hammdo Posted November 29, 2021 Author Report Posted November 29, 2021 Just got an update on the kx-155. Initial ck showed insensitive response from the VOR or GS. The shop took off the tops to diagnose, VOR started working - it's gonna be one of 'those' kind of problems... I know from experience nothing electronic 'self heals'... now the waiting game... -Don Quote
hammdo Posted December 9, 2021 Author Report Posted December 9, 2021 Annual is going well. Nothing discovered and things look well. Doing brakes since I did a ton of landings etc. so just playing it safe. Should have it back next week. Got news on the kx-155 -- $1350 to repair and refresh it! They found out some of the items on the board overheated throughout the years and failed so, fan and tubing on hand. I'll get that installed before next summer. I'll continue my IFR training and goal is to get the test done. -Don 2 Quote
hammdo Posted December 15, 2021 Author Report Posted December 15, 2021 So, annual is complete. Some squawks that need to be done in the near future center around corrosion prevention. The overhead vent where the rivet popped. During the install of the missing rivet, a second one popped and had to be replaced. Upon further inspection, the unit will need to be removed and the area treated. It's to a point where it needs to be done. Clean, Alodine, primer as needed. If many of you have planes as old as mine, have been flown in IFR a lot, stayed outside, probably a good idea to look at this. The wheel wells need to cleaned and repainted. Clean, alodine, primer, paint as needed Continue with the ACF-50/Corrosion X treatments. Engine health, compressions (76-78 in all of the cylinders), overall condition looks good for a 55 year old plane. AP said with all the new parts and work done to her, just maintain it and fly it - she's fine outside of the items listed above. First of the year, I'll get the wheel wells done. A month or so later, the overhead vent. She's got quite a few years left in her. Take care of things as they happen and she should be wonderful to fly. I pick her up next Tuesday (winds are in the 40 knot range today!). Overall, pretty happy. She'll get lots of love and attention from me ;o) Oh, and the AP said it's one of the Smoothest Johnson bars he's ever used (thanks @Sabremech ;o) -Don 1 Quote
Sabremech Posted December 15, 2021 Report Posted December 15, 2021 2 hours ago, hammdo said: So, annual is complete. Some squawks that need to be done in the near future center around corrosion prevention. The overhead vent where the rivet popped. During the install of the missing rivet, a second one popped and had to be replaced. Upon further inspection, the unit will need to be removed and the area treated. It's to a point where it needs to be done. Clean, Alodine, primer as needed. If many of you have planes as old as mine, have been flown in IFR a lot, stayed outside, probably a good idea to look at this. The wheel wells need to cleaned and repainted. Clean, alodine, primer, paint as needed Continue with the ACF-50/Corrosion X treatments. Engine health, compressions (76-78 in all of the cylinders), overall condition looks good for a 55 year old plane. AP said with all the new parts and work done to her, just maintain it and fly it - she's fine outside of the items listed above. First of the year, I'll get the wheel wells done. A month or so later, the overhead vent. She's got quite a few years left in her. Take care of things as they happen and she should be wonderful to fly. I pick her up next Tuesday (winds are in the 40 knot range today!). Overall, pretty happy. She'll get lots of love and attention from me ;o) Oh, and the AP said it's one of the Smoothest Johnson bars he's ever used (thanks @Sabremech ;o) -Don Hi Don, I’m happy to hear the annual went well. The wheel wells were always on my list to do but life got in the way. I’m not surprised about the vent area. Nice to know it just needs to be cleaned up. Thanks. David Quote
hammdo Posted December 15, 2021 Author Report Posted December 15, 2021 As best we can tell on the vent area, yeah, that should help a ton. Wheel wells need it very soon so best to not wait. I'm gonna ask to have pics of the vent area as they work through the process... -Don Quote
hammdo Posted December 21, 2021 Author Report Posted December 21, 2021 KX-155 is on its way back! Tested and working perfect. I'll slide that puppy back in and give it a whirl. Will go to Meacham and do a VOT test to document. Picking up the Mooney tomorrow from annual. Full ck out and local flight test before I go back to GYI. Excited to get her back... -Don 1 Quote
