DualRatedFlyer Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 Just landed back home from my beach trip to find the overhead exterior vent broken and laying in the aft position. Anyone had a similar failure? Is this an easy fix? Something tells me no.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARZ Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 Many have had the same - check this thread - this was my journey...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetti Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 The ceiling panel comes down. Replace the inner core wire. Some people find the correct size piano wire.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbarnes403 Posted May 14, 2018 Report Share Posted May 14, 2018 2 hours ago, DualRatedFlyer said: Just landed back home from my beach trip to find the overhead exterior vent broken and laying in the aft position. Anyone had a similar failure? Is this an easy fix? Something tells me no.. That looks a lot like twisted safety wire. I believe the replacement wire is .050 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesm Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Yep except mine broke where it attaches to the vent made a loud thud a real attention getter when we were flying. The weird thing is that my Brother was flying and had just close the cowl flaps exact same time when the cable broke for the roof vent. It is a pita to change at least for me. I couldn't leave well enough a lone had to fix the stupid tinnerman nut replace most of the with nut plates . A lot people say the cable easy to find it Bowden cable it is every where, I would disagree. The one that I have currently installed is way too thick it works but a some point I should change it. Good luck on your project. James '67C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Hey, you answered somebody else’s question... What kind of filter material is that you got there? Some kind of hog fur? Or something like that... Couple of things you will find about this project... 1) Overall a pretty easy fix... 2) except the access comes from the ceiling side. 3) While you are in there find the drain tube and make sure it is connected out the bottom of the plane... a 50year old tube will be in rough condition... 4) you get one chance to fix everything while you have the ceiling down... Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRM Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 14 hours ago, DualRatedFlyer said: Is this an easy fix? Something tells me no.. LOL, nothing on a Mooney is an 'easy fix'. In a sort of mechano-masochistic way it is sort of fun though... MVP-50 Install Interior R&R Radio R&R (maybe this is the 'easy fix') Engine mounts R&R Jug R&R Exhaust system R&R Battery R&R Cowling seals R&R Seatbelts R&R ...all done under A&P/IA supervision (boy did they get some laughs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DualRatedFlyer Posted May 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 7 hours ago, jamesm said: Yep except mine broke where it attaches to the vent made a loud thud a real attention getter when we were flying. The weird thing is that my Brother was flying and had just close the cowl flaps exact same time when the cable broke for the roof vent. It is a pita to change at least for me. I couldn't leave well enough a lone had to fix the stupid tinnerman nut replace most of the with nut plates . A lot people say the cable easy to find it Bowden cable it is every where, I would disagree. The one that I have currently installed is way too thick it works but a some point I should change it. Good luck on your project. James '67C Interesting that you commented about a loud thud. As soon as I started my descent I heard a loud bang that actually made me flinch. Kind of like when you get a rock to the windshield going down the highway. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DualRatedFlyer Posted May 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 15 hours ago, Mike Ropers said: Many have had the same - check this thread - this was my journey...... Thanks Mike. Did you happen to take any photos during the repair (back in 2011 ;)...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARZ Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 8 hours ago, carusoam said: Hey, you answered somebody else’s question... What kind of filter material is that you got there? Some kind of hog fur? Or something like that... Couple of things you will find about this project... 1) Overall a pretty easy fix... 2) except the access comes from the ceiling side. 3) While you are in there find the drain tube and make sure it is connected out the bottom of the plane... a 50year old tube will be in rough condition... 4) you get one chance to fix everything while you have the ceiling down... Best regards, -a- Also if memory serves theres a SB on the drain tube as well - seems it can be pinched as it goes between a rib and ceiling panel just above the baggage compartment. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MARZ Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 1 hour ago, DualRatedFlyer said: Thanks Mike. Did you happen to take any photos during the repair (back in 2011 ;)...? Just the couple I posted in that thread - sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St64 Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 Owned a M20E, same thing happened and was told a lawn mower throttle cable inner core works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DualRatedFlyer Posted May 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 12 minutes ago, St64 said: Owned a M20E, same thing happened and was told a lawn mower throttle cable inner core works. @St64 Did you fix yours yourself? Debating if I should have the shop do it since its now super hot and muggy in my hanger. Dont really want to throw away the cash, but even with the instructions @Mike Ropers linked, I am not sure if I have the skills to get it done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
