M20e heater duct interference

[skykrawler]

My friend has a ‘65 E.  When the control wheel is pushed full forward the controls run up against the heater duct that crosses to the pilots side. Is this normal?

I suggested dismounting the duct and squishing it to make it oval to give more clearance.

[PT20J]

On my M20J, some ducts are rectangular. Is it possible that someone replaced an original with CAT or SCAT? Nothing should interfere with the controls.

[ArtVandelay]

I ran into this, a strategic placement of a cable tie fixed the issue.

[skykrawler]

I have J.  The E is different.  There is a 3 in. scat that goes across from the ‘box’ on the right to a smaller box on the pilots side that vents between the pilots knees.

Parts manual doesn’t really show the routing.

[ArtVandelay]

Here’s what mine looked like (notice I replaced all the old hoses):

[skykrawler]

Okay,  here's the picture.....maybe an E model expert can chime in.  This is the right side.  The larger scat goes across to the pilots side.  When the longitudinal control pivots forward it rests against the scat after which additional force is required to reach the stop.   Behind the scat is the 'step' in the firewall - the duct has nowhere to go.

Can anyone provide an under panel picture of  1965 E?

 

[N201MKTurbo]

I would probably get a longer piece if the 1” duct so it doesn’t pull the 2” up as much. 
You really have to crawl under there and asses the situation.

[M20F-1968]

Try running the larger scat in front of the smaller one.  I hope you are small, do not have wide shoulders, and do not mind standing on your head for a while.

John Breda

[Echo]

1 hour ago, M20F-1968 said:

Try running the larger scat in front of the smaller one.  I hope you are small, do not have wide shoulders, and do not mind standing on your head for a while.

John Breda

I had my feet out the door and even with seats all the way back i was wedged on the nose gear hump.  Trying to get my light to shine at correct spot, holding a nut in one hand, a screw in the other...insert my hand through the push/pull cable maze to reach the opening...and drop something, gauge cover, nut, bolt....@#$%&*!  I bet if anyone was within 200' they thought an exorcism or a jealous rage murder was going down.  Naw, Just another couple hours inside a Mooney pretending to be young, flexible and a contorsionist.  

Getting nut on bolt and having success?  Relief.  Now, how do I get my body outta here?!

[N201MKTurbo]

6 hours ago, Echo said:

I had my feet out the door and even with seats all the way back i was wedged on the nose gear hump.  Trying to get my light to shine at correct spot, holding a nut in one hand, a screw in the other...insert my hand through the push/pull cable maze to reach the opening...and drop something, gauge cover, nut, bolt....@#$%&*!  I bet if anyone was within 200' they thought an exorcism or a jealous rage murder was going down.  Naw, Just another couple hours inside a Mooney pretending to be young, flexible and a contorsionist.  

Getting nut on bolt and having success?  Relief.  Now, how do I get my body outta here?!

Sounds like a typical day working on Mooneys. 

[Shadrach]

On 11/3/2023 at 2:33 PM, skykrawler said:

Okay,  here's the picture.....maybe an E model expert can chime in.  This is the right side.  The larger scat goes across to the pilots side.  When the longitudinal control pivots forward it rests against the scat after which additional force is required to reach the stop.   Behind the scat is the 'step' in the firewall - the duct has nowhere to go.

Can anyone provide an under panel picture of  1965 E?

 

That’s poorly routed. It looks like the previous owner tried to save money on scat tube by using the most direct rather than the least invasive route. That 3” hose should be longer, lower and against the firewall. The 1.25” hose should route above the 3” hose and also be against the firewall. 

[skykrawler]

Final answer.....@N201MKTurbo tipped me off to check the size of the larger hose.    The hose installed was a 2.5 or even 3 inch hose clamped down to fit.   It was changed out with a 2 inch hose (and crushed slightly to make it oval) and now there is virtually no interference.

One tends to see a lot of poor maintenance practices on old airplanes.  What I hear AP and IA say sometimes is they don't want to get involved with fixing things because they don't want their names in the aircraft log.

[skykrawler]

3 minutes ago, Shadrach said:

R o

That’s poorly routed. It looks like the previous owner tried to save money on scat tube by using the most direct rather than the most least crowded route. That 3” hose should be longe, lower and against the firewall. The 1.25” hose should route above the 3” hose and also be against the firewall. 

The airplane was owned by of couple of Urologists.  I'm certain they didn't do any work of their own - and they were happy to pay whatever it took.

[Shadrach]

6 minutes ago, skykrawler said:

The airplane was owned by of couple of Urologists.  I'm certain they didn't do any work of their own - and they were happy to pay whatever it took.

Obviously not done by them…Urologists know their way around tubes…