hammdo Posted December 21, 2021 Author Report Posted December 21, 2021 She's back and flew great -- solid rivets done, annual complete, new front tire/tube, and lubed up. Went back to Victory 20W50 this time around and will run that since its as close as I can get to Exxon Elite 20w50 (wish they still made that). I'm going to go with a 25-30 hour/3 month oil change regiment as changing more often is going to be better for the engine. Sent oil to Blackstone for check-up. Compressions were excellent (76-78/80) in all cylinders, NO METAL in the oil filter this time(!), Flew really well and strong. Did a maintenance flight before leaving for GYI. New tire tracking is way better -- very responsive. After a 3 week layoff, did really well on landings. Got back in the groove really quick. KX-155 will be here on the 23rd so she'll be complete again! She will need a bath after all the maintenance -- Waterless wash for sure. I'm going to treat the upper air cavity with BoeShield (the non-bleeding rivet waxy version ;o) to take care of that area first -- the wheel wells need care first ;o). I'll do that on a Sunday so I can give it a few days to 'chill'. AP recommended I do that for now and re-assess after flying for a bit. Getting the wheel wells is a big first since its the spar area... -Don 1 Quote
hammdo Posted December 27, 2021 Author Report Posted December 27, 2021 Hope everyone had a great Christmas! Went out today and did some cleaning and installed the KX-155. Never really found the issue - radio was on and tested for 2 weeks. Refreshed, cleaned up, and popped back in. Was able to id the localizer in the air so I'll take it back to Meacham and VOT test it again. Ready to restart IFR training once the holidays are over... -Don Quote
hammdo Posted January 10, 2022 Author Report Posted January 10, 2022 Finally first flight of 2022 today! Planned one on Wednesday but failed a checklist for the day so had to wait until I was sure everything was ok - it was ;o). 2 hours of pattern work today. I am just happy I'm flying again that even tower/pattern/landing is fun. 8 gallons for ~2hrs in the pattern is not bad! My 3 big items this year are IFR ticket (my last CFII just got the job she wanted and is now going to San Antonio), TruTrak, and longer x-country. At the rate things have happened, I betting on one of those ;o) Plane flew great today, a bit gusty but still loved it. -Don 3 Quote
ZuluZulu Posted January 10, 2022 Report Posted January 10, 2022 3 hours ago, hammdo said: Finally first flight of 2022 today! Planned one on Wednesday but failed a checklist for the day so had to wait until I was sure everything was ok - it was ;o). 2 hours of pattern work today. I am just happy I'm flying again that even tower/pattern/landing is fun. 8 gallons for ~2hrs in the pattern is not bad! My 3 big items this year are IFR ticket (my last CFII just got the job she wanted and is now going to San Antonio), TruTrak, and longer x-country. At the rate things have happened, I betting on one of those ;o) Plane flew great today, a bit gusty but still loved it. -Don How long of a X-C? Quote
hammdo Posted January 10, 2022 Author Report Posted January 10, 2022 Longer than 4+ hrs each way. Just to see how she does. I've done 7+ hrs a day in a Warrior so expecting good range in the Mooney ;o) -Don 1 Quote
hammdo Posted January 14, 2022 Author Report Posted January 14, 2022 Just got the Blackstone report and she still looks great. I'm going back to Victory + Camguard for now and decided to do quarterly oil changes or 25 hours - whichever comes first. It seems the longer I go between oil changers, the higher the lead (makes sense). Better to keep her clean. Sure wish we'd get 100 UL going ;o). I am STC'd for 94 UL (KACT has it) but that is too far ;o) -Don Quote
hammdo Posted January 18, 2022 Author Report Posted January 18, 2022 Took the plane out today to Commerce to get the Wheel Wells taken care of. Decided to test her out using the key numbers 2400 RPM, 23 MP (47). Got 148 knots true out of her @ 5500 ft MSL (couldn't get a pic as too much traffic in the area). Had a lot more in her for sure! She is flying great. Glad to be getting the Wheel Wells done for sure. Used about 6 gallons so not bad! Have a new compass on the way, looking to get started with a new CFII in February. I hesitate taking the IFR test due to so many starts/stops with CFIIs. Not many out @ KGYI. -Don 1 Quote
LANCECASPER Posted January 18, 2022 Report Posted January 18, 2022 9 minutes ago, hammdo said: Took the plane out today to Commerce to get the Wheel Wells taken care of. Decided to test her out using the key numbers 2400 RPM, 23 MP (47). Got 148 knots true out of her @ 5500 ft MSL (couldn't get a pic as too much traffic in the area). Had a lot more in her for sure! She is flying great. Glad to be getting the Wheel Wells done for sure. Used about 6 gallons so not bad! Have a new compass on the way, looking to get started with a new CFII in February. I hesitate taking the IFR test due to so many starts/stops with CFIIs. Not many out @ KGYI. -Don What are they doing to the wheel wells? Quote
