Need a Landing Light Split Rocker Switch

[Raptortail]

I didn't even see it happen, but apparently I broke off the bottom half of the left landing light rocker switch.  I've called all the usual suspects (Lasar, BAS, TX Air Salvage, Loren’s Mooney salvage, Wentworth, Dodson, Air Salvage of Dallas) but haven't been able to find one.  Does anyone have a lead on part # 880052-521?

 

[Fritz1]

That is aggravating, simplest stuff cannot be found, call Maxwell, he may know something, after that maybe find generic switch that carries the amperage, have engraved and fill the engraved letters with black epoxy, sand and clear coat

[PilotX]

We had the alt field switch break the exact same way. I turned it off and now it won’t turn back on. On the hunt for a switch. Guess it will be right ALT only for a bit.

[Raistlin]

4 hours ago, PilotX said:

We had the alt field switch break the exact same way. I turned it off and now it won’t turn back on. On the hunt for a switch. Guess it will be right ALT only for a bit.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I just had the exact same issue (only BOTH switches broke… in the off position, grounding the plane, just my luck) and through LASAR I found exactly ONE (1) available at Mooney.

[PeteMc]

@AH-1 Cobra Pilot was making and selling rocker switch covers.  Not sure if he sill is or if he has that particular one or not.  

 

[AH-1 Cobra Pilot]

46 minutes ago, PeteMc said:

@AH-1 Cobra Pilot was making and selling rocker switch covers.  Not sure if he sill is or if he has that particular one or not.  

 

I do, but I have never made any of the 1/2-width variety.

PM me if you are really, really wanting replacements.

[rocketman]

The best way is to print one yourself on a 3-D Printer or hire someone to do it for you. You can google that information. I do not think that the rocker switch cover would need to be an FAA approved part. I have been toying the idea about buying the Burma Labs X-1C Carbon printer but it would take a while to get up to speed to custom make parts. 

[PilotX]

I think we are going to close the circuit and use the CB to work ours. The unobtanium is real.

[Raptortail]

@PilotX, that's a good thought to close the circuit and use the CB to turn it on and off.  My other thought was to wire it to the Taxi light switch since the Taxi and Landing lights are right next to each other on both wings anyway and I usually always turn them both on at night, rarely separately.  Otherwise, since a landing light is required equipment to fly at night and the taxi light isn't, I could wire the landing light to the taxi light switch and not wire up the taxi lights at all.  

The unobtainable is definitely real!

[PilotX]

Repurposing a switch is a great idea. I don’t ever turn on one taxi light or one landing light.

[PilotX]

Just spoke with Robert at Lasar (bad connection but I think he said he was the previous owner) they are trying to get the authority from Mooney to order Mooney parts. Mooney isn't ordering anything and so we seen the no-back spring process and expense. He said there is a significant upfront cost with ordering parts for Mooney. I have a message out to Frank at Mooney to see what the approved fix is since we can't get parts and they aren't ordering any.

[PilotX]

From Frank at Mooney: 

There is no fix of these switches, the only approved “fix” is to place an order with LASAR for Mooney to buy them, shows Service Parts ordered 3 in 2024, but sold them.

I was seeking a work around since there are no parts. Seems we are at an impasse. Found two way switch at BAS but it is for lights, six prongs instead of four in the alt field switch. Certain we can make it work. Frustrating that we can't get parts and LASAR can't afford to order 10 of everything one person needs to keep the fleet going.

[Slick Nick]

I think I might be able to grab you the split landing/ taxi light switches let me do some digging around. They’d be for an MSE but should be the same. 28V. 

Edited February 20 by Slick Nick

[Raptortail]

@Slick NickThat would be great if you have them.  Let me know what you find.

[Pinecone]

On 2/8/2025 at 3:16 PM, rocketman said:

The best way is to print one yourself on a 3-D Printer or hire someone to do it for you. You can google that information. I do not think that the rocker switch cover would need to be an FAA approved part. I have been toying the idea about buying the Burma Labs X-1C Carbon printer but it would take a while to get up to speed to custom make parts. 

And there are already at last two people already doing it for a small market.   And you would need to get unbroken switches, do the CAD work, then make test ones and try them out, then go into production.   I supplied the print file for @AH-1 Cobra Pilot to make one type of the switch covers.  He was making one.  I got a pristine one from someone here on MS, had a friend CAD and make a print file.  Make test pieces, and had a few people test them, then turned the print file over to AH-1, and then tested his first couple of complete (labeled) covers.

He prints them in black, then sands and paints them white, then laser engraves the label and, I think, he then clear coats.

NOW, if you are using it for an excuse to buy a new toy, GO for it.

 

[PilotX]

I received a six prong anti-collision light switch will test it and see if works. Since I don't have the specs it is a guessing game at this point.

[PilotX]

Ok managed to get the L Alt Field switch on with some delicate surgery and a pair of needle nose pliers and put yellow collars on the CBs. Looks like the switches are easy enough to get to if I pull out the G3X. I don't have avionics hands or arms so I took pictures to develop the plan of actions. Thinking of swapping it out temporarily to see if we can get some 3D printed. Looking through the logbook, this switch lasted 10 years or so.