Wingtip rear position light replacement question.

[Will.iam]

Ok my right wingtip rear white position light is burned out. I have ordered a replacement and was in the process of replacing it when i have a question on removal. Do i have to remove the clear plastic dome to get the bulb out and if so, how do you get that dome off? Seems it’s glued in there with some sort of white weather calking and what is that calking so i can order some to seal it back up once i replace the bulb? Or can the bulb come out sideways instead of straight back?

[Aerodon]

Watch out, that is a glass lens and if it falls...   I think it needs to come off to get the bulb out, and it looks like it is wired in place.  I think those bulbs are hard to find, and there was a replacement holder available from Mooney.  

I purchased some LED replacements and they did not fit.  I used that as an excuse to buy Aveo wingtips without rear white lights, and then install combined LED/strobe on the rudder.  

Overall, I would abandon those lights and get a rudder mounted strobe / nav.  Its an easy install on the rudder, but not so easy to get the nav light wire to the front.  I have not done it yet.

Aerodon

 

 

[Will.iam]

51 minutes ago, Aerodon said:

Watch out, that is a glass lens and if it falls...   I think it needs to come off to get the bulb out, and it looks like it is wired in place.  I think those bulbs are hard to find, and there was a replacement holder available from Mooney.  

I purchased some LED replacements and they did not fit.  I used that as an excuse to buy Aveo wingtips without rear white lights, and then install combined LED/strobe on the rudder.  

Overall, I would abandon those lights and get a rudder mounted strobe / nav.  Its an easy install on the rudder, but not so easy to get the nav light wire to the front.  I have not done it yet.

Aerodon

 

 

Are you saying the dome is glass and safety wired? I know the bulb is and i removed the safety wire on the bulb but I don’t think it will come out until the dome is removed and it seems glued in place how do you get the dome removed from the glue or calk? 

[kortopates]

The glass lense needs to come off. Its likely just sealed with some silicone RTF or similar. The socket does look suspicious, perhaps damaged? If it is, these are a standard part abailable from lightning supply sources. I don't recall the socket part # offhand, but should be visibly marked when you habe it out and easily easily replaceable. These bulb last such a long time and aren't expensive so haven't bothered to make an effort on going LED. But there are some threads here that show an OPP LED solution.

IPC calls for sealing the metal holder you have off with 3M black sealant IIRC, if that fits on tight, sealing the lense too shouldn't be necessary.

Edited February 8, 2022 by kortopates

[GeeBee]

Lots of mechanics install these with silicon seal. It makes getting the lens off really hard. I used Marine De-Bond which will de-solve silicon seal. Sometimes you can use WD-40 but it works really slow, like overnight.

https://marineformula.com/collections/all

After you get it off, you will need to remove all traces to get a proper re-seal.

I replaced it with an LED bulb

https://www.aero-lites.com/product-page/led-rear-position-light-wedge-base

You will find it a tight fit and you will find the socket will likely crumble in your fingers. You can buy the Whelen replacement for 80 dollars or you can order this for 30.

https://www.bulbamerica.com/products/osram-sylvania-tp20x-wedge-base-ceramic-lampholder-socket

You may have to split the socket, insert the bulb then put it all together on the tip.

After you get it all mounted, you need to reseal the lens and metal cover. You have two choices, silicon again (and fight it some years later) or use this stuff which remains supple and provides a form fitting seal. Years out you will be able to remove this sealant easily.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/3m/paint---body-repair/sealers---adhesives/adhesives---seam-sealers/c0e374631c2a/3m-strip-caulk/mmm0/08578 

[PT20J]

1 hour ago, kortopates said:

The glass lense needs to come off. Its likely just sealed with some silicone RTF or similar. The socket does look suspicious, perhaps damaged? If it is, these are a standard part abailable from lightning supply sources. I don't recall the socket part # offhand, but should be visibly marked when you habe it out and easily easily replaceable. These bulb last such a long time and aren't expensive so haven't bothered to make an effort on going LED. But there are some threads here that show an OPP LED solution.

