Feasible and practical to fit vernier throttle to an M20J?

[Will.iam]

After flying neighbors ovation with a vernier throttle, I wouldn’t have it on my plane. I much prefer the push pull. Even my neighbors would like to get a push pull and they have been flying the ovation for over a year.  Highly recommend you go fly a mooney with vernier throttle to see if you like it or not, especially in the pattern. 

[takair]

Interesting thread. This topic seems to be a matter of preference. I personally strongly dislike vernier throttle, on Mooney or any other plane. I share a Cessna 140 with 4 others. It has a vernier throttle and I just hate it. The others don’t mind and opted not to replace it when I suggested we should. My Mooney has push pull, and as someone else said, you can use your fingers against the panel to make very fine adjustments. Somehow, with the vernier, once I push the button, I can’t get my fingers oriented the same way for that fine adjustment, so in my mind it is different in that mode. . I have never had the push pull creep, it’s just natural for me to tighten the friction when I take my hand off. 
 

That said, I’ve not flown the McFarlane hybrid vernier. That may be the best of both worlds and I suspect I would like it. 
 

Good luck with the decision, but as suggested, you may want to fly before you buy. 

[amillet]

Formation flyers with vernier throttles have invented gadgets to disable them 

[Fly Boomer]

16 hours ago, takair said:

Somehow, with the vernier, once I push the button, I can’t get my fingers oriented the same way for that fine adjustment

Why not twist it for fine adjustment?  Maybe I don't know what I'm missing.

[takair]

1 hour ago, Fly Boomer said:

Why not twist it for fine adjustment?  Maybe I don't know what I'm missing.

I don’t like it on approach to landing. If I need a “burst” of throttle, it is just not the same with vernier, too slow.  If I push the vernier release, I find that I over-control that same burst of throttle….or I add an inadvertent movement when I don’t want it. I’m getting of the age where I might be the old dog who can’t learn the new trick…I could simply be uncoordinated too…

as a side note, when teaching in the 140, I find that I hate that vernier throttle even more than normal.  Now, not only do you need to clear a students hand, but need to decide to spin or hit the release.  You just hope the plane has enough energy while responding…

[Pinecone]

On 5/2/2021 at 6:48 AM, Guest said:

I don’t know why anyone would want a vernier cable for the throttle?  At most altitudes your not adjusting the throttle, it’s wide open.  Save your money and turn it into more flying.

Clarence

Not everyone flies normally aspirated.

[kortopates]

I agree. As a turbo pilot I much prefer vernier throttle for its precision. the only time i don’t is for formation flying. But otherwise it’s only full throttle in climb. And precise throttle is how we set a precise LOP setting for a target FF.


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[1980Mooney]

On 12/14/2024 at 5:22 PM, birdofjoy said:

@jtager did you end up installing MCFarlane's vernier throttles in your J? How do you like it? I want to do that on mine but my serial number is below 24-0378. I'll give them a call to see what the exclusions are about. My aircraft has a push/pull so maybe I could be covered but let's see what they tell me.

You may be waiting a long time for a response.  

“jtager” last logged onto MooneySpace in mid 2021. May have given up on modifying his plane and sold it while prices were skyrocketing. You can click on anyone’s profile and see their activity unless they completely block it. 

[Ed de C.]

I have a vernier throttle on my Ovation.  All of my prior flying was with push/pull.  At first, I didn't like the vernier throttle.  But as I got used to it, I'd say it's OK.  I like the precision of dialing back MAP to set numbers on approach simply with a few twists.  The downside is having to push the button to retard in the flair, or for WOT on the go-around.

So, at this point, I wouldn't go to any effort/expense to change what's in the plane.  

Ed

[birdofjoy]

I see this is a contentious topic, haha. I quite enjoy the discussion folks, thanks for adding.

I appreciate the advice on trying it out before pulling the trigger @takair, I'll check my local FB pilot group to see if anyone has this one specifically.

For the folks that have and don't like the Vernier, do you have the McFarlane or a different brand? In theory, the McFarlane solves the "having to press a button for pushing/pull" problem, while giving you the option to twist for finer adjustments. So, in theory, it's the best of both worlds, but I wonder if it works out well in practice.

@1980Mooney thanks for the tip, great advice when re-engaging on older threads.

[kortopates]

…
In theory, the McFarlane solves the "having to press a button for pushing/pull" problem, while giving you the option to twist for finer adjustments. So, in theory, it's the best of both worlds, but I wonder if it works out well in practice.
…

Only in theory, in practice if you like a vernier throttle it’s disappointing. The twist adjustment doesn’t work well at all without pulling or pushing.


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[donkaye]

I love having the vernier throttle.  Having had it for the 32 years I've owned my airplane and teaching over the past 30 years with so many airplanes that have it, I don't give it a second thought except to appreciate having it.  I never have to worry about throttle movement if I take my hand off of it to fly a precise soft field takeoff.  All the arguments above don't hold a bit of water for me.  If you're not flying aerobics, there is no reason to have to "smash" the throttle full forward.  The throttle can be "smoothly" increased with the palm of your hand on the "button" and your forefinger used on the throttle end to control the rate of throttle addition.  On landing the proficient pilot never "cuts" the throttle.  That will immediately unstabilize the approach.  On a stabilized approach the throttle is rolled off at the same rate as the airplane is flared.  Power is much more precisely adjusted with it than with the push/pull throttle.

For formation flying my mechanic designed a cover for the throttle end that keeps the button "in" and allows push/pull operations.

[ArtVandelay]

Only in theory, in practice if you like a vernier throttle it’s disappointing. The twist adjustment doesn’t work well at all without pulling or pushing.


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Not for me, mine works great.