So the N201FY REFIT starts…

[WAFI]

Well after putting a little over 80 hours on my plane in two months time I have decided to start the refit projects. Interior, Exterior, Avionics, Motor, 3B Prop etc…

So far I’ve installed a JPI 830, two AV-30s, a AV-20 and a LED landing light, that’s about it.

I currently have 4 CIES fuel senders, Aerologic Fuel Gauge, GMA345 and a GTR 200B on the self to install on the avionics side of things, for now.

I have an appointment in a few weeks for the tank reseal in prep for my paint job in June. 

 

I’ve just removed all the old interior seats, fabric, and carpet. Just dropped off the new fabric and seats to the upholster to work his magic.  I’ve got a lot of adhesive to remove and prep work before I start the install. 

I’ll post updates as things progress.

 

[WAFI]

[WAFI]

[LANCECASPER]

33 minutes ago, WAFI said:

Well after putting a little over 80 hours on my plane in two months time I have decided to start the refit projects. Interior, Exterior, Avionics, Motor, 3B Prop etc…

So far I’ve installed a JPI 830, two AV-30s, a AV-20 and a LED landing light, that’s about it.

I currently have 4 CIES fuel senders, Aerologic Fuel Gauge, GMA345 and a GTR 200B on the self to install on the avionics side of things, for now.

I have an appointment in a few weeks for the tank reseal in prep for my paint job in June. 

 

I’ve just removed all the old interior seats, fabric, and carpet. Just dropped off the new fabric and seats to the upholster to work his magic.  I’ve got a lot of adhesive to remove and prep work before I start the install. 

I’ll post updates as things progress.

 

I feel your pain. In late 2015 I bought a TLS and took out the interior and then reinstalled a new interior in early 2016. I think everyone should do it one time, (1) to get to kow your airplane and (2) just to appreciate how underpaid the people are that do this for a living . . lol. Thankfully it wasn't mid-summer.

[KB4]

Looking great. Old carpets seen better days. Excited for your progress and reveal. While you are in there, get rid of that insulation.  Brown Aircraft has good quality insulation and shipped fast. Baggage door and compartment sides and headliner took a little more than 1 roll. 
 

I had Hector cut the long accent panel piece at 25 1/2”. So it’s 2 pieces that join now. Highly recommend that Mod. It allows the pilot side plastics AND accent panel or Left Px plastics to be removed without destroying the plastics every time that piece comes off for avionics work.
 

Since the original left accent panel is connected to both plastics it has to come off of 1 to be able to get the plastics out.  Check the mounting holes, probably bore out from years of pulling that piece off. Don’t reuse the upholstery clips, just contact cement accent panels. Keep and reuse clips for arm rests.  

[WAFI]

27 minutes ago, KB4 said:

Looking great. Old carpets seen better days. Excited for your progress and reveal. While you are in there, get rid of that insulation.  Brown Aircraft has good quality insulation and shipped fast. Baggage door and compartment sides and headliner took a little more than 1 roll. 
 

I had Hector cut the long accent panel piece at 25 1/2”. So it’s 2 pieces that join now. Highly recommend that Mod. It allows the pilot side plastics AND accent panel or Left Px plastics to be removed without destroying the plastics every time that piece comes off for avionics work.
 

Since the original left accent panel is connected to both plastics it has to come off of 1 to be able to get the plastics out.  Check the mounting holes, probably bore out from years of pulling that piece off. Don’t reuse the upholstery clips, just contact cement accent panels. Keep and reuse clips for arm rests.  

Thanks for the insight and tips.

Do you know the thickness of your insulation?

[flyboy0681]

You don't like orange?

[KB4]

2 hours ago, WAFI said:

Do you know the thickness of your insulation?

5/8” fits perfect 

[LANCECASPER]

52 minutes ago, KB4 said:

5/8” fits perfect 

I also used the 5/8 Soundex in the interior I did.

[WAFI]

14 hours ago, flyboy0681 said:

You don't like orange?

Not for the interior. Ha!

[WAFI]

Had to leave for week for work to get more “fun coupons!” I had a few hours yesterday to gain a little more progress on the carpet install. 

