tcal780 Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 I was just informed the gear actuator in my M20C is out of spec and need to have the gears replaced. I'm told for $2700, they will send the actuator to Lake Aero where the gears will be replaced with 40:1 steel and brass and return it in 2-3 weeks. The cost seems ridiculous. Is there a better option? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67 m20F chump Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 You are hitting on why I bought my plane. Manual gear and flaps. It’s why I didn’t buy another Beechcraft. I think you will have to pay the price and take your lumps on this one unless you can find a used serviceable one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron McBride Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Is this the first time that the gears have been replaced in 50 years? When I did mine in my “F”, this was a great improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcal780 Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 I was looking through some older threads and the price seems to be at best <1k, worst <2k for those gears. Today's is market is crazytown for everything so it's tough to gauge a fair price. From what I've read here and elsewhere, Lasar seems to be a reputable shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcal780 Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 3 minutes ago, Ron McBride said: Is this the first time that the gears have been replaced in 50 years? When I did mine in my “F”, this was a great improvement. Not sure. The plane is new to me and I haven't even got it home yet to dig into the paperwork. I suspect it's the first set of gears. It's in for annual right now the 200hr AD on the actuator is (or soon) due. I believe he said the backlash is out of spec. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Will Laser sell the gears? They are not hard to change. Just make sure you shim the ring so it is centered on the pinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragsf15e Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 58 minutes ago, tcal780 said: Not sure. The plane is new to me and I haven't even got it home yet to dig into the paperwork. I suspect it's the first set of gears. It's in for annual right now the 200hr AD on the actuator is (or soon) due. I believe he said the backlash is out of spec. I had my actuator gears changed in 2015. It was ~$1500, so price is probably in the ballpark. If you actually have Lasar say that they have a set of the gears, I’d go for it asap. Without the gears, and there’s no perfect source that I’m aware of, your airplane could end up grounded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcal780 Posted March 30, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 19 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said: Will Laser sell the gears? They are not hard to change. Just make sure you shim the ring so it is centered on the pinion. That would be a better option. I just checked with the shop. Even if the gears alone are available he doesn't want to do or feel comfortable doing that repair, so I'm stuck with the current plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PT20J Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 You might also check donmaxwell.com, topgunaviation.net, and knr-inc.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlySafe Posted March 30, 2022 Report Share Posted March 30, 2022 Hi, as I recall last summer LASAR warned me when mine was sent in for inspection, if needed, the new gears and labor would be ~1800. Maybe check with them on parts/ overhaul options. I had an earlier thread on this with the details. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetdriven Posted March 31, 2022 Report Share Posted March 31, 2022 13 hours ago, 67 m20F chump said: You are hitting on why I bought my plane. Manual gear and flaps. It’s why I didn’t buy another Beechcraft. I think you will have to pay the price and take your lumps on this one unless you can find a used serviceable one. Except the flap seal kits are not available. Trading 1 for the other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2022 Report Share Posted March 31, 2022 No stock at Mooney, but last trade price was $1225.00US. https://www.mooney.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/SIM20-112A.pdf Clarence Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunti Posted March 31, 2022 Report Share Posted March 31, 2022 My local mechanic removed the actuator and the motor from my plane. We sent it to Lasar in California. I paid them 2018 about 1200 $ for the overhaul of the motor and the install of the conversion kit. I delivered the kit as I bought the kit already 2013 from Don Maxwell for 1200 Dollar. That was about 2400 Dollar total for the kit, the install and the motor overhaul plus the removal and reinstall work of my local A+P. 2700 Dollar may be right if it includes the motor overhaul and the gear upgrade kit. Make sure that you also get the motor overhauled. And I think it is a good idea that you do not let your local A+P install the conversion kit into the actuator. This is best done by somebody who did it before: Lasar, Don Maxwell or other experienced Mooney shops. After doing that, the actuator and motor should be running fine for the next 50 years or so. This shall be only a one time investment. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcal780 Posted March 31, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2022 Thanks all. Very helpful. Ill confirm this includes the motor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcal780 Posted March 31, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2022 5 hours ago, tcal780 said: Thanks all. Very helpful. Ill confirm this includes the motor. Spoke to Lasar. This does include the service on the motor. They'll tag and return it 1-2 weeks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted March 31, 2022 Report Share Posted March 31, 2022 Great follow-up tcal! Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob R Posted May 9, 2022 Report Share Posted May 9, 2022 On 3/30/2022 at 3:58 AM, tcal780 said: I was just informed the gear actuator in my M20C is out of spec and need to have the gears replaced. I'm told for $2700, they will send the actuator to Lake Aero where the gears will be replaced with 40:1 steel and brass and return it in 2-3 weeks. The cost seems ridiculous. Is there a better option? I hated the idea of doing it as well but so glad I did. Gear is now smooth and not abrupt. Was just shy of the $2700, mostly the cost of the gear set, $1850, from Mooney if I recall correctly. The Jack screw is a very easy in and out especially if you can leave the airplane up on jacks. Took the opportunity to re-rig the landing gear. It was way out of spec. Unfortunately, the new gears only get us out of the AD for the first 500 hours. I’ve been told by several AP/IA’s that the AD should be rewritten to allow for P.C.W. for those who have installed the new gear set, but will probably never happen. Have heard the gears are the same as later model Mooneys, J and up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
201Steve Posted May 10, 2022 Report Share Posted May 10, 2022 On 3/30/2022 at 9:02 AM, 67 m20F chump said: You are hitting on why I bought my plane. Manual gear and flaps You could play it extra safe and just get a paddle boat. Put some wings on it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcal780 Posted May 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2022 2 hours ago, Bob R said: I hated the idea of doing it as well but so glad I did. Gear is now smooth and not abrupt. Was just shy of the $2700, mostly the cost of the gear set, $1850, from Mooney if I recall correctly. The Jack screw is a very easy in and out especially if you can leave the airplane up on jacks. Took the opportunity to re-rig the landing gear. It was way out of spec. Unfortunately, the new gears only get us out of the AD for the first 500 hours. I’ve been told by several AP/IA’s that the AD should be rewritten to allow for P.C.W. for those who have installed the new gear set, but will probably never happen. Have heard the gears are the same as later model Mooneys, J and up. Thanks Bob, I went ahead with the repair with Lasar. It took about 3 weeks including shipping to turn it around. New brushes, worm gear, and a "brake" inside the actuator was replaced (I didn't know there was one inside the unit). The shop re-rigged the gear and all is reportedly good to go. I'm excited to get the plane back this Friday. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted May 10, 2022 Report Share Posted May 10, 2022 Great follow-up details tcal! Thanks for sharing them. Best regards, -a- 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob R Posted May 10, 2022 Report Share Posted May 10, 2022 43 minutes ago, tcal780 said: Thanks Bob, I went ahead with the repair with Lasar. It took about 3 weeks including shipping to turn it around. New brushes, worm gear, and a "brake" inside the actuator was replaced (I didn't know there was one inside the unit). The shop re-rigged the gear and all is reportedly good to go. I'm excited to get the plane back this Friday. Who was your shop? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
67 m20F chump Posted May 10, 2022 Report Share Posted May 10, 2022 9 hours ago, 201Steve said: You could play it extra safe and just get a paddle boat. Put some wings on it. If it would do 150kts I would be interested. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tcal780 Posted May 10, 2022 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2022 14 hours ago, Bob R said: Who was your shop? 0W3 Harford Air Services Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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