M20C Seat Limit Stop

[tomslupilot]

A few weeks ago, I took out the front seats from my 1969 M20C.  And now I'm trying to remember how the seat rail limit stops were setup.   (ie. so when I move the seat all the way rearward, it doesn't come off the tracks.)  I have cotter pins but I can't remember if there was a securing bolt going accross or not.  I looked on the parts manual and couldn't make sense of it.

If anyone could explain it or ever better, take a picture, I would appreciate it greatly.

Thanks, 

Tom

 

[Ron McBride]

On my 69F, there are 3 sided u shaped brackets. I orderd more from Spruce, they were labeled for a Cessna, but looked Identical. Please see the link below. 1 in front and 1 to the rear of the seats.

http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/cessnaseatstop.php - 3.6kb

Ron

 

[jwilkins]

On my former 62C and present 67F the cotter pin keeps the seat from traveling too far back. If you keep the drilled vertical holes cleaned out - my AP /IA used to use a drill bit in his hand to clear the crud out - the seats should lock in place OK. I haven' t heard of any Mooney seat rails worn so badly that the locking pin will come out of the hole without using the seat adjuster, although it could happen.

On a side note, on a friends M20E he asked his AP to drill an additional seat stop hole so thta his wife could slide her passenger seat back almaost full back and still lock it in place. I'm not sure what ppaerwork was required, but hi swife is happythta the seat does not unexpectedly slide forward.

 

[KSMooniac]

Cotter pins go horizontally through small holes in the rails at both ends of the inner rails.  I believe there is only one such hole on each end.  No additional bolts or hardware are needed.

[Shadrach]

Quote: KSMooniac

Cotter pins go horizontally through small holes in the rails at both ends of the inner rails.  I believe there is only one such hole on each end.  No additional bolts or hardware are needed.

[KSMooniac]

Ask him to find that U shaped part in the maintenance or parts manual... it ain't there!  

[RJBrown]

Quote: Shadrach

[carusoam]

My M20C had cotter pins. 

Realistically (unfortunately), if the seat went all the way back, it didn't go very far.  Feet on the pedals keeps it from going any too far forwards.

This was more of a real issue for C-brand 172s, where the seat and pilot could potentially slide completely away from the controls.  It was a hot button during my PP training in the 90's.

Best regards,

-a-

[danb35]

Quote: RJBrown

A IA then must sign it off as he  found it in the inspection. "I have inspected N$PIT$ IAW Mooney 100 hour inspection sheet and find THIS LIST OF TRIPE to need repaired before it will be airworthy"

[Shadrach]

Quote: RJBrown

[Clarence]

Hi Ross,

How did your A&P get an IA and never install an engine??  I would find one with more experience for the next annual.

In Canada it takes 4 years, to qualify for an Aircraft Meintenance Engineers licence, 18 months in schools and 30 months in the shop, unlike the 12 months total in the US.

Clarence

 

[DaV8or]

Quote: Clarence

Hi Ross,

How did your A&P get an IA and never install an engine??  I would find one with more experience for the next annual.

[Shadrach]

Quote: Clarence

Hi Ross,

How did your A&P get an IA and never install an engine??  I would find one with more experience for the next annual.

In Canada it takes 4 years, to qualify for an Aircraft Meintenance Engineers licence, 18 months in schools and 30 months in the shop, unlike the 12 months total in the US.

Clarence

[jetdriven]

Quote: Clarence

Hi Ross,

How did your A&P get an IA and never install an engine??  I would find one with more experience for the next annual.

In Canada it takes 4 years, to qualify for an Aircraft Meintenance Engineers licence, 18 months in schools and 30 months in the shop, unlike the 12 months total in the US.

Clarence

 

[jetdriven]

Quote: Shadrach

I should have been more clear. My IA is not a greenhorn...

Three things: 

1) He's never done a recip install. He works for a DOD company and primarily maintains King Airs and Dash 6s. So he's far more experience with PT-6s than IO/O anything. He does own and maintain a tri-pacer though.

2) Our airport is a bit political and he feared that he would catch hell for moonlighting there. I told him that since I was doing the work in my hangar that it would matter little, but he's conservative and was concerned that an engine on a hoist was too high profile.

3) He's conservative, conscientious, bright and honest.

If I need someone with more experience then I'll ring them or utilize the Mooney tech list (very active with great MSCs). I am done with the BS from the "professional and experienced" repair stations on the field.  I've had more damage done when my plane is in the shop then out... and one of them is an MSC...

 The annual inspection is very specific and I've "assisted in maybe 6 of them now. It's not difficult to prepare it for annual. The more work I do the more shoddy crap I see that others have done. Nothing dangerous, just "get it buttoned up before the boss see's it" kind of stuff.

The condition of our bird has improved co

nsiderably my "inexperienced" mechanic and I took over...

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Quote: DaV8or

I kind of have to agree. Installing an engine takes time and care, but it's not brain surgery. IMO, a competent IA should be able to handle an engine install as well as an overhaul.

[Hank]

Back to Seat Limit Stops on an M20C . . .

For whatever reason, be it the P.O. was an A&P, or the owner before him treated the plane like a baby, my right-side seat stop appears to have the little semi-circular loop on the inside rail. See pictures--I did not slide the left seat forward since I found the loop on the easy-to-reach right seat. Both seats stop quite positively in the rear position. (Please forgive the track being a little dirty . . . ) Closer inspection shows that this "loop" is not just a semi-circle but appears to have been carefully shaped and bent.

[Shadrach]

That's the kind of "U" shaped lock I was talking about. 

[carusoam]

Hank,

Is there a matching one for the front of the rails?

-a-

[Hank]

I don't think so . . . but I really didn't look, I just assumed [shame! shame!] that it locks in place in the hole. I always fly from the middle position of my three choices, and my wife sits in the rear-most hole to keep her feet out of the way. All the way back is touching the rear seats, floating free, and I've never known anyone with legs long enough to reach the pedals without pulling the seat forward to at least the first notch. Yeah, the panel is kind of close, but it works. Just think of it as "putting on the plane."