New F w/ a Couple of Squawks: Squawk #1 - Gear Alert

[bigmo]

I have a couple of squawks on my new F model. A 1700 mile trip lets you find all sorts of bugs and gremlins (which is good). On the plus side, I got LOTS of time to master the GNS480 (and I kind of like it lol). 

So, squawk #1. My gear alert is going off.

As soon as I took off and put the gear up, the "beep beep beep" gear alert came on as soon as it stowed. I tried cycling the gear 3-4x, and no change. As soon as we were at cruise, I did try backing the throttle off a few times. Nada. Pulled the breaker so I didn't go crazy and temporarily solved my problem.

I suspect that it's the micro switch on the cable. My F has the quadrant. Does that change how to at least troubleshoot the issue? I didn't study the throttle quadrant much, but it looks like the knobs come off and then you can lift the cover off. Is the device I'm looking for inside the quadrant? Up near/in front of the panel? Is it worth at least trying a little LPS2 and seeing if something was just gummed up?

I'm not sure what I am listening for or feeling for, but I do not feel a click or indent or anything when I retard the throttle back to cutoff. 

 

[KSMooniac]

You should be able to see the throttle switch if you can contort yourself in the pilot footwell. It's on a bracket clamped to the cable. You'll want to spray contact cleaner IMO and physically exercise it a few times.

Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

[Yetti]

1 hour ago, bigmo said:

I have a couple of squawks on my new F model. A 1700 mile trip lets you find all sorts of bugs and gremlins (which is good). On the plus side, I got LOTS of time to master the GNS480 (and I kind of like it lol). 

So, squawk #1. My gear alert is going off.

As soon as I took off and put the gear up, the "beep beep beep" gear alert came on as soon as it stowed. I tried cycling the gear 3-4x, and no change. As soon as we were at cruise, I did try backing the throttle off a few times. Nada. Pulled the breaker so I didn't go crazy and temporarily solved my problem.

I suspect that it's the micro switch on the cable. My F has the quadrant. Does that change how to at least troubleshoot the issue? I didn't study the throttle quadrant much, but it looks like the knobs come off and then you can lift the cover off. Is the device I'm looking for inside the quadrant? Up near/in front of the panel? Is it worth at least trying a little LPS2 and seeing if something was just gummed up?

I'm not sure what I am listening for or feeling for, but I do not feel a click or indent or anything when I retard the throttle back to cutoff. 

 

NOT LPS.   Use contact cleaning fluid.   Red can.     What year F Model?     Exorcise the micro switch while spraying with contact cleaning fluid.

[bigmo]

1970.

I have some god contact spray. Ill try scooting the seat all the way back and flipping upside down and see if I can see it.

Are the models with a quadrant in the same place as normal push/pull controls?

[M20F]

Your biggest squawk is that quadrant, real Mooney’s have vernier controls.  

[Yetti]

4 minutes ago, M20F said:

Your biggest squawk is that quadrant, real Mooney’s have vernier controls.  

You don't have a "Guns" button on your throttle do you?

[bigmo]

So, I'm guessing the switch and adjuster mechanism is somewhere around here just forward of the panel?

[KSMooniac]

Yes, if my memory is correct. I deleted my throttle quadrant years ago and converted to linear controls.

Sent from my motorola edge plus 2023 using Tapatalk

[Nico1]

No, its at the bottom of the quadrant. Supposed to chirp when pulling throttle back before landing if gear is up. 
 

you can test its functionality easy on the ground. Throttle back. Push test button. Horn should beep. As holding test button, pusb throttle forward. Should stop chirping after advancing 1/2 inch (or a bit more). If it stops, then i suspect that is not the issue. If not, then the micro switch might be stuck

[Ragsf15e]

12 minutes ago, Nico1 said:

No, its at the bottom of the quadrant. Supposed to chirp when pulling throttle back before landing if gear is up. 
 

you can test its functionality easy on the ground. Throttle back. Push test button. Horn should beep. As holding test button, pusb throttle forward. Should stop chirping after advancing 1/2 inch (or a bit more). If it stops, then i suspect that is not the issue. If not, then the micro switch might be stuck

Test button might be dependent on year.  Mine is older and no test button…

[bigmo]

I don't believe I have a test button (unless I am missing something - where would such a test button be?). The POH makes no mention of it. However the POH says there's an airspeed warning device incorporated into the pitot system - but I don't think that is right. Later it describes a gear warning system as an airspeed system OR a squat switch. And then later yet, it states that the gear warning system sounds below 12" of MAP. Seems like lots of cut/paste from older manuals or Mooney was just all over the place with systems in this era.

Seems the 70 era had the throttle switch but no airspeed switch right?

So if the microswitch and adjuster is inside the quadrant, I assume I pull the knobs, and the quadrant wrap slides up over the levers?

I think I do prefer vernier controls and might look at going to push pull later...but for now, just need to solve this issue.

[Ragsf15e]

3 hours ago, bigmo said:

I don't believe I have a test button (unless I am missing something - where would such a test button be?). The POH makes no mention of it. However the POH says there's an airspeed warning device incorporated into the pitot system - but I don't think that is right. Later it describes a gear warning system as an airspeed system OR a squat switch. And then later yet, it states that the gear warning system sounds below 12" of MAP. Seems like lots of cut/paste from older manuals or Mooney was just all over the place with systems in this era.

Seems the 70 era had the throttle switch but no airspeed switch right?

So if the microswitch and adjuster is inside the quadrant, I assume I pull the knobs, and the quadrant wrap slides up over the levers?

I think I do prefer vernier controls and might look at going to push pull later...but for now, just need to solve this issue.

You have the warning microswitch. The squat switch vs airspeed switch is year depending but those two things prevent the gear from coming up at all (one with weight on wheels, one below a certain airspeed).  The microswitch is for the warning.  I’d look behind the panel first.

[Nico1]

20 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

Test button might be dependent on year.  Mine is older and no test button…

wonder what year they started adding that? I guess as an alternative if it has that microswitch in the throttle quadrant you can grab a multimeter checking for continuity when switch is engaged and not.

[Yetti]

I have the schematic for the 70s F Mooney.   PM me your email account and I will send it over.     It might be correct since you have the quadrant.

[bixmooney]

On 9/28/2024 at 8:42 PM, Yetti said:

You don't have a "Guns" button on your throttle do you?

Uh oh , I have a new to me F model and have the landing light ‘guns’ button.   Is there an issue with this ?    
there are two associated wires that I feel at the base of the throttle which kinda bug me. 

[Yetti]

On 9/30/2024 at 10:02 AM, bixmooney said:

Uh oh , I have a new to me F model and have the landing light ‘guns’ button.   Is there an issue with this ?    
there are two associated wires that I feel at the base of the throttle which kinda bug me. 

No issue, it's just kind of fun when people get close and you tell them "too close for missiles switching to guns"  and you have a guns button

[PT20J]

Two different circuits:

The throttle switch is to warn you if the gear is not down when you reduce power to land.

The squat switch is to prevent raising the gear on the ground. Because it’s difficult to adjust to compensate for aging shock disks and temperature variations both of which affect shock disk resilience, Mooney came up with an airspeed switch. I believe some airplanes were retrofitted in the field.

[bixmooney]

7 hours ago, Yetti said:

No issue, it's just kind of fun when people get close and you tell them "too close for missiles switching to guns"  and you have a guns button

So, it IS normal to make machine gun sounds in your mind ! : )

[N201MKTurbo]

25 minutes ago, bixmooney said:

So, it IS normal to make machine gun sounds in your mind ! : )

No, that's kind of weird. You have to make them out loud.