**UPDATE** 40:1 Actuator Gearsets (LASAR)

[Matthew P]

Received an email from LASAR this morning, they are working with a few vendors trying to get the lead-times down and have created a "Waitlist." Once they get a firm (reasonable) lead-time they will start reaching out to those on their waitlist for orders/deposits. As of this morning, they still do not have an approximate price for the gearsets, won't know until they lock-in a vendor. (LASAR did not give a timeline as to when they might be reaching out to those on the waitlist.)

IF you would like to be placed on their waitlist, email Sales@lasar.com with the qty you are requesting.

Looks like there will be a secondary vendor option at some point as an individual, already making gearsets for other aircraft, is looking to make the 40:1 gearsets as well, he already has a few items PMA'd and working to do the same with the 40:1 gearsets, the good thing is, he's the vendor and a Mooney Owner, more info as it becomes available, but it will be good to have a little competition for LASAR to hopefully keep pricing relatively reasonable.

 

But for now, if you are interested, reach out to LASAR and get your name on the list.

 

V/r

 

matt

[Rmfriday]

thank you for all the work you have done on this!!

 

[EricJ]

1 hour ago, Matthew P said:

Looks like there will be a secondary vendor option at some point as an individual, already making gearsets for other aircraft, is looking to make the 40:1 gearsets as well, he already has a few items PMA'd and working to do the same with the 40:1 gearsets, the good thing is, he's the vendor and a Mooney Owner, more info as it becomes available, but it will be good to have a little competition for LASAR to hopefully keep pricing relatively reasonable.

That sounds very promising.   Thanks for the effort on this.

[Echo]

Ya, gonna be great seeing that the gear was over a grand in 2008.  Right there with the no back spring would be my guess.  Great thread about coughing up that money for an SB that may or may not be a problem.  Likely 1.5 years to get and bend over.  Ya, definitely gonna be great.

Edited September 5 by Echo

[Jsno]

I just bought a used gear set in excellent condition for $140.00.  It is the 20:1.  My M20F has 5000 hours and the gear is still in great shape, so with the spare I think it will last longer than me.  The key is to lube them with the proper grease frequently.

[Matthew P]

9 hours ago, Echo said:

Ya, gonna be great seeing that the gear was over a grand in 2008.  Right there with the no back spring would be my guess.  Great thread about coughing up that money for an SB that may or may not be a problem.  Likely 1.5 years to get and bend over.  Ya, definitely gonna be great.

Atleast it will be an option and even if the cost of the backspring, still a cheaper option than we currently have..that's why I'm hoping there is going to ve another vendor stepping up.

[Echo]

2 hours ago, Matthew P said:

Atleast it will be an option and even if the cost of the backspring, still a cheaper option than we currently have..that's why I'm hoping there is going to ve another vendor stepping up.

Like Jsno above I sourced a gear that will take me to the end of my flying career.  I too hold out hope that there will be competition and the price for the 40:1 gear will not be $2k for future Mooney owners.

[Matthew P]

1 hour ago, Echo said:

Like Jsno above I sourced a gear that will take me to the end of my flying career.  I too hold out hope that there will be competition and the price for the 40:1 gear will not be $2k for future Mooney owners.

Same here, even though I have a spare 20:1 it's important that others have choices and can keep their aircraft flying for years to come. And not having to face the possibility of ending up AOG every 200hr inspection.

Edited September 5 by Matthew P

[Ragsf15e]

Even 2k doesn’t seem bad for a part to keep a ~80k airplane going another 25 years.

[1980Mooney]

3 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

Even 2k doesn’t seem bad for a part to keep a ~80k airplane going another 25 years.

But isn't that the logic that Arcline Private Equity/Hartzell, Vance Capital/McFarlane, Tempest, etc or Extant Aerospace uses to "value price" (i.e. jack up prices) today?  They look at it and say - "if $2K doesn't seem bad then let's raise it to $3 or $4 K.....It might smart a little but it keeps their $100K planes going another 25 years...."

[Ragsf15e]

1 minute ago, 1980Mooney said:

But isn't that the logic that Arcline Private Equity/Hartzell, Vance Capital/McFarlane, Tempest, etc or Extant Aerospace uses to "value price" (i.e. jack up prices) today?  They look at it and say - "if $2K doesn't seem bad then let's raise it to $3 or $4 K.....It might smart a little but it keeps their $100K planes going another 25 years...."

Possibly, however if another company/person can fill the parts with an stc or pma and make money at a lower price, then they will.  Or at least that’s the assumption our markets are based on.

[1980Mooney]

Just now, Ragsf15e said:

Possibly, however if another company/person can fill the parts with an stc or pma and make money at a lower price, then they will.  Or at least that’s the assumption our markets are based on.

Except our market is so small and probably most importantly our market is not growing - it is stagnant at best and probably shrinking.  So no-one does enter.  And the PE firms keep consolidating those still standing.  PE is doing the same to the FBO's.

[Ragsf15e]

2 hours ago, 1980Mooney said:

Except our market is so small and probably most importantly our market is not growing - it is stagnant at best and probably shrinking.  So no-one does enter.  And the PE firms keep consolidating those still standing.  PE is doing the same to the FBO's.

All true, and it’s not good for ga, I agree.  However, if nobody else can enter the market and charge a lower price, then they must be charging the “right” price.  We can complain, but what is the solution?  Price fixing won’t work either.  If it gets high enough, someone will enter unless ga is dead by then.

[jetdriven]

you are underestimating the barriers to entry

[dvictory]

On 9/5/2025 at 2:40 AM, Jsno said:

I just bought a used gear set in excellent condition for $140.00.  It is the 20:1.  My M20F has 5000 hours and the gear is still in great shape, so with the spare I think it will last longer than me.  The key is to lube them with the proper grease frequently.

I'm looking for a "new" set (to me)..where did you find a used set?  Thanks in advance for the response

[Matthew P]

3 hours ago, dvictory said:

I'm looking for a "new" set (to me)..where did you find a used set?  Thanks in advance for the response

I found a guy on marketplace that had a set from 15 years ago...call Don Maxwell, he seems to be able to find them for people until LASAR gets something figured out..

[Jsno]

8 hours ago, dvictory said:

I'm looking for a "new" set (to me)..where did you find a used set?  Thanks in advance for the response

EBAY

[OneSaltyItalian]

Any further news on this?  My annual barely passed the AD this year and I know my time is limited.  I joined the Waitlist but Lasar said they still don't know when I asked.

 

Jake

[Matthew P]

On 11/21/2025 at 2:40 PM, OneSaltyItalian said:

Any further news on this?  My annual barely passed the AD this year and I know my time is limited.  I joined the Waitlist but Lasar said they still don't know when I asked.

 

Jake

Just have to call Lasar back and ask how many more individuals they need before running a batch, they initially said they need 50, figure with the MSCs and individuals wanting/needing them that they would have 50 by now.

 

[Rmfriday]

I emailed them to get on the list, willing to put a deposit down… hoping to hear back soon

 

[Matthew P]

I'd go ahead and give them a call