buying M20J

[ZuluZulu]

Easy: Go buy @bmcconnaha’s plane, listed in the classifieds. Hell, my J is newer and has a GTN 750 but I’m still a little tempted! 

[EricJ]

4 minutes ago, DCarlton said:

If you were shopping for a M20J, would you walk away from an airplane that had an STEC already installed?  Or would you consider it serviceable if it lets you down?  There must be a value associated with the legacy autopilots already installed.  Some must have more value than others.  That's what I'm trying to ask.  Are they all junk?  I was able to repair my Brittain for less than $1000 this year; I've kept it going for almost 20.  Any love for any of the other older ones? 

Any installed autopilot that has a reliable history with the previous owner should be considered valuable, imho.    Mine worked when I got it and it was awesome.   Compared to having nothing, having something functional with a good operational history is, I think, a good thing.    Anything can break at any time, but starting with something functional will at a minimum buy you time to figure out what you might want to replace it with later.

Just my dos centavos, fwiw.

 

[ArtVandelay]

I had my stec 50 repaired a couple years ago, so yes, they’re still supported. Nice thing about stec is you can remove the vacuum system if you replace the AI with a G5.
You can always pick up spare parts from people who upgraded to the GFC 500 to minimize maintenance costs as well.

[N9405V]

With a legacy system, Britain or century, I’d fly it until it breaks and then plan on upgrading. At some point the costs to maintain the old stuff could pay for the new.


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[KB4]

AD says “In 1996 the gear handle was retracted by mistake causing the right main gear to collapse”. 
 

I thought M20 gear was all up and all down? Does not operate independently.  
 

How could only 1 side retract, (squat switch?)

[DCarlton]

39 minutes ago, KB4 said:

AD says “In 1996 the gear handle was retracted by mistake causing the right main gear to collapse”. 
 

I thought M20 gear was all up and all down? Does not operate independently.  
 

How could only 1 side retract, (squat switch?)

Guessing something must have failed on the right side when the gear was loaded abnormally.  Just guessing...  

[201Mooniac]

1 hour ago, KB4 said:

AD says “In 1996 the gear handle was retracted by mistake causing the right main gear to collapse”. 
 

I thought M20 gear was all up and all down? Does not operate independently.  
 

How could only 1 side retract, (squat switch?)

I saw it happen many years ago at a Mooney fly-in at KSMX.  A new Mooney pilot just had his plane annualed at a shop unfamiliar with Mooney gear.  The pilot was taxiing out for takeoff when he hit a bump and the right main collapsed.  Turned out there was no pre-load and a tube bent under the stress.

[philip_g]

13 hours ago, DCarlton said:

Still hoping that someone will answer the question as to what legacy autopilot is the best to buy in an airplane if you have a choice.  Which one is still supportable and maintainable?  Not a new one; one of the older existing ones.  Century?  King?  STEC?  I'm guessing STEC.  Can the STECs be overhauled and maintained?

I've owned both the century 41 and the king 150 and I don't really have a preference. They're kind of equally crappy and equally insanely expensive if something breaks. I don't personally consider the stec 55x better. I think any of the above it's cheaper to go with a new Garmin than repair anything serious. We have a Garmin g500 and at some point will replace the vacuum standby AI with a gi275 so we can put in the gfc500 as well (g500 won't drive the AP). Our c41 won't hold altitude between like 5100 and 6k something feet and I have no idea why 

Edited December 3, 2021 by philip_g

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, KB4 said:

AD says “In 1996 the gear handle was retracted by mistake causing the right main gear to collapse”. 
 

I thought M20 gear was all up and all down? Does not operate independently.  
 

How could only 1 side retract, (squat switch?)

It broke.    Probably bent an actuator rod or broke a rod end.