GingerDan Posted April 19, 2022 Report Posted April 19, 2022 Hey folks, 1964 M20E I’ve had to take off my cowling a number of times lately as I’m having some avionics work done. The screws holding in each side of the access panels and the small center strip seem to be randomly sized. When I put the panels back on, I’m having to try the different screws when the one I choose doesn’t fit. It looks like I have two different sizes (see picture). I took them to a hardware store and they measure M5 and M4 but I’m not sure if that matters. The larger of the two doesn’t typically fit so I’d like to order more of the smaller ones. The parts catalog I received with the plane shows the cowling for 1965 and a screw - AN526-1032R8. Side note: The parts catalog says serial numbers 470-831 is 1965. Mine is #476 but my registration indicates 1964. I think it was completed in November. I assume this catalog is correct for me. What page would I find the access panels on? It’s not the cowling I need screws for but the access panels (pictured). Is the AN526-1032R8 the correct size for these? I know these holes get worn and different sizes may fit but I’m looking for the original screw size. Thanks, ~ Dan Quote
Guest Posted April 19, 2022 Report Posted April 19, 2022 Mooney must have had an interest in a screw manufacturing company, they used just about every screw type and size available. There will be no metric screws, the avionics access panels typically had 10-32, 8-32 machine screws, #10X 1/2” and #8X1/2 self tapping sheet metal screws. Machine screws on the back rows, #10 sheet metal screw at the Center lap joint and #8 sheet metal screw on the sides. Clarence Quote
GingerDan Posted April 19, 2022 Author Report Posted April 19, 2022 1 minute ago, M20Doc said: Mooney must have had an interest in a screw manufacturing company, they used just about every screw type and size available. There will be no metric screws, the avionics access panels typically had 10-32, 8-32 machine screws, #10X 1/2” and #8X1/2 self tapping sheet metal screws. Machine screws on the back rows, #10 sheet metal screw at the Center lap joint and #8 sheet metal screw on the sides. Clarence Thank you, Clarence. That’s the word I am getting - 8-32 and 10-32. And these are 1/2 inch? I suppose I can just order a number of each from Spruce. Quote
Guest Posted April 19, 2022 Report Posted April 19, 2022 2 hours ago, GingerDan said: Thank you, Clarence. That’s the word I am getting - 8-32 and 10-32. And these are 1/2 inch? I suppose I can just order a number of each from Spruce. R8 length sounds right. Quote
GingerDan Posted April 20, 2022 Author Report Posted April 20, 2022 1 minute ago, carusoam said: Dan, To know if your plane is a 64, or really a 65…. The 1965 M20Cs got the rectangular side windows… and the cowling got the dzus fasteners…. The 64s had the aerodynamic looking windows, and lots of screws in place of the 1/4 turn fasteners… the fuel separators were a glass bowl… the modern ones were aluminum hidden under your feet… Serial numbers work… no two Mooneys share a serial number…. A handful of planes got new numbers as they got put back in the production schedule… Matching year of production to the date the plane was actually manufactured is always a fuzzy guess… The ultimate date is the planes AW date… which comes after test flights…could be months after the plane was technically built… PP descriptions only, not a mechanic… Best regards, -a- Yeah, the serial number makes it a 1965. It’s had the two rectangular side windows as well as the quarter turns. I think my confusion is that the insurance has it listed as ‘64 and if you look it up on flight aware it says ‘64 as well. Mainly, it’s me confusing myself. It’s a ‘65. Quote
carusoam Posted April 20, 2022 Report Posted April 20, 2022 Dan, To know if your plane is a 64, or really a 65…. The 1965 M20Cs got the rectangular side windows… and the cowling got the dzus fasteners…. The 64s had the aerodynamic looking windows, and lots of screws in place of the 1/4 turn fasteners… the fuel separators were a glass bowl… the modern ones were aluminum hidden under your feet… Serial numbers work… no two Mooneys share a serial number…. A handful of planes got new numbers as they got put back in the production schedule… Matching year of production to the date the plane was actually manufactured is always a fuzzy guess… The ultimate date is the planes AW date… which comes after test flights…could be months after the plane was technically built… 1965 was a big year for many changes… lots of things got a small touch. Like flush fuel caps… and the Brittain wing leveler… PP descriptions only, not a mechanic… Best regards, -a- Quote
carusoam Posted April 20, 2022 Report Posted April 20, 2022 3 minutes ago, GingerDan said: Yeah, the serial number makes it a 1965. It’s had the two rectangular side windows as well as the quarter turns. I think my confusion is that the insurance has it listed as ‘64 and if you look it up on flight aware it says ‘64 as well. Mainly, it’s me confusing myself. It’s a ‘65. For fun… You can check the first few pages of the airframe log book… The airworthiness flights were done by two pilots at the time… Many were signed by Bill Wheat… a mechanical engineer and test pilot for Mooney… See if Bill signed your AW stamp…. And check the date it got signed… That signature may have occurred in 1964…. Post a copy of the signature here…. There are a lot of AW signatures posted in a thread around here somewhere… Best regards, -a- Quote
GingerDan Posted April 20, 2022 Author Report Posted April 20, 2022 16 hours ago, carusoam said: For fun… You can check the first few pages of the airframe log book… The airworthiness flights were done by two pilots at the time… Many were signed by Bill Wheat… a mechanical engineer and test pilot for Mooney… See if Bill signed your AW stamp…. And check the date it got signed… That signature may have occurred in 1964…. Post a copy of the signature here…. There are a lot of AW signatures posted in a thread around here somewhere… Best regards, -a- Not sure but it looks like “Wheat”. 11/16/1964 3 Quote
BobbyH Posted April 20, 2022 Report Posted April 20, 2022 2 hours ago, GingerDan said: Not sure but it looks like “Wheat”. 11/16/1964 Yes, that is him, William E Wheat! 1 Quote
BobbyH Posted April 20, 2022 Report Posted April 20, 2022 Dan, Check the next page in your log book. You show the flight test date which is different from the Airworthiness Date. The Airworthiness stamp should state the date which is usually a few days after the flight test. Bob Quote
carusoam Posted April 21, 2022 Report Posted April 21, 2022 Way to go Dan! Looks like a 1965 model year airplane built in Nov 1964! @MooneyMitch a nice Bill Wheat signature for your collection…. (Mitch recorded a great interview with Bill) Best regards, -a- 1 Quote
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