Getting my first Mooney!

[Freddb34]

It's finally happening!  I'm getting my first Mooney, a 1964 M20E.  This will be the fourth, and hopefully, final aircraft I will ever purchase (a Piper Colt and 2 Cherokee 140's).   Very excited to be a part of this community.  It's fairly low time, 450SMOH on the I0-360, GPS WAAS equipped with an Avidyne 440 and King KX-155.  It has an engine analyzer, recently replaced bladders in the wing tanks, and ADSB-Out. Even the Mooney PC control works!  Really needed something to get from RI and SWFL to the Charleston SC area to see my new grandson and this fits the bill perfectly.  The only issue I'm running into is that J-bar gear control.  I can get it out of the "Down" position but getting it back up and in has proven to be a pain, literally (bad rotator cuff in the right shoulder.)  I'm sure I'll get it sorted.  Wanted to say hi to everyone at MooneySpace and looking forward to many discussions!  Thanks!

[Paul Thomas]

Welcome. I don't have a J bar but based on everything I've read, if you slow the airplane, it makes a huge difference in the amount of force needed. I believe that's even more so on retraction. The amount of gear preload makes a difference on how easy is it to move the gear; that should be checked if it's difficult to move.

If it continues to be a pain, it may be easier to fly right seat.

[Greg_D]

31 minutes ago, Paul Thomas said:

Welcome. I don't have a J bar but based on everything I've read, if you slow the airplane, it makes a huge difference in the amount of force needed. I believe that's even more so on retraction. The amount of gear preload makes a difference on how easy is it to move the gear; that should be checked if it's difficult to move.

If it continues to be a pain, it may be easier to fly right seat.

Not very many of these older Mooneys that have brakes on the right side...

[Freddb34]

4 minutes ago, Greg_D said:

Not very many of these older Mooneys that have brakes on the right side...

I don't believe the one I'm getting does.  I know it's more technique than strength...I just need to get that system down.  

[cliffy]

To get that last "push" into the  gear down position make sure you are not trying to crush the leather boot 

at the bottom of the Johnson bar. It can get bunched up between the handle and the nose ger well.

Also if you have thick carpet on the nose gear well between the bar the the well that can cause difficulty

in getting the gear to lock down. 

As mentioned - gear rigging and over center torque may need to be checked also along with a real good

lubrication of the gear. 

I have a metal shoulder and I can get it up and down with a little finesse.  Gear going up -a slight push on the control wheel to help reduce the load really helps. Going down really seems no problem for me.  

Don't forget to pay attention to the Mooney  specific AD for gear rigging check and lubrication every annual OR 100 HRS flight time.  Both are limiting. 

Enjoy the Mooney You'll have fun with it.

[AndreiC]

As a fellow Cherokee-to-short body Mooney, take your time with an instructor to perfect your landings. After 15+ years in the Cherokee, it took me several months to get used to the short throw of the controls on the M.  It also really helps to say to yourself “pull on the yoke, pull on the yoke” as long as the nosewheel is up; don’t let it slam down. 

[Fly Boomer]

53 minutes ago, Freddb34 said:

This will be the fourth, and hopefully, final aircraft I will ever purchase (a Piper Colt and 2 Cherokee 140's).

I think your new ride will outrun your previous Pipers.

[Fritz1]

welcome aboard, probably best to jack it up, check the gear rigging, lube all the zerk fittings and practice retraction, gear doors may be rigged too tight, if that is the only issue the new bird has you are a lucky SOB

[Freddb34]

15 minutes ago, Fritz1 said:

welcome aboard, probably best to jack it up, check the gear rigging, lube all the zerk fittings and practice retraction, gear doors may be rigged too tight, if that is the only issue the new bird has you are a lucky SOB

I'm having the pre buy done here shortly.  I really hope I can get into the plane while it's on the ground and work the gear a few times just to get the feel of it.  Appreciate the warm welcome guys!  This is going to be great. 

[Freddb34]

32 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

I think your new ride will outrun your previous Pipers.

I'm really looking forward the extra speed.  Getting to see my grandson more than just once or twice a year as I passed thru in my Cherokee is the main driver for getting it.

[Flyler]

Do yourself a favor and have someone who is *knowledgeable and experienced* about Mooney gear check the rigging.

[hammdo]

Working the gear in the air vs ground is not the same — the forces are different for sure…

Just a heads up…

-Don

[Freddb34]

On 9/17/2025 at 2:14 PM, AndreiC said:

As a fellow Cherokee-to-short body Mooney, take your time with an instructor to perfect your landings. After 15+ years in the Cherokee, it took me several months to get used to the short throw of the controls on the M.  It also really helps to say to yourself “pull on the yoke, pull on the yoke” as long as the nosewheel is up; don’t let it slam down. 

Thank you!  The first time I flew it, my buddy (the seller) was in the right seat.  As soon as I was on downwind with the gear down and flaps out, he said "It's just a Cherokee....a really fast Cherokee!"  I actually got it down and stopped in the same distance he demonstrated for me.  I even got an "eyebrow raise" getting stopped so well!  I do know that it's going to take a few hours to get everything down (no pun intended) pat, but really looking forward to this next step in my airplane ownership journey!

[Hank]

1 hour ago, Freddb34 said:

Thank you!  The first time I flew it, my buddy (the seller) was in the right seat.  As soon as I was on downwind with the gear down and flaps out, he said "It's just a Cherokee....a really fast Cherokee!"  I actually got it down and stopped in the same distance he demonstrated for me.  I even got an "eyebrow raise" getting stopped so well!  I do know that it's going to take a few hours to get everything down (no pun intended) pat, but really looking forward to this next step in my airplane ownership journey!

The first time I took a Piper pilot to ride, we were on final over the trees about 1/4 mile from the displaced threshold and I pulled the throttle to idle. His head spun toward me, then looked back out front. As I taxied clear of the runway (3000' long minus abiut 10% for the displacement, only one exit 2000' from that end), he looked at me wide-eyed and said, if I'd pulled the throttle in my Cherokee when you did, I'd have gone down in the trees. But in your plane, nothing happened!

You're gonna like your new Mooney! It's the same as mine, but you have 20 more hp.

[kortopates]

4 minutes ago, Hank said:

The first time I took a Piper pilot to ride, we were on final over the trees about 1/4 mile from the displaced threshold and I pulled the throttle to idle. His head spun toward me, then looked back out front. As I taxied clear of the runway (3000' long minus abiut 10% for the displacement, only one exit 2000' from that end), he looked at me wide-eyed and said, if I'd pulled the throttle in my Cherokee when you did, I'd have gone down in the trees. But in your plane, nothing happened!

You're gonna like your new Mooney! It's the same as mine, but you have 20 more hp.

True, the Arrow has a glide range with gear and flaps out about the same as a brick!

[Hank]

4 minutes ago, kortopates said:

True, the Arrow has a glide range with gear and flaps out about the same as a brick!

I've always heard it described as "has the glide ratio of a sewer lid," but "like a brick" is gentler. 

[Ibra]

20 minutes ago, kortopates said:

the Arrow has a glide range with gear and flaps out about the same as a brick!

Follow the brick 

[C.J.]

On 9/17/2025 at 1:24 PM, Freddb34 said:

It's finally happening!  I'm getting my first Mooney, a 1964 M20E.  This will be the fourth, and hopefully, final aircraft I will ever purchase.

Congrarulations. When you can, post some photos.