Trim Position Indicator

[fentho]

Seem to have lost the Trim Position indicator.  No more black pointer. Trim easy to move with yoke thumb switch & wheel. 

Checked "position cable" under the trim wheel & it moves easily.  Cannot access rear of trim position housing.

Any ideas??

Thanks, Thom

 

[EricJ]

Did the indicator just fall off in the display?   I think on most of them the display can be disassembled.

[N201MKTurbo]

I think you can get to the indicators through the wheel well.

[Shadrach]

Does your wheel well trim cover look like this?

If so, I'm pretty sure that the elevator trim indicator is mounted to the backside of the interior trim piece that covers the wheel well.  Doubt you're getting to it through the wheel well. You will likely need to remove the wheel well interior trim.  I believe the indicator cable threads up through a small opening in the floor just aft of the wheel well.  My F model has a different trim piece but is set up similarly, though the engine controls are not incorporated in to the trim.

 

 

[PT20J]

I've never had this apart, but the indicator is a plastic rod glued to the end of the cable. I recall seeing some threads on MS about fixing it. Perhaps @carusoam remembers what to search for.

In the mean time, you can set the trim so that the elevator is in trail with the stabilizer and that will be takeoff trim.

Skip

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, Shadrach said:

Does your wheel well trim cover look like this?

If so, I'm pretty sure that the elevator trim indicator is mounted to the backside of the interior trim piece that covers the wheel well.  Doubt you're getting to it through the wheel well. You will likely need to remove the wheel well interior trim.  I believe the indicator cable threads up through a small opening in the floor just aft of the wheel well.  My F model has a different trim piece but is set up similarly, though the engine controls are not incorporated in to the trim.

 

 

On the J model it can be accessed from the nose wheel well.   It's the box at the center of the top of the pic.

[PT20J]

Apparently, there are variations…

[Shadrach]

1 hour ago, EricJ said:

On the J model it can be accessed from the nose wheel well.   It's the box at the center of the top of the pic.

Nice! That is much better than just snaking it behind the plastic cover. I should have known better than to doubt Rich...

[KSMooniac]

I'm guessing from Thom's N-number that he's got an ~1985 J and will have the config in the lower right of the IPC and in Eric's picture.  Likely the clear plastic tip with the black tip broke, and the pieces are trapped in the cavity.  Find the pieces and glue 'em back together with superglue, or fabricate your own replacement that matches the dimensions.

My '77 had the vintage config (like Ross's F) and I later converted to the last config when I swapped center consoles and engine controls.  I like the original better!  It was more robust and easier to see.  One of my tips broke during my retrofit, and I glued it back together.  It's been functioning for 7 years now.

[fentho]

Thanks to all responders. 

I will check out the wheel well access and let you know.

[fentho]

Going to bring her into the shop for better access.  That area seems to be covered in some black material (?protective cover?). 

Getting the plane up on jacks should make the job easier.

 

Updates to follow.

Thom

[N201MKTurbo]

1 hour ago, fentho said:

Going to bring her into the shop for better access.  That area seems to be covered in some black material (?protective cover?). 

Getting the plane up on jacks should make the job easier.

 

Updates to follow.

Thom

The black material is probably a composite of oil, dirt and runway gravel. Maybe a bit of tire rubber for good measure.

[PT20J]

4 hours ago, N201MKTurbo said:

The black material is probably a composite of oil, dirt and runway gravel. Maybe a bit of tire rubber for good measure.

I’m doing the annual on my 1994 M20J MSE. The nose wheel well sheet metal cover (part 23 in the drawing) completely covers this area and there is no access to the trim/flap indicator from the wheel well. The underside of the cover is coated with what appears to be automotive undercoat. I don’t know if that is original or was added later. From the IPC, I believe only 24-0377 and before had access through the nose wheel well.

[rotorman]

There is a thread on this topic that should be helpful. 

 

J flap indicator repiar

https://mooneyspace.com/topic/17383-j-flap-indicator-repiar/#comment-685309