St64 Posted May 15, 2018 Report Share Posted May 15, 2018 I did not, it was close to annual so had our mechanic fix it. I had pulled the headliner off and at the time looked more involved than I or my partner wanted to get into. Used red duct tape to hold it shut until the annual, it matched the paint. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazztheglass Posted May 18, 2018 Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 I have plenty of the appropriate wire to fix it. Message me if you need it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DualRatedFlyer Posted May 18, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2018 Thanks @jazztheglass, I plan on heading up to the hanger this weekend to start taking down the panel and see how far I can get before I get stuck. If I am able to to get to it, and cant find anything at the hardware store to suffice, I will shoot you a message. What kind of wire is it, and where did you get it? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazztheglass Posted May 20, 2018 Report Share Posted May 20, 2018 I will take a picture of the box tomorrow if I can get out to the hangar. I got the specs from a previous thread on here but I can't seem to find it again. My mechanic did tell me it is a little tricky to fix. After having gone last summer without the air scoop and then opening up this spring it was literally a breath of fresh air. Cheap air conditioning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazztheglass Posted May 21, 2018 Report Share Posted May 21, 2018 Stainless steel .051" spring 302/304 I have extra if you need it I bought in from Mcmaster-carr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DualRatedFlyer Posted May 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2018 9 hours ago, jazztheglass said: Stainless steel .051" spring 302/304 I have extra if you need it I bought in from Mcmaster-carr Will send you a PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egarcia77035 Posted May 21, 2018 Report Share Posted May 21, 2018 Common failure. This happened to me 3 years ago. The cable broke at the bend point on the vent flap. Instead of replacing the cable I reconnected the cable to the flap and made certain the cable wasn't weaken when folded over. The most difficult part of replacing the cable is properly sizing the length. Sometimes the cable binds in the shealth, you can prevent this by making sure you file the end leaving no burrs. The cable I purchased online and cost about 15 dollars. Enough to do 4 airplanes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DualRatedFlyer Posted May 21, 2018 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2018 Update Got the headliner plastic dropped in the front and it was as big a pain as I thought it would be, primarily because its intertwined with the side panels and you have to balance it on the headrests while you try and unhook the electric from the stall horn, gear horn, lights, etc. I may have heard a crack or two. With the headliner down I was able to drop the plate that the control knob is connected to. You can see in one of the photos how the cable snapped and the control end. I attempted to feed the cable back through, but its made out of flimsy stranded wire and bent before I could make it to the end. Going to try and lube up a new cable and see if I can feed it through. On a separate note, no wonder the air coming through the vent is so weak. All around the plenum there are gaping cracks. Has anyone gone through and sealed or taped these up? Did it make a big difference? Last question -- is there any reason for me to remove the rear headliner plastic as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertGary1 Posted May 22, 2018 Report Share Posted May 22, 2018 I made the mistake of using one size smaller piano wire and it broke within an hour of use. Makes a big difference. BTW: The stuff you think is some strange debris in the vent system is actually hog hair that Mooney used to prevent rain from bring brought into the cabin. -Robert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodpile Posted November 3, 2019 Report Share Posted November 3, 2019 Thanks for putting in the note about hog hair. My vent is frozen in the down position and I have been reading here to figure out how to get after it. I was a bit disturbed today, wondering if there was any way some animal with that much hair could have gotten in. I was looking through the vents to see if I could lube the cable and found all this hair in there. BTW - I still have not figured out how the knobs are removed - I have a 1970 20F, but does not seem to have set screws. I guess the 7/16 nut is on top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted November 4, 2019 Report Share Posted November 4, 2019 1 hour ago, Woodpile said: Thanks for putting in the note about hog hair. My vent is frozen in the down position and I have been reading here to figure out how to get after it. I was a bit disturbed today, wondering if there was any way some animal with that much hair could have gotten in. I was looking through the vents to see if I could lube the cable and found all this hair in there. BTW - I still have not figured out how the knobs are removed - I have a 1970 20F, but does not seem to have set screws. I guess the 7/16 nut is on top. After you have the headliner down, pull down on the edge of the metal vent plate. You will be able to get an open end wrench in the gap and get it on the nut. Then hold the wrench and spin the vent plate around. You can get it to go past the stop pin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted November 4, 2019 Report Share Posted November 4, 2019 Ooooh that knob... not the control knob...? -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.