How To Reach Behind the Panel in a J - Owner Performed Minor Changes

[MooneyAcolyte]

Couldn't find this in the archives: I'm trying to install a Garmin Flightstream 210 in my 1984 M20J. This is allowed as "minor change" here in Europe as it is not required for IFR. For this to work, I have to attach the FlightStrem 210 RS-232 In/Out to the Garmin GNS 430W Out/In (plug P4001).  I'd prefer to use the upper of my two GNS430 units (see attached picture). Here's the challenge: how can I reach the P4001 plug of the GNS430W. I have tried:

• Remove the top panel cover - too tight between wind shield and equipment above the GNS430, can't reach
• Reach from below in the well-established upside-down-head-on-rudder-feet-on-head-rest-position - can't reach through the equipment and cables below the GNS430 (see also attached figure)
• Remove GNS430s, audio panel, and ADF (see attached figure) from trays, remove GNS430 backplate and try to turn around - cables too stiff

The trays are riveted, so I cannot take them out myself.

Any help from Mooniacs who have done this (or similar) successfully would be highly appreciated.

[KB4]

Try sliding out everything you can in center stack, if that doesn’t give you access, remove trays. . .

[N201MKTurbo]

Worst case, remove all the radios. Unfasten the backplates from the racks and remove the racks from the front. The challenge is all the stuff mounted to the racks. When they came from the factory, everything would un-plug or easily come off the racks. That isn't always the case after some modifications.

Another thing to try is unscrewing ali the connectors from the back plate and remove the back plate. You may get enough access to the connector to add some pins.

[Mcstealth]

@Jake@BevanAviation

Maybe Jake knows?

[Jake@BevanAviation]

If you can't get the racks out due to the rivets the other method is to remove the back-plate and connectors to the desired GNS unit.  You might have to undo several connectors from the back-plate if the bundle is tight to gain access.  If you have large hands this can be a royal pain but doable.

[Hank]

My IA has long arms, small hands and much more practice than I do at standing on his head . . . . 

[MooneyAcolyte]

If you can't get the racks out due to the rivets the other method is to remove the back-plate and connectors to the desired GNS unit.  You might have to undo several connectors from the back-plate if the bundle is tight to gain access.  If you have large hands this can be a royal pain but doable.

I’ll try that and report here.


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[MooneyAcolyte]

So, I did it the hard way:

First, I got all avionics module out of the trays.

Then, if you remove the front panel from the radio stack (bolts labelled "16" in the IPC section 53-10-06, four of them, see attached), all racks come out of the panel, but are still attached to the back plates. Next step, remove all backplates / connectors from the units in the radio stack. You can then remove the rack frame and have access to the backplates and connectors (see attached picture). The process takes about an hour. Be careful to label and document what you remove. 

I will now move to insert the pins from my prepared harness of the Flight Stream 210 into the main connector (P4001) of the GNS 430. Keep your fingers crossed.

Edited May 29, 2022 by MooneyRookie

[Guest]

9 hours ago, MooneyRookie said:

So, I did it the hard way:

First, I got all avionics module out of the trays.

Then, if you remove the front panel from the radio stack (bolts labelled "16" in the IPC section 53-10-06, four of them, see attached), all racks come out of the panel, but are still attached to the back plates. Next step, remove all backplates / connectors from the units in the radio stack. You can then remove the rack frame and have access to the backplates and connectors (see attached picture). The process takes about an hour. Be careful to label and document what you remove. 

I will now move to insert the pins from my prepared harness of the Flight Stream 210 into the main connector (P4001) of the GNS 430. Keep your fingers crossed.

Oh! The joys of Mooney avionics!

Clarence

[aviatoreb]

12 hours ago, MooneyRookie said:

 

Wow!

That’s owner permitted minor mod?!!

[Hank]

14 minutes ago, aviatoreb said:

Wow!

That’s owner permitted minor mod?!!

Most anything can be done by the owner, when working under supervision of an A&P. How closely the supervision is applied, and the scope of work to.be done, are both controlled by the A&P, based upon his own experience and the level of trust that has been developed through previous projects. 

[MooneyAcolyte]

Wow!
That’s owner permitted minor mod?!!

This is under EASA Part-ML CS-STAN under A&P (EASA equivalent) supervision.


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[M20F]

It is times like these that I appreciate the cheek plates on the F.  

[MooneyAcolyte]

The panel is back together. I've tested basic functions (power-on, bluetooth connection, attitude via blue tooth), but not yet the transmission of flight plans. That has to wait until my GNS430W is updated to at least version 5.2. For now, I'm happy. For those of you who are interested how the EASA CS-STAN works, please find attached the (anonymised) form. I'm happy to take any questions.

 

CS-STAN EASA form 123 FlightStream 210.pdf