“To lube, or not to lube, that is the question“

[Glen Davis]

I would like to lubricate the shaft that my yoke is connected to going behind the panel. I understand that Mooney change the design from time to time and not all of them can be lubricated with the same silicone lubricant. Mine is a 1984J model. How do I know which is the correct lubricant for that particular make, model and year?

[1980Mooney]

29 minutes ago, Glen Davis said:

I would like to lubricate the shaft that my yoke is connected to going behind the panel. I understand that Mooney change the design from time to time and not all of them can be lubricated with the same silicone lubricant. Mine is a 1984J model. How do I know which is the correct lubricant for that particular make, model and year?

Some use dry silicone, some tri-flow.  See last thread - lots of detail.  While you are under the panel don't forget to lube all the hinges and bearings on the linkages connected to the yoke control rod. - Tri-flow or LPS2 on the hinges/linkages/bearings.

 

Edited February 3, 2023 by 1980Mooney

[PT20J]

An '84J should have the eyeballs. They're made from machined Nylatron which is supposed to be self lubricating. The M20J Service Manual says to use Tri-Flow. The problem with Tri-Flow is that it leaves behind an oil film that attracts dust and eventually gums up the ball and makes it sticky. Nylatron is impervious to most solvents, so you might try flushing them out with solvent if they've become stiff. Afterwards, I would leave them unlubricated or perhaps use a silicone spray. A little silicone spray on the shafts themselves from time to time also reduces friction. 

The eyeballs are difficult to replace when everything is assembled but not hard to replace when the panel was apart for the G3X retrofit. I had them replaced at that time and was amazed at how much stiffer the old ones were compared to the new ones.

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[N201MKTurbo]

I have found cleaning them does more good than lubing them. 

[Fly Boomer]

25 minutes ago, N201MKTurbo said:

I have found cleaning them does more good than lubing them. 

What do you clean with?  Some say WD-40 is good for cleaning, but that stuff gums up after a bit.

[N201MKTurbo]

24 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

What do you clean with?  Some say WD-40 is good for cleaning, but that stuff gums up after a bit.

You would be OK to clean it with WD40, just wipe it down when you are done. Something is better than nothing. 

It's not the shafts, it is the block or eyeball. You want to get it wet with lube/solvent and work it back and forth a bunch of times, then wipe it down both in front and behind the panel, then repeat about 10 times until you stop getting any black stuff on the shafts. Then wipe them down with a rag to get them as dry as you can.

It would be great if you could take it all apart and clean it, but it is very difficult to do.

 

[PT20J]

WD-40 leaves behind a film. I would not use it on the eyeballs. I might try electronic contact cleaner.