M20C, is rudder coupled to ailerons at all?

[M20 Ogler]

Just got my plane back from shop. And they cleaned up the wiring under the panel and the yoke now moves noticeably more freely. Also now when I move the ailerons the rudder moves slightly. It didn’t used to do that. What do the controls feel and behave like on other Cs?

[outermarker]

Perhaps it is coupled with the autopilot?

[Shadrach]

I believe that all Mooneys have rudder aileron interconnect.  Mine certainly does. 

[Skates97]

1 hour ago, M20 Ogler said:

Just got my plane back from shop. And they cleaned up the wiring under the panel and the yoke now moves noticeably more freely. Also now when I move the ailerons the rudder moves slightly. It didn’t used to do that. What do the controls feel and behave like on other Cs?

Perhaps there was old wiring or something rubbing before? I would say mine move freely, but I don't have anything to compare it to. As Ross said, I believe they all have a rudder aileron interconnect as well. I know mine does and it's a 1965, it would be the same as your 1966.

[Kelpro999]

The connection is indirect through springs in the belly. Remove belly panel at first third of wing chord and it’ll make sense.

[Hank]

9 hours ago, M20 Ogler said:

Just got my plane back from shop. And they cleaned up the wiring under the panel and the yoke now moves noticeably more freely. Also now when I move the ailerons the rudder moves slightly. It didn’t used to do that. What do the controls feel and behave like on other Cs?

Yes, it's supposed to do that. Really impressed my CFII when taking lessons. I never said anything . . . .

[A64Pilot]

Aileron / rudder interconnects became a Fad if you will in the 60’s, and 70’s. Most small aircraft Certified in that era have them.

There is a Certification requirement that you must be able to raise a dropped wing with rudder, I don’t know why it’s there but it is, if the rudder moves the ailerons then of course the wing will be raised. The FAA looked favorably on them. My guess is the thought they contributed to coordinated flight and may help prevent stall / spin accidents, but that’s a guess.

The only time it becomes obnoxious in my opinion is crosswind landings and skids / slips where your cross controlled and therefore fighting the interconnect.

I eliminated it in one aircraft I Certified.

Maule has the only interconnect that I didn’t find obnoxious, the Maules ailerons are out on the wing tip and short span, so they create a lot of induced yaw.

Old man Maule put a trim tab on the rudder that’s deflected by yoke movement adding rudder to correct for adverse yaw, but when you add rudder it doesn’t affect the ailerons. So he corrected for adverse yaw, but with his set up you weren’t fighting the interconnect on crosswind landings or a skid / slip.