3” pedal extensions

[A64Pilot]

I obtained a set from a gentleman who bought an aircraft with them and didn’t need them so he removed them. 

I’m posting this largely so others like me who had no idea how these things work can see them

A couple of things, first they aren’t 3” extensions, more like 2 and 5/8” or so, just if anyone was thinking like I was that 3” is a whole lot.

Secondly I’ve heard from others that they position the pedal slightly more vertical making it difficult to not ride the brakes, some have installed adjustable links to the master cylinder making pedal angle adjustable, which is likely the best as you can tailor exactly what you want.

I modified them slightly on one end so that they fit deeper into the pedal, this should slightly lay them down some, not much but it may be enough to not need what I’ve been led to understand are VERY expensive adjustable links, or me having to make my own.

Installation is very straight forward and they are simple devices, other than getting in there to get the cotter pins out it’s a very simple straight forward installation, requires two holes to be drilled in the pedals, but even that’s simple as the bracket is a drill guide.

 

 

Edited July 27, 2023 by A64Pilot

[A64Pilot]

Actually, they are close to 3” 

Have to measure the correct holes  

 

Edited July 27, 2023 by A64Pilot

[PT20J]

I believe all the M20Js have master cylinders with adjustable links. I think @kortopates said that the Encores had the master cylinders without adjustable links and someone else had written that Mooney at one time had adjustable links available for retrofit. 

There are also 1.5" extensions that don't require adjusting the master cylinder links. The 1.5" extensions are simpler to install and much less expensive. My M20J came from the factory with the 1.5" extensions installed.

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[A64Pilot]

I’ve not looked at the bottom end of the link, if it’s adjustable then it’s at the bottom end, hopefully I won’t have to go there.

I’m 5’10” or was anyway and don’t “need” the extensions, what makes it so they would be nice is the knee surgeries I’ve had, if can get my right knee out from hitting the nose gear well which I think they will it will go a long ways toward comfort. I can get there by letting the seat back, but then I can’t bury a pedal if I needed to.

So for me anyway it’s a comfort, not purely required thing.

I’ll install them tomorrow, I can only fold myself into the cockpit once a day, I think installation will be easier than removal was.

1.5” may have been better, but 3” became available.

There isn’t much to these things. I could duplicate them with a bandsaw, there is a joggle that needs to be bent into two pieces though, but that’s not that tough

[Pinecone]

My 252 is upgraded to Encore.  This includes replacing the master cylinders.  I also have the extensions.

With the fixed links, there was no way to use just the rudders without lifting my knees and putting my toes under the brake pedal portion.

I replaced my fixed links with the adjustable ones.  I found one at LASAR and the other I ordered from Mooney through Maxweill. .3AMU for the one from LASAR, .6 AMU for the one from the factory.

[kortopates]

7 hours ago, Pinecone said:

My 252 is upgraded to Encore.  This includes replacing the master cylinders.  I also have the extensions.

With the fixed links, there was no way to use just the rudders without lifting my knees and putting my toes under the brake pedal portion.

I replaced my fixed links with the adjustable ones.  I found one at LASAR and the other I ordered from Mooney through Maxweill. .3AMU for the one from LASAR, .6 AMU for the one from the factory.

I am really confused by that description of fixed vs adjustable ones.

Every Mooney left the factory with links designed for the specific MC to provide the proper Pedal orientation.

The 3" rudder pedals extension design didn't change the pedal orientation.

What did alter the pedal orientation was from installing a retrofit master cylinder. The master cylinders only have limited adjustment play.

Mooney has long replaced the original Parker MC's with a new vendor for the Long bodies brakes which is also used for the Encore brakes - the CM2000-5. Since the dimensions on these are different from the original Parker MC, Mooney's retrofit kit for the new MC's includes a new set of links to correct the pedal orientation. Only the original Parker MC are shown in the Encore conversion drawing and therefore the only way to learn about the need for the full kit with the CM2000-5 & new accompanying link is to go through Mooney or a knowledgeable shop. But some mechanics just learn learn the change to CM2000-5 without all the details and source the MC's directly since that's cheaper not realizing they really needed the full retrofit kit. Your was the not the first such to get installed that way. I've seen others do that too. But acquiring the correct links for the newer CM2000-5 MC's was the only needed correction to get the proper pedal orientation back. That was always Mooney's intent in providing the retrofit Kit. 

[A64Pilot]

Well I flew it just now before the daily afternoon thunderstorm. I don’t know if it was my little bit of cutting to reduce the pedal angle slightly or if it’s just not an issue on at least my J model but I didn’t notice any significant difference in pedal angle, I don’t think anything needs adjusting. If the three holes are in a straight line, then the angle hasn’t changed, mine aren’t quite at a straight line, but were before I ground the tips.

I will say that 3” is a lot and gets my knee completely out of the nose gear well and frankly establishes about the same “feel” for where the yoke is on Pipers and Cessna’s and other aircraft because your sitting further back, the pedals moved but the yoke didn’t, without the extensions I felt that I was awfully close to the yoke, it’s not a problem because the amount of travel in a Mooney is less than P or C models, just felt like I was too far forward is all, now it’s sits like a P or C

I will also say that the “feel” of the pedals is completely different, without extensions as the pivot point is right at the bottom of the pedal brake application merely has the top being pushed forward like everybody else’s pedals, but the extensions push the pivot point out three inches away from the bottom, so brake application has the whole pedal lifting somewhat because of where the pivot point is. It’s no big deal, it just feels different is all.

Also of course if everything else is the same I’m sitting three inches further aft and if you fly with Pax, they of course just lost three inches of leg room.

But I like ‘em, I won’t have to have that foam pad to rest my knee against anymore.

I think 1.5” may be the sweet spot though, but I’m fine with 3”.

Edited July 28, 2023 by A64Pilot

[Pinecone]

18 hours ago, kortopates said:

I am really confused by that description of fixed vs adjustable ones.

Every Mooney left the factory with links designed for the specific MC to provide the proper Pedal orientation.

The 3" rudder pedals extension design didn't change the pedal orientation.

What did alter the pedal orientation was from installing a retrofit master cylinder. The master cylinders only have limited adjustment play.

Mooney has long replaced the original Parker MC's with a new vendor for the Long bodies brakes which is also used for the Encore brakes - the CM2000-5. Since the dimensions on these are different from the original Parker MC, Mooney's retrofit kit for the new MC's includes a new set of links to correct the pedal orientation. Only the original Parker MC are shown in the Encore conversion drawing and therefore the only way to learn about the need for the full kit with the CM2000-5 & new accompanying link is to go through Mooney or a knowledgeable shop. But some mechanics just learn learn the change to CM2000-5 without all the details and source the MC's directly since that's cheaper not realizing they really needed the full retrofit kit. Your was the not the first such to get installed that way. I've seen others do that too. But acquiring the correct links for the newer CM2000-5 MC's was the only needed correction to get the proper pedal orientation back. That was always Mooney's intent in providing the retrofit Kit. 

 

I don't know what exactly caused the issue.  It was like that when I bought it.

But the adjustable links fixed the issue.

[kortopates]

Did it already have the Encore conversion when you bought it?


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[Pinecone]

Yes.