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Posted (edited)

Hey guys, getting about time for the engine overhaul within the next year I'd say anyway. While its out I'm considering doing the 2700 rpm upgrade. What exactly is needed to do this? I have the stock mc cauley 3 blade, not sure if that one can be turned up or if it must have a whole new prop or new governor or what. Anyone shed any info on what and how this can be done, and was it worth it, would you do it again, and how much approx does it cost, keeping in mind the engine will already be coming out at the same time for the overhaul. 

Thanks!

Edited by bg8810
Mis spell
Posted
28 minutes ago, bg8810 said:

Hey guys, getting about time for the engine overhaul within the next year I'd say anyway. While its out I'm considering doing the 2700 rpm upgrade. What exactly is needed to do this? I have the stock mc cauley 3 blade, not sure if that one can be turned up or if it must have a whole new prop or new governor or what. Anyone shed any info on what and how this can be done, and was it worth it, would you do it again, and how much approx does it cost, keeping in mind the engine will already be coming out at the same time for the overhaul. 

Thanks!

It has virtually nothing to do with the engine, just an STC to run it at 2700.

You'll need the Hartzell Top Prop, a $5000 STC, a spring changed in the Prop governor, paperwork, tach that reads 2700 rpm, fuel flow adjusted. When I had an Ovation and did the upgrade I already had the prop and all I needed was a software patch for my JPI930 for the RPMs so it ended up costing me about $8000. If you still have your factory gauges on your '98 Ovation you'll need a JPI or EI tach for about $500. I can see where if you needed everything including prop it could run about $20,000. 

  • Like 1
Posted

You'll need a hartzell 3 blade. You have the choice between the acclaim type s or ovation prop for alu. Theyre the same price and the acclaim prop is 3 to 5 knots faster and lighter, so if youre purchasing a new prop, the type s is the way to go. You also have the Carbon hartzell prop as an option but it is rather pricey. Mt makes a 4 blade carbon prop that can be used aswell. I believe hartzell alu is right around 13k, mt carbon is around 18k and the hartzell carbon is around 25 to 30k. Id probably recommend the type S prop.

Next youll need to have your governer switched to one ending in T20. 

Stc can be bought from @AGL Aviation for 4995 dollars. Increase the fuel flow to 28 to 31gph, and install a tach if yours cant be changed or adjust the jpi, garmin, ei or what ever unit you have to display a 2700rpm redline.

Posted

You could just move to an Executive.  2700 RPMS with none of the hassles, Martinis are extra.  

  • Like 1
Posted

The one item nobody else mentioned is the engine Stc data plate. I believe that this will come from mooney but you can google it. I just replaced my engine and my mechanic was adamant that while the stc for 310hp stays with the airframe. The 310 Hp data plate had to stay with the engine core and could not be swapped so I had to get a new data plate. In your case you will be purchasing the stc so you should get the data plate from who ever sells you the stc. The stc is totally worth it. I took off three people with a density alt of 9,500 feet on the Fourth of July weekend and I need every pony I could get. 

Posted

Sorry… Late to the party…

+1 for the O3 powered Ovation…

Focus on what it does, not just the side affects…

Yes… it does deliver 2700 RPM but so does Mike’s M20F full of Martinis…. For a whole lot less….

It is 310 normally aspirated hp…. A full 10% more than the standard 280hp that the O1 was born with…

How does only 10% help…? doesn’t sound like much….

It is 30 whole excess hp that counts….  The excess hp known for acceleration and climbing…

It is really cool because all that excess hp can cost a ton of fuel if left engaged….

Soooo…..

Use it for Take off and climb… dial it back for cruise….

Around here… I have huge Mountains to climb over in two directions… both are Class B airspaces that are often unfriendly to GA transitions…

 

Hard numbers…

Compare two people taking off on an ordinary day….

O1 is off the ground in 1200’

O3 is off in 800’

The O1 is pretty spry compared to the Eagle, Bravo and my old M20C…. But it uses 50% more runway to get off the ground compared to the O3…. 800’ X 1.5 = 1200’   Pretty straight forward math…. :)
 

50% better T/O performance on 10% extra HP… amazing how this works.

If you like to use short runways…. Being off the ground before the half way point…. Is a comfortable feeling….

Compare the Power to weight ratio of your favorite car of the same year… I compare to the Corvette….

The Corvette runs out of runway…. While the O3 is climbing out at 2kfpm…. :)

In cruise…the O3 powered Mooney is still the fastest NA, factory built, four seat, speedster on and off the planet…. 
 

The TopProp is extra modern scimitar… I have the Acclaim prop for weight and balance purposes as well… cruise using 2550 for prop efficiency and because you can…. :)

You might consider the composite version or the four blade from MT the other prop company….

 

For some additional input…

Invite @StevenL757 to the conversation… he knows the details and the peoples very well….

See if @jetdriven is around… Byron helped me fly a break-in flight several years ago…. The initial climb rate is so memorable I’m still smiling about that day…

 

There may even be a reason to select the IO550(n) vs (g)… different cylinders, lower weight, better cooling… see if @M20Doc has any input on this… he has a boat load of experience with those funny planes that use IO550(n)s…..

Mooney owns the STCs for making this event happen…

It economically makes sense during engine OH…

It makes extra sense after a prop strike….

There may be some decent value left in the old Mac prop that you have if it hasn’t seen a prop strike… find Alan and/or Cody for that detail…

As Lance pointed out above… a governor adjustment… a tach red line moved… different prop… STCs…. All worth the price of admission…

If you get a chance… speak to the STC writer… be ready to write notes quickly….

 

Overall… the 310hp provides amazing HP when needed… and is pretty much out of the way when not needed….

Get a copy of the STC and check the performance numbers… I used a WAAS gps and CloudAhoy to measure before and after performances…

I had the opportunity to fly with @Cris in his Screamin’ Eagle while collecting data using a SkyRadar and CloudAhoy… black box magic that proves what you are feeling…  your seat of the pants will feel the difference… but your CloudAhoy will put real numbers on it….

Rocket Engineering is really good with performance and it’s documentation…

Go Standing O!

Can you sense the excitement of joining this club?

Now imagine bringing it to the next level… Go Acclaim 310hp…!  Corvette performance into the FLs and accelerate from there….   :)

For Acclaim 310hp performance discussions… find Joe Z…

My favorite runway is just over 2k’ long… walking distance to grandpa’s house for my kids… time flys at Mooney speeds…. Soooo fast!

The ‘94 Corvette has 300hp, the ‘94 O3 powered O1 has 310HP….

Go Mooney!

Best regards,

-a-

  • Like 1
Posted

IO550N cylinders have a weak area between the fuel injector hole and the upper spark plug.  Cracks in this area are common in Cirrus airframes with both the NA and turbocharged versions of the engine.  

We don’t see the cracking issue on G series engines in Mooney airframes, but do see stuck rings.

Clarence
 

 

Posted

I suspect that it is not worth the cost and trouble.   I fly the same M20R. Paper work and probable around $5000 . 

I thought...more noise in cabin, faster off the runway and climb but no increase in cruise speed. Change in prop governor

and possible new tach that can show 2700 RPM....I am not an expert at all but I thought about it and decided it was not 

worth it. 

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