Need No-back spring kit

[Lee A.]

Time to replace the no-back spring on my Acclaim.  
Problem is the OEM only sells them to Mooney and Mooney doesn’t have enough money to place an order.  
 

Any solutions?

 

[GeeBee]

I called every MSC in the country, until I found one.

 

[toto]

If it's any indication how bad supply is right now... someone is selling a used 43-year-old spring that was installed for 28 years before being replaced in 2006.  For three hundred bucks.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165173785816

[201er]

14 minutes ago, toto said:

If it's any indication how bad supply is right now... someone is selling a used 43-year-old spring that was installed for 28 years before being replaced in 2006.  For three hundred bucks.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165173785816

That spring was retired before the Op’s acclaim was even born. 

[Sixstring2k]

Just curious if you have found a spring yet?

[StevenL757]

On 11/29/2021 at 4:26 PM, Lee A. said:

Time to replace the no-back spring on my Acclaim.  
Problem is the OEM only sells them to Mooney and Mooney doesn’t have enough money to place an order.

Any solutions?

Hey Lee,

If you haven’t done so already, ring up Brian.  I know he’s been working with the factory and is in touch with them regularly…chasing down these springs and other bits.  He has other clients (including you, I’m sure) who need the kit, so I’d suggest keeping on him about them.

Steve

[Lee A.]

18 hours ago, Sixstring2k said:

Just curious if you have found a spring yet?

No. 

[LANCECASPER]

On 11/29/2021 at 3:26 PM, Lee A. said:

Time to replace the no-back spring on my Acclaim.  
Problem is the OEM only sells them to Mooney and Mooney doesn’t have enough money to place an order.  
 

Any solutions?

 

It's good to plan ahead, but the replacement is recommended, not mandatory. It's not an Airworthiness Directive. So at least this situation doesn't ground your airplane until the order comes in. This is an example of good communication.  If Mooney had constant e-mail communication with registered owners they could survey who would need these parts in the next year. Even if they asked for half down and a discount for ordering early, they could make more money on larger orders and everyone would rest easier. When the order comes in they could be shipped to the MSC that you're going to use and everyone would be happy.

While 1000 hours is recommended, if someone does a lot of long cross country flying they don't have nearly as many cycles on their gear motor as someone who does a lot of short "local" flights. Agreed, 1000 hour replacement is relatively "cheap" insurance against a possible gear up, but there is also no guarantee that the new spring going in won't break at 100 hours. I think they key is to be reasonable about it. If you go over the 1000 hours, the spring is no more likely to fail at 1040 hours than it was at 960.

It's good risk management to proactively change items that wear, before they break, on your schedule locally, not on a trip, but sometimes unfortunately that causes maintenance induced failures. Example: I believe in 500 hour or sooner inspections on mags, but I don't want to send both mags out at the same time to the same shop. I'd rather stagger them a little and fly with one newly overhauled and one proven. 

There's been quite a bit of discussion in years past about the Spring: