Landing gear issues

[1964-M20E]

I’m in the final stages of my first annual with my 64E model.  The mechanic and I were reconnecting the main gear spring when it broke.  No injuries or other damage.  Upon further investigation we discovered that the spring already had a crack in it.  Original 46 year old springs??  The crack was near the end of the spring where it forms the hook.  The worst case scenario I can see with this would not being able to retract the gear.

 

I’m working on locating two springs today.   Anyone know who has them in stock?

 

After that we were looking at some other items and then we noticed one of the nose retraction truss bolts was loose.  Upon further investigation and removal we discovered the bolt was bent and in the process of shearing.  Would it have lasted another year or five years no one knows but if your nose retract truss has not been changed or removed in many years you might want to look at this on your next annual.

 

 

 

[Parker_Woodruff]

There are a few Mooneys at Air Salvage of Dallas.  You might check with them to see if the springs have been removed or not, or if they're part of the auction aircraft.  Below are just the salvage planes from Chartis.

http://www.aigaviation.com/aviationsalvage/SalvageList.aspx

 

And for the heck of it, I'd call Don Maxwell in Longview.  If he doesn't have them, he would probably have a good idea on where to find them. 903-643-9902

[5854Q]

I have a 65 M20C. Not sure which bolts you are speaking of. Possible you could take a photo?

Just replaced the shock absorber biscuits & all bolts there.

Thanks.

[jbreda]

There are 2 sets of gear springs - one set in the wheel wells (1 per side) and 1 set in the belly.

You should not replace these with used parts.  LASAR has both of these springs new.

John Breda

[1964-M20E]

The springs are the gear retract assist and are in the wing.  I found them new. 

I agree replacing them with old ones that have been bouncing around in another plane for the last 30 to 40 years is not the best idea but if new ones are not available then used it will be.

Thanks.

The bolts are two AN5-26A they bolt the nose retraction truss to the air frame.  The nose retraction truss is the triangular looking piece that is attached to the nose retraction link.  They are located in the nose wheel well.

In the Mooney Illustrate Parts Catalog (IPC) MAN202 page 80 it is item #13 part #5062-20 (540002-20)

I’ll try to post a pic but I have been having problems with that except in the gallery area.

 

 

[Shadrach]

Are you planning on replacing the bolt/bush with standard, or the STC'd oversize from LASAR?

[1964-M20E]

You may be getting the nose steering pivot bushing confused with the nose retraction truss.  I do not believe they have oversized nose gear pivot bushing or nose gear retraction truss bushings.  LASAR has the oversized nose pivot bushing which is 0.620” O.D. original from Mooney, 0.625” O.D. STC from LASAR and LASAR can do a second over size of 0.630” O.D. but you have to send it to them.

Regardless mine already has the 0.625” LASAR STC steering pivot bushing.

[Shadrach]

Quote: 1964-M20E

You may be getting the nose steering pivot bushing confused with the nose retraction truss.  I do not believe they have oversized nose gear pivot bushing or nose gear retraction truss bushings.  LASAR has the oversized nose pivot bushing which is 0.620” O.D. original from Mooney, 0.625” O.D. STC from LASAR and LASAR can do a second over size of 0.630” O.D. but you have to send it to them.

Regardless mine already has the 0.625” LASAR STC steering pivot bushing.

[1964-M20E]

No problem

 

I’m not an aeronautical engineer but I am an engineer and I really like Mooney aircraft with its efficiency and speed.  However, Al should have thought more about how he arranged the bushings and bearings in the plane.  There are numerous points where the bushing wears on the casting causing one to have to replace the more expensive part instead of the bolt and bushing just my $0.02.