Really Dumb Question - How Do I turn off the front knee vents?

[NickG]

OK, SO I’ve had my Ovation since May - its starting to get cold here in Las Vegas and I finally turned my attention to shutting off the Pilot/Copilot knee vents (I believe they’re called Wemac vents). I can’t figure out how to do this. I turn the nozzle but it just turns and doesn’t seem to regulate flow.

HELP! Nothing worse than cold lower legs lol.

[201er]

Triflow

[MikeOH]

I find that I sometimes need to use my finger to 'help' the vane to move off center, then turning will close the vent.

[NickG]

12 minutes ago, 201er said:

Triflow

Explain?

[N201MKTurbo]

Like @201er said, you need to lube it.

[T. Peterson]

20 minutes ago, NickG said:

Explain?

The adjustment mechanism is so stiff that the whole housing is turning. Until you get it lubed, try holding the outer part with one hand and turning the adjustment with the other. At least that’s what I do in my K model when the adjustment is sticky. Maybe an Ovation is different???

[PT20J]

Lubricating might work - for a while. Try to get the lube only on the joint around the knurled knob. If you get it on the ball it will just make matters worse. What happens is that people lube these things and the lube attracts dirt and gums them up. The real solution is to remove them, pull out the retaining spring wire, take them apart and clean the parts really well. 

BTW it’s the same with the eyeballs where the yoke shaft penetrates the panel. Don’t lube them.

[NickG]

14 minutes ago, PT20J said:

Lubricating might work - for a while. Try to get the lube only on the joint around the knurled knob. If you get it on the ball it will just make matters worse. What happens is that people lube these things and the lube attracts dirt and gums them up. The real solution is to remove them, pull out the retaining spring wire, take them apart and clean the parts really well. 

BTW it’s the same with the eyeballs where the yoke shaft penetrates the panel. Don’t lube them.

I’ll give that a try

[DCarlton]

4 hours ago, PT20J said:

Lubricating might work - for a while. Try to get the lube only on the joint around the knurled knob. If you get it on the ball it will just make matters worse. What happens is that people lube these things and the lube attracts dirt and gums them up. The real solution is to remove them, pull out the retaining spring wire, take them apart and clean the parts really well. 

BTW it’s the same with the eyeballs where the yoke shaft penetrates the panel. Don’t lube them.

That’s pretty much what I did; although I did lubricate it to clean it and then wiped if off.  Works fine now.  

[ArtVandelay]

Triflow

I used dry silicone spray so it doesn’t attract dirt.

[Slick Nick]

Wemacs are designed to be pushed in when opening or closing. This grabs the "ball" section through friction and allows you to adjust the orfice. 

Edited November 17, 2024 by Slick Nick

[NickG]

Thanks folks! got 'em to open and close!

[DContreras96]

On 11/20/2024 at 11:03 AM, NickG said:

Thanks folks! got 'em to open and close!

What did you end up using?  I have the exact same problem.  I tried using WD-40 but that did nothing.  I can hold with one hand and turn, but I would like it to work with one hand.  I am not familiar with Tri Flow products.  Which version of Tri Flow will work with on the wemacs or would any of their lubricants work?

[DCarlton]

12 hours ago, DContreras96 said:

What did you end up using?  I have the exact same problem.  I tried using WD-40 but that did nothing.  I can hold with one hand and turn, but I would like it to work with one hand.  I am not familiar with Tri Flow products.  Which version of Tri Flow will work with on the wemacs or would any of their lubricants work?

To me, Tri-Flow smells much better than anything else you can use in the cockpit and you can buy small cans.  I took mine out, cleaned it on the workbench, wiped off the lubricant and put it back in.  Works fine now.

[PT20J]

They get gummed up when people lube them and then dust gets in the lube. More lube might help for a while, but the real fix it to remove, disassemble and clean them. 

[dkkim73]

1 hour ago, PT20J said:

They get gummed up when people lube them and then dust gets in the lube. More lube might help for a while, but the real fix it to remove, disassemble and clean them. 

Skip, 

What do you think about "dry" lubricants? I'm specifically thinking of a spray PTFE lube with an alcohol base (TW-25B spray, for gun lubrication). I hear you on the effects of any remnant base liquid (oil, etc). 

[N201MKTurbo]

If they don’t work, just throwing them in a can of solvent, working them till they are free and letting the solvent evaporate will work as good as anything.

[PeteMc]

16 hours ago, DContreras96 said:

I tried using WD-40 but that did nothing.

I'd stay away from WD-40 in most cases.  They say it is a lubricant, and it is sort of, but it's more of a solvent/lubricant that's great for getting stuck things to move.  But over time it will collect dust and gum things up.  Tri-Flow (which Mooney calls out for use in a number of places) is a usually a better option. 

 

[PT20J]

1 hour ago, dkkim73 said:

Skip, 

What do you think about "dry" lubricants? I'm specifically thinking of a spray PTFE lube with an alcohol base (TW-25B spray, for gun lubrication). I hear you on the effects of any remnant base liquid (oil, etc). 

Maybe, but I’ve found that just cleaning them and leaving them alone works.

[mooneyflyfast]

I just freed mine up. Kroil and a little heat from a heat gun. No longer have to stuff tissue paper in them to keep from freezing. You have to hold the eyeball while turning the knurled part.

[PT20J]

2 hours ago, mooneyflyfast said:

You have to hold the eyeball while turning the knurled part.

I don't have to do that on mine after cleaning them.

[0TreeLemur]

Following @PT20J's suggestion, I used contact cleaner and a thin rag.  Wiped a bunch of gunk out of them.   Now they work fine.

[Slick Nick]

I'm gonna try mine in an ultrasonic cleaner for a bit. Should be able to get all the grot out of there.

[DContreras96]

18 hours ago, PeteMc said:

I'd stay away from WD-40 in most cases.  They say it is a lubricant, and it is sort of, but it's more of a solvent/lubricant that's great for getting stuck things to move.  But over time it will collect dust and gum things up.  Tri-Flow (which Mooney calls out for use in a number of places) is a usually a better option. 

 

Thank you.  I will give it a try.

[DContreras96]

22 hours ago, DCarlton said:

To me, Tri-Flow smells much better than anything else you can use in the cockpit and you can buy small cans.  I took mine out, cleaned it on the workbench, wiped off the lubricant and put it back in.  Works fine now.

Thank you.