Planegary Posted January 21, 2019 Report Share Posted January 21, 2019 Am in the process of annualing my M20e and need a rubber bellows for the retractable step. Does anybody know where to find this creature ? My mechanic has tried Britton with no luck. Any help would be appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ragedracer1977 Posted January 21, 2019 Report Share Posted January 21, 2019 There's an electric conversion STC now, it might be the better way to go, the bellows seem hard to come by 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skates97 Posted January 21, 2019 Report Share Posted January 21, 2019 http://flightenhancements.com/index.html @takair here on MS is the one that developed it. I'm going to be going that route once the AV-30's are available and then I will pull my vacuum system. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takair Posted January 21, 2019 Report Share Posted January 21, 2019 Thanks Richard Planegary, let me know if you have any questions. Â There is another recent thread as well. Â Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spurious Moppet Posted January 22, 2019 Report Share Posted January 22, 2019 I did the electric step conversion on my E. Was pretty easy to do and works well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planegary Posted January 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 Well I have ordered the kit so I am looking forward to getting my bird flying again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rbridges Posted January 25, 2019 Report Share Posted January 25, 2019 Give me a pirep. I plan to do it once I get my panel vacuum free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planegary Posted January 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2019 Ordered fri morning and kit is scheduled to arrive mon Will give a report as soon as it is installed.The plane is apart for annual so should be a clean install Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill98 Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 On 1/26/2019 at 7:25 PM, Planegary said: Ordered fri morning and kit is scheduled to arrive mon Will give a report as soon as it is installed.The plane is apart for annual so should be a clean install Well, did it get installed?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captnmack Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 On 1/21/2019 at 9:33 PM, Frozen Flying said: I did the electric step conversion on my E. Was pretty easy to do and works well. Good to hear. I have one also but yet to install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vorlon1 Posted February 1, 2019 Report Share Posted February 1, 2019 Mine is installed and works great. Wish it were a little faster retracting, but I'm glad to have the step out of the slipstream. I'll probably need more right rudder now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 18 hours ago, vorlon1 said: Mine is installed and works great. Wish it were a little faster retracting, but I'm glad to have the step out of the slipstream. I'll probably need more right rudder now. See if Rob can build a servo driven rudder trim system...  That would be great!  The MooneyMiser had an add on mechanical rudder trim system...  Most Mooneys have the rudder trimmed pretty well in cruise flight. Having electric rudder trim is really nice for long climbs and descents... better than flying sideways...  Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vorlon1 Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 8 hours ago, carusoam said: See if Rob can build a servo driven rudder trim system...  That would be great!  The MooneyMiser had an add on mechanical rudder trim system...  Most Mooneys have the rudder trimmed pretty well in cruise flight. Having electric rudder trim is really nice for long climbs and descents... better than flying sideways...  Best regards, -a- Would love to have a 182-style rudder trim on my Mooney... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy95W Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 Electric rudder trim is available, and has been for more than 20 years. Â Fully STC'ed and only $995. http://www.aerotriminc.com/id2.html 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 MooneyMiser... Dr. Norm Smith... http://www.aerotriminc.com/id1.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vorlon1 Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 4 hours ago, Andy95W said: Electric rudder trim is available, and has been for more than 20 years. Â Fully STC'ed and only $995. http://www.aerotriminc.com/id2.html Intriguing. Any one have a pic of it installed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy95W Posted February 2, 2019 Report Share Posted February 2, 2019 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planegary Posted February 3, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2019 Well my mechanic started the install but got called away so I will help him finish it on mon and report then 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planegary Posted February 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 The install is finished and only one minor change had to be made and that was to the attach point to the step for the cable.Overall mechanic was pleased with the mod and a local maintenance shop came down to look at it in case he ran into that problem so I gave him the info to get one in case he runs across this issue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Planegary Posted February 7, 2019 Author Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 The mod my mechanic had to make was only a small bracket where the cable attaches to the step.My plane was nothing like the picture so it might have been modified by a mechanic in the past somewhere.Making the bracket took only about 5 min so overall a nonevent.Would recommend it to anybody with this problem 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Lloyd Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 Got pictures of your finished install? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesm Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 Hi, I had some questions regarding motor and EMI affects that might be related with electric motor operation  near by magnetometer for my Garmin G5 HSI. What Activates extension and retraction of the step ? is this by pilot's intervention ? switch? is automatic ? If so if the step is retracted is there any current flow to the motor ? The reason I ask is that when I installed the GMU-11 (Magnetometer ) in the rear on the right side towards the step opening it failed GMU-11 placement pre-test but moved the Magnometer to left side it was ok. thanks, James '67C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takair Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 1 hour ago, jamesm said: Hi, I had some questions regarding motor and EMI affects that might be related with electric motor operation  near by magnetometer for my Garmin G5 HSI. What Activates extension and retraction of the step ? is this by pilot's intervention ? switch? is automatic ? If so if the step is retracted is there any current flow to the motor ? The reason I ask is that when I installed the GMU-11 (Magnetometer ) in the rear on the right side towards the step opening it failed GMU-11 placement pre-test but moved the Magnometer to left side it was ok. thanks, James '67C Hi James, If installed per the install manual, the step retracts when the beacon is on.  Once retracted, the step motor shuts off with an internal limit switch. At this point, the retraction relay remains latched, but only uses about 8mA in that state.  This is far less than the beacon, which is simultaneously powered....and is likely already accounted for in your installation.  Normal operating draw during retraction is only about 200mA.  It is a relatively small motor.  My general rule of thumb would be to give a couple of feet between any magnetometer type of device and any motor, relay or magnetic device.  Let me know if your GMU-11 would be closer and we can figure things out.  It is very possible that the steel components of your existing step are magnetized. Our Testing of the Auto-Lean actuators (similar motor) shows no effect on the compass even when less than 2 feet away.  Let me know if you have further questions or concerns.  Pictures of your arrangement help too. Happy to talk on the phone as well. Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesm Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 (edited) Hi Rob, I guess don't understand the relation to the beacon and and the operation of the step ? is that because they share the same switch or ??? So is there limit switches when the step is retracted so the motor isn't continually running ? So if I understand you correctly there is approximately 8ma to hold the step in the retracted/UP state ? What is weight difference vacuum step and the electric linear motor (or whatever type motor you are using) ?  Thanks, James '67C   Edited February 7, 2019 by jamesm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takair Posted February 7, 2019 Report Share Posted February 7, 2019 12 minutes ago, jamesm said: Hi Rob, I guess don't understand the relation to the beacon and and the operation of the step ? is that because they share the same switch or ??? So is there limit switches when the step is retracted so the motor isn't continually running ? So if I understand you correctly there is approximately 8ma to hold the step in the retracted/UP state ? What is weight difference vacuum step and the electric linear motor (or whatever type motor you are using) ?  Thanks, James '67C   It uses the same switch and wiring as the beacon for convenience.  The logic was that the beacon is always on when you are intending to fly.  You can install a separate switch if desired.  The limit switch opens the circuit to the motor in the up and down position.  The relay is a simple logic switch using the beacon power.  When the relay is relaxed, it essentially routes power to extend the step.  Because it is a linear actuator, with a jack screw, it does not require power to hold it in position. I don’t have exact weights for the vacuum replacement, but it should be lighter. In my crank installation I saved somewhere between 1/2 lb and 1 lb.  Perhaps one of the folks who have replaced the vacuum parts have a pile of parts they would weigh?  Our design goals were light weight, easy installation and affordable.  It was quite a challenge, as most actuators are quite heavy.  Hope that helps.  Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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