Sealant for avionics panel.

[Mkruger2021]

Hello all, what type of sealant does one used to seal the top cowling that covers the avionics and dash?

 

 

 

[OR75]

are you talking about that dark grey stuff you have there ?

[Mkruger2021]

Apparently this panel is sealed. The dark grey stuff I have no idea what it is. Mortite like stuff? I can’t find any reference to sealing this panel in the service manual. Is it supposed to be sealed? Makes since to me since there is a lot of money under that panel!

[RLCarter]

this is the stuff you need, put it in the fridge (not as messy when cold), don’t block the channel or weep holes

[Mkruger2021]

Thank you!

[Raymond J1]

1 hour ago, Mkruger2021 said:

Hello all, what type of sealant does one used to seal the top cowling that covers the avionics and dash?

 

 

 

This is Butyl sealant, available in 5/8" x 1/8"tape. Laying the strips should be done carefully and set back from the water drain chute (in your photo the putty clogs the water groove). It is also necessary to fill the retreint cones in the rounded edges of the firewall.

[Mkruger2021]

2 hours ago, Raymond J said:

This is Butyl sealant, available in 5/8" x 1/8"tape. Laying the strips should be done carefully and set back from the water drain chute (in your photo the putty clogs the water groove). It is also necessary to fill the retreint cones in the rounded edges of the firewall.

Got it. Thank you

[0TreeLemur]

Here's a thread started here on Mooneyspace in 2012 that contains some excellent answers to your question that don't involve sticky black tar.   Found by searching google with "site:mooneyspace.com"

If MS had a FAQ section, we wouldn't keep re-answering the same questions....

 

 

[Ulysse]

recurring questions also contribute in keeping the site alive. Otherwise mooneyspace would soon become mooneyWiki !

Just out of curiosity, do you have anything to do with madagascar (the real country, not the movie)?

Edited September 26, 2021 by Ulysse

[0TreeLemur]

8 hours ago, Ulysse said:

recurring questions also contribute in keeping the site alive. Otherwise mooneyspace would soon become mooneyWiki !

Just out of curiosity, do you have anything to do with madagascar (the real country, not the movie)?

Nope, no involvement with Madagascar.  The tail number of our M20C is N2903L.  When I fly to an airport with a controller having an accent from the northeast U.S. (e.g. Boston), that's how they pronounce the abbreviated tail number '03L.   Our paint scheme is dark stripes on a white background so it kind of fits the motif!  Good MS handle I figured.

I've been a regular reader on MS for four years.  I keep seeing the same questions asked over-and-over again by new Mooney owners.   I've read a few really good answers, and I've read many  so-so answers, and occasionally a horrible answer.   The ultimate quality of the feedback provided to that new Mooney owner depends on (1) who reads the thread, (2) who has the time/energy to reply.  There are some really good, innovative, modern solutions to problems like the one in this thread.  The stock answer that most people provide though is: "Use this stuff from the La Brea Tar Pits!   Works great!". (see:  https://tarpits.org/ ) Yeah, it probably works great but what an unholy mess it makes.  We all know how tidy our A&P's are when elbow deep in black sticky goo, right?

The MD closed-cell rubber door/window sealant also works great.  Creates no mess. Last year I flew directly through the remains of tropical storm Delta over Arkansas.  I flew through rain so heavy that it overwhelmed the capacity of the dorsal cabin air intake drain so water was pouring out of the aft overhead cabin air vent.   No water in the instrument bay.   In my opinion it is a superior method to seal the instrument bay covers because it doesn't involve black, sticky stuff.  @Hector recommended it.  He lives in Florida and regularly flies through heavy rain.   So there are two data points suggesting that we can use something other than tar to seal the instrument bays and protect our expensive avionics.

When I first asked this question after suffering radio damage (1.2AMU's worth), I received the stock answer "use the black tar rope sealant".  I bought a box.   I went to put it on in a hot Alabama hangar, and quickly realized that me and my airplane were going to both look like we'd been stuck in the La Brea tar pits.  I looked for an alternative.  That's when I found the thread referenced above.