hammdo Posted January 18, 2022 Author Report Posted January 18, 2022 Going to remove as much flaking paint as possible, prep any exposed aluminum to prevent corrosion, clean and paint. I did discuss with them about gear removal and we're not going to do that. This is an interim clean-up since I really want to get the plane painted - if that works out ;o) The gear is working great so I don't want to introduce a MIF even though this shop knows Mooneys well. She really need a good strip and paint but I need to hold off. I'll probably do a tank reseal (1 at a time) then decide. -Don Quote
LANCECASPER Posted January 19, 2022 Report Posted January 19, 2022 23 hours ago, hammdo said: Going to remove as much flaking paint as possible, prep any exposed aluminum to prevent corrosion, clean and paint. I did discuss with them about gear removal and we're not going to do that. This is an interim clean-up since I really want to get the plane painted - if that works out ;o) The gear is working great so I don't want to introduce a MIF even though this shop knows Mooneys well. She really need a good strip and paint but I need to hold off. I'll probably do a tank reseal (1 at a time) then decide. -Don Is this a paint shop? The reason I ask is that I want to get the top of my cowling repainted. Quote
hammdo Posted January 19, 2022 Author Report Posted January 19, 2022 No, it's an AP with an IA overseeing the work. I looked for a paint shop willing and all were too busy. Guess folks have a lot of painting going on... -Don Quote
Will.iam Posted January 19, 2022 Report Posted January 19, 2022 3 hours ago, LANCECASPER said: Is this a paint shop? The reason I ask is that I want to get the top of my cowling repainted. You are down by dugosh right? When i did my annual down there he took my cowling to one of the shops that did modifications for mooneys. They not only fixed a crack and chipped areas they reinforced the nose area and did a great job matching my paint. I also got my leading edges of my horizontal and vertical stabs repainted due to prop debris and repainted the panels where the speedbrakes mount as it was horribly off white color when i bought it. Total was $2400 so don’t know how much of that was for the cowling and fixing of the nose section. 1 Quote
Browncbr1 Posted January 19, 2022 Report Posted January 19, 2022 Was there any speed or climb difference after the wheel well liners were installed? Quote
hammdo Posted January 19, 2022 Author Report Posted January 19, 2022 Those were installed before I bought the plane so I wouldn't know for sure. My guess is they probably didn't add anything except mouse protection ;o). I bought her from @Sabremech and he's had her in ~152 to 154 true knot range. I don't think they added much if anything. She has about all the speed mods so it would be hard to tell... -Don Quote
Sabremech Posted January 20, 2022 Report Posted January 20, 2022 4 hours ago, hammdo said: Those were installed before I bought the plane so I wouldn't know for sure. My guess is they probably didn't add anything except mouse protection ;o). I bought her from @Sabremech and he's had her in ~152 to 154 true knot range. I don't think they added much if anything. She has about all the speed mods so it would be hard to tell... -Don Like Don said, makes it harder for mice to climb in. They might help with noise a bit by controlling airflow in the wheel wells better and keeping air out. Just my thoughts though. David Quote
hammdo Posted January 22, 2022 Author Report Posted January 22, 2022 Still waiting on wheel wells to get done - shop was hit by the Virus. They're also installing a Vertical Compass card for me and going to do the compass swing/card. Missing out on some nice days but, she'll be ready to go for IFR once I get her back... -Don Quote
hammdo Posted January 24, 2022 Author Report Posted January 24, 2022 Gotta a nice shocker today - hanger rent is going from $300 a month to $550. I'll be looking for a hanger closer now if I have to pay that amount. Will take a while since everyone has a wait list... Damn, looks like they want to move us small GA guys out now... -Don Quote
carusoam Posted January 25, 2022 Report Posted January 25, 2022 Yikes! That looks like a call to AOPA might be in order…. I’ve heard that inflation is up around 7% this year… but that one takes the cake. How many people are seeing the same rent increase there? Best regards, -a- Quote
hammdo Posted January 25, 2022 Author Report Posted January 25, 2022 Everyone is getting the increase... I'll let AOPA know tomorrow... -Don Quote
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