IPC calls for sealing the metal holder you have off with 3M black sealant IIRC, if that fits on tight, sealing the lense too shouldn't be necessary.

Also, remember if you replace ALL the incandescent nav lights it affects the gear annunciator dimming circuit since it depends on the low filament resistance to ground when the bulbs are off.

[amillet]

 At my last annual (May 2021) both rear facing recognition lights were burned out.  Both had been replaced as recently as a couple years ago. My IA said since I had the Whelen Orion 550 strobe/position light it was not required to have the wingtip lights working. I just ordered and installed the Aero-LiteA-508 LED  bulbs.  Popped into place and work beautifully. 

[Will.iam]

2 hours ago, amillet said:

 At my last annual (May 2021) both rear facing recognition lights were burned out.  Both had been replaced as recently as a couple years ago. My IA said since I had the Whelen Orion 550 strobe/position light it was not required to have the wingtip lights working. I just ordered and installed the Aero-LiteA-508 LED  bulbs.  Popped into place and work beautifully. 

So how did you remove the glass dome? Was it not glued / calked to the wingtip?

[PT20J]

I believe somewhere in the mid-1990s Mooney switched from a bi-pin bulb/socket to a wedge base bulb/socket. The A508 style is wedge base and won’t fit older sockets.

Skip

[amillet]

15 hours ago, Will.iam said:

So how did you remove the glass dome? Was it not glued / calked to the wingtip?

Carefully pried it out of the caulking that held it in place

[Will.iam]

So with some polygone 310 gel pushed around the edges of the glass and letting soak for an hour i was finally able to get some movement on the glass. Then it was just persistent wiggling to finally work the glass free from the base plate. That was half the battle. Since I don’t want to deal with this again for a very long time i went with the aero-lite a508 led replacement bulb. The pin wires were too long and more skinny than the halogen bulb so the led would only lite up when the pins touched the back of the socket. The clamp to hold the halogen bulb was bigger than the LED so had to bend that closer in to hold the LED and with the safety wire going around the body and the front of the bulb holds it tight with no free play. That led is way brighter than the halogen so much so you get sunspots in your eyes just looking at it for a few moments. I went with some clear RTV to the back of the glass dome now that i have some gel that will make it loosen up if i have to ever do it again in the future but i think this bulb will out last my ownership of the plane tbh. Thanks for all the tips and yes the A508 LED does fit a 1986 m20k 252 but with the issues stated above. 

[carusoam]

Great details Will!

Best regards,

-a-

[The bishop]

Does anyone know the part number of the clear glass lens mentioned here?  Yep... mine broke.

[PT20J]

25 minutes ago, The bishop said:

Does anyone know the part number of the clear glass lens mentioned here?  Yep... mine broke.

[The bishop]

Thank you, PT20J!!!

[carusoam]

On 2/20/2022 at 11:35 PM, The bishop said:

Thank you, PT20J!!!

Welcome aboard Tb!

One usual way to buy parts for your ship… is to contact Dan at Lasar….  
 

Dan is a really knowledgable parts guy for all things Mooney…

 

The other guy is our Whelen guy… that lens might be a Whelen part….  Check in with @OSUAV8TER if needed…

 

Best regards,

-a-

[The bishop]

Thank you to all... after receiving the lens Part number 68-4250066-30 above.  It crosses to a  WHELEN A615 CLEAR LENS .  The crazy little bulb was a  34-0428070-64 which was a WHELEN A50828 LAMP 28V .  Thank you all for the help!!!!!  

The Bishop

[OSUAV8TER]

11 hours ago, The bishop said:

Thank you to all... after receiving the lens Part number 68-4250066-30 above.  It crosses to a  WHELEN A615 CLEAR LENS .  The crazy little bulb was a  34-0428070-64 which was a WHELEN A50828 LAMP 28V .  Thank you all for the help!!!!!  

The Bishop

@The bishopI have that lens available brand new. Email me at gallagheraviationllc@gmail.com or give me a call at 1-833-425-5288. I'm a Whelen dealer.

James Gallagher