake system needs complete overhaul. Pilots seatback is cracked and needs repair. Top end overhaul recommended. Fuel pump leaking. Needs rubber gear pucks. 

I made a offer and the lady accepted! 

The best part: 958hrs TTAF

Any mooniacs around the Delmarva Peninsula area I can meet up with after I resurrect this J?  KCGE

 

Its Mooney Resurrection time!!!

 

FullSizeRender 2.jpg

FullSizeRender.jpg

IMG_0877.JPG

10/31/17 update:

Getting the remaining jugs off and sent away to Penn Yan for an overhaul. 

Repairing brake system. 

IMG_0963.JPG

IMG_0964.JPG

IMG_1003.JPG

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

A top may be all it needs.

We bought our '78 in 2013.  It had sat in a hangar for 10 years in northern California before it was resurrected by LASAR.  The engine was installed in the mid 80's and had 700 hours on it.  We did nothing but fly it for the past 4 years.  It consistently blew out anything over 6 quarts (normal) and went through a quart every 5 hours (all out the breather and acceptable).  Recently something changed.  We got high chromium readings and it started blowing out everything over 4.5 quarts so we are finally doing a top.  Camshaft looked good.  Hope to have it back together Monday and start seating the rings.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/4/2017 at 1:56 PM, Hyett6420 said:

When she is flying again, please dont forget to invite the previous owners relatives to watcg her fly again.  It will make them happy im sure to see something that the previous owner loved so much, flying again. 

yes of course! Once airworthy again, It is all in the plan to have them come out and watch. Even the cameras will be rolling so I can make my next video. 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/4/2017 at 9:11 PM, MIm20c said:

With the engine being 40 years old are you going to iran the engine or just the cylinders?  Crazy that even before he fell ill the plane flew less than 1k hrs in 30 years. 

Very rare indeed but the logs tell it all. Poor thing was barely used but he kept up with every annual since he bought it new in 77. Top overhaul is all I am going to do to it as far as engine work. 

Fuel servo will be sent off for an overhaul as well before I obtain a ferry permit to take it to the neighboring airport. (10nm)

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 hours ago, Fookz92 said:

Very rare indeed but the logs tell it all. Poor thing was barely used but he kept up with every annual since he bought it new in 77. Top overhaul is all I am going to do to it as far as engine work. 

Fuel servo will be sent off for an overhaul as well before I obtain a ferry permit to take it to the neighboring airport. (10nm)

 

I’d consider having the magneto looked at as well.  The D2000/3000 series need timely maintenance.

Clarence

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’d consider having the magneto looked at as well.  The D2000/3000 series need timely maintenance.
Clarence
This a very good recommendation. Good mag when it is good, and a single point of failure when it isn't. Send it to Select Aircraft in Lancaster, TX, and buy the newer style mag clamps as well as new lock washers and gasket.

Sent from my LG-US996 using Tapatalk

Link to comment
Share on other sites

26 minutes ago, KSMooniac said:

This a very good recommendation. Good mag when it is good, and a single point of failure when it isn't. Send it to Select Aircraft in Lancaster, TX, and buy the newer style mag clamps as well as new lock washers and gasket.
 

I was very happy to have dual magnetos when my left one took a dump a little over 100nm from home at 9500 msl right at sunset . . .  With a single drive setup, I think I'd have landed somewhere in upland SC. The wire to the condenser coil broke, and tbere was evidence of internal arcing.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’m in Cambridge almost monthly for breakfast at Kay’s. I’d love to check it out when you get her flying. Looks like you found real gem (shame about the previous owner. Lots of guys with mooneys in this area. Shoot me a message when she’s done.

 

Tom Russo 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 11/14/2017 at 12:17 PM, TomR said:

I’m in Cambridge almost monthly for breakfast at Kay’s. I’d love to check it out when you get her flying. Looks like you found real gem (shame about the previous owner. Lots of guys with mooneys in this area. Shoot me a message when she’s done.

 

Tom Russo 

Tom,

Will do. I keep my Cherokee hangared in #16 at KCGE. Stop by and introduce if you see the door open.  I will keep an eye out for you. Kays has great food.

 

-Hunter

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

12/17/2017 Update:

Finally closing on the airplane on Tuesday! Title search turned up a old lien from 1979 that never got removed. So a month after submitted to get it cleared, someone finally did their work. So it has been a painful waiting game. Meanwhile, I had a second mechanic come by the hangar and get a second opinion on the aircraft.

Plan of action now:

 IRAN on just the one cylinder that was pulled for the pre-buy inspection.

IRAN on the propeller.

Leave the gear pucks installed because they show no dry rot or softness. 

Brake system could mean just fill up the system with fluid. 

Replace all O-rings and rubber seals on all components.

Leave fuel servo as is (it ran fine on pre-buy)

Will start a engine oil analysis program (SOAP)

 

Questions:

What engine oil analysis (SOAP) do people use?

Im not crazy on the dual mags with the single shaft deal. Is there something better out there? 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 12/17/2017 at 11:58 AM, Fookz92 said:

Questions:

Im not crazy on the dual mags with the single shaft deal. Is there something better out there? 

 

Yep. New/different engine with two mags (IO-360-A3B6) or IO-390 STC.

Regardless, I would definitely add a review/IRAN of the mag before the plane came off the ground. They have a 400 (500?) hour inspection requirement anyway. And as you realize, an internal hardware failure on one has a high probability of killing both. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Definitely send the mag to one of the specialists for an inspection. I use Select Aircraft in Lancaster, TX. He's got the experience and the parts. It is a good mag and engine, just adhere to the inspection intervals and make sure it has the newer mounting clamps and new lock washers when you re-install it.

Sent from my LG-US996 using Tapatalk

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.