carusoam Posted February 10, 2023 Report Posted February 10, 2023 16 hours ago, phxcobraz said: The gear speed is 120mph but I find about anything over 100mph needs a bit of right knee to get the bar back into the geardown lockblock. Gear up is just a matter of getting it done before going too fast. As others stated carpet and/or Jbar boot can get bunched up and give some grief. Noooooo….! technically correct… as Vle (extended speed) is documented that way… But realistically, way off base… as Vlo (operating speeds) are much lower. The gear doors are arranged to pull on the gear… The faster we fly… the force increase is squared… Depending on your core strength… How do you hold the yoke, while pushing the j-bar in place? If you are wrestling with the J-bar with one arm… it is going to be near impossible to hold the yoke gently… If not paying attention… it is really easy to pull on the yoke accidentally… There is a perfect speed to stow the gear… with no effort. and a perfect speed to lower the gear… with no effort. But, that is not documented in any 60s POH…. That would take a 300 page POH that the M20C did not get… if you have run out of strength… something can be done better. if you decide to not wait for 120mias to lower the gear…. Expect a surprise while the j-bar rips through the cabin with elbow smashing power… with strange looks from your fellow travelers… This topic is one of those things you learn in your transition training with a knowledgable CFI… A CFI with minimal Mooney experience won’t naturally be able to deliver this lesson… PP thoughts only, stuff I learned about pre-MS! Best regards, -a- Quote
carusoam Posted February 10, 2023 Report Posted February 10, 2023 2 minutes ago, bluehighwayflyer said: Wow. Reading all of this stuff has convinced me NOT to install the NOS LASAR down lock block I have had sitting on the shelf for years. My OEM down lock shows little wear and my gear is easy to operate. I’m not going to “fix” anything in this system if it isn’t broken. Jim, if your down lock block hole is perfectly round… keep it in service… They wear while the steel handle is in the aluminum hole… to that fancy egg shape with a step… But, I don’t think it is possible for the down lock block to change the operation of the gear… Fixed dimensions with fixed mounting… +1 for if it ain’t broke… Best regards, -a- Quote
Kelpro999 Posted February 10, 2023 Report Posted February 10, 2023 For me a little pitch attitude goes a long way. If I get lazy and lose momentum halfway I’ll push the yoke while engaging the floor “up” lock or pull yoke while pushing into the “down” lock. Passengers take a breath but the gear likes it. Quote
Sabremech Posted February 10, 2023 Report Posted February 10, 2023 I installed the LASAR down lock in my C when I owned it and it was difficult to get in the down lock. I did quite a bit of looking and inspecting and that’s when I found the Johnson bar bent slightly. I confirmed it with D Maxwell and how it can get bent. One of the easiest things you can do is put a straight edge, ruler, against the bar as close to the bottom of it as you can. If you see any daylight between the straight edge and the bar, it’s bent. I do not believe that the LASAR down lock block is an issue in regards to the handle being difficult to engage. 1 Quote
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