My personal experience suggests that if we had a FAQ section to take care of questions that have clear (objective) answers, then we could spend all our time discussing more pressing matters that have not-so-clear (subjective) answers such as LOP ops, the (im)possible turn, panel porn, how many people can stand on the wings of a Mooney, which AP will be certified next, etc.  It will also improve the quality of feedback available to new Mooney owners without playing "it depends on who answers" roulette.  Plus, folks won't have to learn how to use "site:mooneyspace.com" to search for content on MS using google, because the current Boolean Search Function of MS has been mastered by only one MS user, the Dean of Mooneyspace, @carusoam

[Ulysse]

25 minutes ago, 0TreeLemur said:

When I fly to an airport with a controller having an accent from the northeast U.S. (e.g. Boston), that's how they pronounce the abbreviated tail number '03L

I wonder what avatar you would have chosen with my accent!!

26 minutes ago, 0TreeLemur said:

The ultimate quality of the feedback provided to that new Mooney owner depends on (1) who reads the thread, (2) who has the time/energy to reply.

I understand and agree with you. I see that it is not the first time you mention a faq section. without success apparently.

[0TreeLemur]

4 minutes ago, Ulysse said:

I wonder what avatar you would have chosen with my accent!!

I understand and agree with you. I see that it is not the first time you mention a faq section. without success apparently.

Thanks for your agreement.   I think MS members would benefit tremendously from the collective wisdom provided by a Mooney specific FAQ section.   The FAQ entries must be related to buying, owning, maintaining, or operating a Mooney airplane.

<steps on soapbox>

I've suggested a process to create a FAQ section:

1.  In addition to "Like" "Thanks" "HaHa" "Confused" and "Sad", create another option "FAQ Worthy".  This option should appear only to MS members having some minimum rank.

2.  Site manager creates an anonymous, private FAQ club and invites a small set of long-time MS members.  These members have access to analytics showing all the posts nominated as "FAQ Worthy". 

3.  When compelled to do so by interest and on their own initiative, one of the private FAQ club members creates a new private draft thread for a FAQ entry by copying/pasting content from the nominated post, and edits it to improve clarity/accuracy.

4.  Other FAQ club members comment/edit the FAQ entry to suggest changes/additions.

5.  When the private FAQ club members unanimously agree that this draft thread is FAQ worthy by all "liking" it, then the site manager moves the final post of that draft thread into the FAQ section and locks it.

6.  If the members of the private FAQ club do not unanimously "like" a FAQ entry, then it doesn't go into the FAQ.

 All this would happen behind the scenes like anonymous peer review.  The FAQ club members would be encouraged to remain anonymous.  Disputes among FAQ club members are adjudicated by the site manager, who is the ultimate arbiter of MS anyway.  Membership in the FAQ club is at the pleasure of the MS site manager, who can add/remove members at any time.

A MS FAQ section produces a couple major advantages.   First, it prevents people from reinventing wheels (poorly).  Second, it creates a definitive place for new Mooney owners to learn the undisputed facts about taking care of their birds.  Finally, it frees us all up to discuss the really important stuff like cool destinations, odd engine behavior, safety, etc.   I for one would love to see what entries that section contains after a couple of years.

</steps off soapbox>

 

[mike20papa]

I once used that 3M black nightmare sh*t that comes in strips.  For god''s sakes never, ever "engage" that sh*t.  Like Br'r Rabbit and the Tar Baby once tangled up in the briar patch you will wish for life in another time & place.

Used it to install a windshield long time ago, could never, ever get it wiped clean, ready for paint.  Took out the windshield, and a gallon of Varsol & a bushel basket of rags later finally rid my MOONEY of that 3M crap.  

Seal your panel access with the material I've mentioned in previous posts.  Modern EPDM self adhesive strip "weather striping" and move on ..

The sealant I use on "glass" is simple butyl rubber.  Flexible and so far superior to the original lin seed oil and clay "putty".  Remember .. plastic & aluminum have wildly different coefficients of thermal expansion.  Also, plastic yields before aluminum.   Believe me .. or find out the hard way. 

Okay, I'm done.

Edited September 26, 2021 by mike20papa

[Buckeyechuck]

Previous owner lost radios while flying thru weather.  That’s when N78984 got her 201 windshield. Problem solved. 

[carusoam]

In the Boston area…

We/they…. Like to add Rs where they aren’t…..   

If there is an R on the end of the word… it may get left off….

So… Lima, may actually get pronounced Leemer…

And your coffee….   Sanker… (the caffeine free kind)

but what you make coffee with is watuh… the wet stuff that is a problem in this thread…

 

Best regards,

-a-