I still need to cut the holes for the, gear down and fuel tank selector. 

I love every part of my Mooney and really enjoy the engineer behind how it was designed but where they put the fuel selector in my model is absolutely the stupidest thing on this plane. What the hell were they thinking?.?… The primary engineer must have called in sick that day. 

Ok, that’s enough venting I’ll get back to work.

 

[Hank]

13 hours ago, WAFI said:

I love every part of my Mooney and really enjoy the engineer behind how it was designed but where they put the fuel selector in my model is absolutely the stupidest thing on this plane. What the hell were they thinking?.?… The primary engineer must have called in sick that day. 

What do you mean? It's right there in front of you!

And no sneaky Instructor will ever distract you and turn it off . . . .

Us engineers always have reasons for what we do, but those reasons are not always apparent. 

[carusoam]

There isn’t anything wrong with the fuel selector location….

It is right where the light is pointing at it….  

The Mooney engineers must have been FAA standard sized humans… they were not designing for people any larger… just taller….

If larger than the 170 LBs or have difficulty reaching it for other reasons…

Find the PVC pipe tool to help with the lever….

Its around here somewhere…

Go Engineers!

Best regards,

-a-

[WAFI]

Managed to rip out all the old electronics and ready for some new panels to get cut. 

[LANCECASPER]

1 hour ago, WAFI said:

Managed to rip out all the old electronics and ready for some new panels to get cut. 

Now would be the perfect time to send off your control yokes to Hector at Aero Comfort and get them covered to match your new interior.

https://aerocomfort.com/mooney/

[WAFI]

Todays progress... I managed to remove all unessential wiring from behind the my panel and some decommissioned components out of the tail. Audio Panel and New Comm harnesses are in the build process, along with two new panels being made by NIMBUS.   

I can't wait to find out how much extra usable load I'm gaining. So far it feels like I've removed about 60lbs total with the vacuum system gone too but that's just a guess. 

 

[WAFI]

New Panels made it. I don’t like the color though. 

[Guest]

On 3/4/2022 at 6:39 PM, WAFI said:

Todays progress... I managed to remove all unessential wiring from behind the my panel and some decommissioned components out of the tail. Audio Panel and New Comm harnesses are in the build process, along with two new panels being made by NIMBUS.   

I can't wait to find out how much extra usable load I'm gaining. So far it feels like I've removed about 60lbs total with the vacuum system gone too but that's just a guess. 

 

With all of the upgrades you’re doing, toss that old ELT out as well.

Clarence

[PT20J]

10 hours ago, WAFI said:

New Panels made it. I don’t like the color though. 

Try SEM Color Coat Phantom White 

[testwest]

I did the SEM Color Coat process on all the new interior panels on N201JX, they turned out great. Make SURE you follow the cleaning and prep process laid out by SEM exactly, don't skip steps or substitute materials.

[testwest]

Also very important, go ahead and replace the rubber hose couplers coming from your fuel tanks while the side panels are off. If they are original it is a big fuel leak waiting to happen. Mil-H-6000 hose, buy a foot of it from Aircraft Spruce for under $10: https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pnpages/6000-6.php

Points if you cut the hose and install so the cure date shows to remind you when to replace it again:

[testwest]

Speaking of useful load, N201JX shed about 80 lb as well, the UL is 990 lb now which is....well, it's useful!

[carusoam]

Norman,

Congrats on the great UL increase!

Great pic!

@tmo is working on his fuel line connection to the tank today…

So I invited him to stop by….

Go MS!

Best regards,

-a-

 

[testwest]

Also for WAFI, back in the battery area, make sure the bonding area for the battery ground strap to avionics shelf is corrosion free. I had corrosion in this area which reduced my starting voltage to the starter (under the high current conditions accompanying) by nearly a volt. 201JX was always a lazy starter no matter how good the battery was. I cleaned the attach point on the shelf with a stainless steel bonding brush and treated the bare metal with an alodine pen to keep any further corrosion from happening. And the starter motor spins it up quite nicely now.

Before:

After:

Hope this helps!

[Fly Boomer]

@testwest has the avionics shelf been painted grey as well -- before and after look very different.