GAD29 mounting location?

[bcg]

Where have you guys that have one mounted your GAD29? I'd like to put it on my inside firewall but, there's so much stuff up there I don't really have space for it. I'm not sure what other options I have though, maybe using a couple of cushion clamps on a structural tube and bolt it to those? Surely someone here has a good, creative solution.

 

Thanks!

 

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[EricJ]

I think mine's an oddball, but it's in the tail on the avionics shelf.    I think it was put there to shorten the interface to my ancient Century autopilot, which is also back there.    My GMU-11 is also back there, on the CANbus.   I think usually they wind up behind the panel somewhere.

[bcg]

I think mine's an oddball, but it's in the tail on the avionics shelf.    I think it was put there to shorten the interface to my ancient Century autopilot, which is also back there.    My GMU-11 is also back there, on the CANbus.   I think usually they wind up behind the panel somewhere.

The only thing I have in my tail is the ELT. Even the battery is in the engine compartment on my old C. I'm putting the GMU11 in the left wing.

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[N201MKTurbo]

I mounted mine to the side of my radio racks. Don't do that, it is a real PITA to R&R.

[bcg]

I mounted mine to the side of my radio racks. Don't do that, it is a real PITA to R&R.

This is actually one of the options I'm considering. Another choice is to mount it to the back of the panel, I'll have lots of open space with the changes. That would present challenges later if I add anything else though.

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[Vance Harral]

We built a little shelf and mounted it behind a blank panel in the right side radio stack, in a location where we had about 1" vertical of unused radio space.  The attached pics show a card stock mock-up of the shelf, which was later fabricated from aircraft aluminum.  There is room for both the GAD29 and the GAD13.

It was certainly more of a pain getting things to fit behind the radio stack than in the tail cone, but once you solve the physical mounting, the electrical wiring is a lot simpler - no need to pull interior panels and run wiring down the side of the cabin.

 

 

[7.Mooney.Driver.0]

Your best option is to install it on the Avionics shelf in the back.


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[bcg]

We built a little shelf and mounted it behind a blank panel in the right side radio stack, in a location where we had about 1" vertical of unused radio space.  The attached pics show a card stock mock-up of the shelf, which was later fabricated from aircraft aluminum.  There is room for both the GAD29 and the GAD13.
It was certainly more of a pain getting things to fit behind the radio stack than in the tail cone, but once you solve the physical mounting, the electrical wiring is a lot simpler - no need to pull interior panels and run wiring down the side of the cabin.
 
 

Thanks, that's a good idea. I may go this route. The GAD13 is a lot easier, there's plenty of room for that little guy, the GAD29 is a little bigger than I anticipated.

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[ArtVandelay]

Your best option is to install it on the Avionics shelf in the back.


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If you’re installing the GFC 500 then yes, you already have to run wires to the tail, the CAN bus is going to be close by as well.

[bcg]

If you’re installing the GFC 500 then yes, you already have to run wires to the tail, the CAN bus is going to be close by as well.

I have an S-Tec 50, it's all in the panel except for the servos.

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[bcg]

Ok, here's what I decided. There was previously an altitude encoder on here that's been replaced by the G5/GAD combo. Looks like it was made for this location.

There's a cross support right below it that I'll be able to zip toe the harness to for strain relief so that's not pulling on the GAD. Worst case, I can fab a couple of metal straps to wrap around the GAD and hold it.

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[EricJ]

That's actually a nice thing with the older Mooneys and the stock windscreen.    That kind of access to the space behind the panel is really nice.

[bcg]

That's actually a nice thing with the older Mooneys and the stock windscreen.    That kind of access to the space behind the panel is really nice.

Yeah, this job would be a whole lot tougher with the modern windshield.

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[Ragsf15e]

1 hour ago, EricJ said:

That's actually a nice thing with the older Mooneys and the stock windscreen.    That kind of access to the space behind the panel is really nice.

I was just thinking the same thing.  Can you reach the two nuts on top of the hydraulic fluid can and tell me the size?  I need to tighten the fill line and access is nigh impossible.

[bcg]

I was just thinking the same thing.  Can you reach the two nuts on top of the hydraulic fluid can and tell me the size?  I need to tighten the fill line and access is nigh impossible.

The plugs for the canister or the mounting bolts? On my plane, almost all the mounting nuts on the firewall are 3/8. The plugs on the cannister are 7/16.

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[Ragsf15e]

48 minutes ago, bcg said:

The plugs for the canister or the mounting bolts? On my plane, almost all the mounting nuts on the firewall are 3/8. The plugs on the cannister are 7/16.

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The plugs. One of them leaks if we fill it all the way.  It’s 100% a bear to get a finger up there.  I have stubby wrenches but it’s gonna be tough to get a 7/16 there.  I believe you, but I’m surprised it’s not bigger.  The plug has the fill tube coming out of the middle of it.  Thanks for the info though.  Just make sure that access door is sealed really well when you’re done so you don’t get water in there on your avionics.

[bcg]

The plugs. One of them leaks if we fill it all the way.  It’s 100% a bear to get a finger up there.  I have stubby wrenches but it’s gonna be tough to get a 7/16 there.  I believe you, but I’m surprised it’s not bigger.  The plug has the fill tube coming out of the middle of it.  Thanks for the info though.  Just make sure that access door is sealed really well when you’re done so you don’t get water in there on your avionics.

I don't have a fill line on mine, they just come out and I fill directly into the reservoir so it's entirely possible that yours is larger with a fill tube in it.


EDIT TO ADD a pic of my fluid reservoir and the plugs.

[PT20J]

In my 1994 M20J, it is mounted on the shelf with the voltage regulator above the copilot footwell.

[McMooney]

my m20e has it and the gad 13 mounted in the tail on one of the shelves 

 

[65MooneyPilot]

I converted my ADF tray to mount the GAD29 and GAD13. It works well. Then installed it where it was back in the rack. The GAD29 fits right in any old tray you are not using anymore.