CG Roger Posted December 2, 2018 Report Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hello everyone, I'm having a strange problem, and I'm looking for your collective thoughts. On takeoff, when retracting me gear, my gear unsafe warning never turns off. After I cycle the gear 3-4 times, the unsafe warning goes away. There are no problems while extending the gear. I took it to the shop, they jacked it and cycled the gear. No unusual unsafe warning indications. They found a small portion of fairing was catching on the fuselage, they filed that down, hoping that maybe that little bit of catching and the air pressure in flight might be causing the problem. I test flew it today ... same problem. Tower reported the gear appeared fully retracted. My maintainer and I are thinking the next step is the uplock switch. But that switch both turns off the motor, and turns off the unsafe warning light. However, the motor turns off when the gear gets "up", even though the unsafe light is still on. In my opinion, if it was the switch, then the motor wouldn't turn off. Thoughts? Thanks, Roger 1977 Mooney M20J N201MR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted December 2, 2018 Report Share Posted December 2, 2018 Roger, Where are you located? What’s your OAT? Do you have a squat switch? How old are your donuts? Just a guess, but people in cold climes, with a squat switch, and old rubber biscuits have a tendency to have to use the by-pass switch/button to allow for retraction... (not very weird at all, an ordinary age related issue if this is the problem.) Your Early J, May not have the by-pass switch either... PP thoughts only, not a mechanic... Best regards, -a- Take some time to put some data in your avatar area... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted December 2, 2018 Report Share Posted December 2, 2018 I would put the plane on jacks, pull the gear breaker with the gear half way. Be careful that nobody pushes the breaker back in. Exercise all the switches (up limit, down limit, squat and gear handle) while someone watches the indicators and see what they do. It is a good way to clean and lube the switches because you can move them without hindrance. You should hear the gear contractors engage as you exercise the switches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CG Roger Posted December 7, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2018 On 12/2/2018 at 12:15 PM, carusoam said: Roger, Where are you located? What’s your OAT? Do you have a squat switch? How old are your donuts? Just a guess, but people in cold climes, with a squat switch, and old rubber biscuits have a tendency to have to use the by-pass switch/button to allow for retraction... (not very weird at all, an ordinary age related issue if this is the problem.) Your Early J, May not have the by-pass switch either... PP thoughts only, not a mechanic... Best regards, -a- Take some time to put some data in your avatar area... Carusoam, I am in a cold climate (Northern Indiana), and this has been a problem only in cold weather ... so I can see the logic there. I do have a squat switch, but no bypass. I'm not sure how old the donuts are, I'd have to look back in the airplane records (I've only owned the plane for one year). The gear starts retracting fine, so I don't think it's the squat switch from preventing it from retracting. Something just isn't letting it get all the way up. Thanks for your thoughts. -Roger 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetti Posted December 7, 2018 Report Share Posted December 7, 2018 I would make sure all those zerts are lubed really well. Seems to be an under maintained thing with a grease gun. Might want to check the bushings for play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hank Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 20 hours ago, CG Roger said: Carusoam, I am in a cold climate (Northern Indiana), and this has been a problem only in cold weather ... so I can see the logic there. I do have a squat switch, but no bypass. I'm not sure how old the donuts are, I'd have to look back in the airplane records (I've only owned the plane for one year). The gear starts retracting fine, so I don't think it's the squat switch from preventing it from retracting. Something just isn't letting it get all the way up. Thanks for your thoughts. -Roger My C did that for two Ohio winters . . . Replaced the pucks in December, never did it again. It's been 6 years now. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N231BN Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 If your pucks don't extend the gear all the way the lower gear doors will not line up with the fairing on the bottom of the wing. When the rubber is cold(and aged) it will take a while to fully expand. After your third or fourth cycle the pucks have expanded enough for the doors to line up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsxrpilot Posted December 8, 2018 Report Share Posted December 8, 2018 I'm still stuck on the fact a shop was using a file to correct a fit problem instead of aligning the parts properly? Maybe this is a common thing, but seems strange to me. *standard @carusoam disclaimer inserted here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CG Roger Posted December 12, 2018 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2018 On 12/8/2018 at 3:26 PM, gsxrpilot said: I'm still stuck on the fact a shop was using a file to correct a fit problem instead of aligning the parts properly? Maybe this is a common thing, but seems strange to me. *standard @carusoam disclaimer inserted here... The fairing alignment was not adjustable. There were two bolts holding it to the gear, and no room for adjustment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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