Jump to content

AOG in Leesburg FL, Bahamas at risk, looking for mag help asap! Florida area advice needed!

Becca

By Becca
in Modern Mooney Discussion

 Share

Recommended Posts

Becca Experienced

Becca

Posted
Posted

So, you may have read Byron's posts about replacing the slick mags on our new engine with bendix mags.

Fast forward 5 hrs of operation on our new, fresh overhauled mags later - its a Kelly factory overhauled magneto. Our partner flew the plane, and noticed 100 RPM mag drop. I took off today for south Florida and it dropped near 200 rpm. The wind was gusting like crazy and Byron brushed it off, because it wasn't rough. 5 hrs of flying later, we are in Leesburg, FL, no problems flying all the way. Put in really cheap gas ($4.40/gal), and its Byron's leg to fly.

Run up the engine - BANG. Clearly the internal mag timing is retarded badly, the mags are bad in some way. We checked to see if it was tight, its tight. The plane is unflyable (its not like flying on one mag is an option, because the other mag is running, just badly and with bangs).

So, hoping this community can you help us with the following:

1. Anyone have experience with the local A&P's at the Leesburg airport? Thoughts (good and bad)? We are also ok with "pickup bed" truck mechanics in the area, if you know someone reputable. We're confident working on our own airplane, but this is not something we can't do without at least some A&P assistance (at minimum, tools!)

2. Anyone know of a good mag shop near Leesburg, or anywhere in the great state of Florida?

3. A follow on of the above - anyone know where we can buy a new mag asap in Florida (faster than overnight shipping options)?

4. Most likely I can't see how we are going to make Staniel Cay, Bahamas tomorrow night as planned. I don't want to cancel our entire 4 night reservation yet. That said, they charge us the first night's stay for a cancellation. Anyway, I am open to offers if anyone wants "buy" (even at a discount?) the first night from us on last minute's notice tomorrow, maybe the second night too if anyone has that kind of flexibility in their life. I wish it were possible to invert our trip and go to the Bahamas after Christmas if we can't make this work out before, but I can't find any places with vacancy (nice places with an airport near by), but if you have any suggestions on a place, we're taking those too. All options are on the table.

5. What options are we not thinking about?

Not really into the joys of GA right now, but trying to remind myself that in 2 years and 300 hrs traveling in this plane, this is the first time our travel has been disrupted (unless you count not being able to go to Oshkosh because we needed an overhaul this summer...)

David Mazer Mentor

David Mazer

Posted
Posted

You might try Russel Brown. He is located at KLEE and may be able to help. His number is 352-516-8616. He is competent and honest. Even if he can't help you, he should be able to tell you who could. Also, you are close enough to Orlando that you might be able to drive in (45 min) to ORL to pick up a part if it is available.

David Mazer Mentor

David Mazer

Posted
Posted

Oh, do you need a place to stay? I'm sorry. I didn't think about that. We are also about 45 min from KLEE if you need a place to stay. Let me know.

jetdriven Grand Master

jetdriven

Posted
Posted

The internal timing of the mag is badly retarded or the coil may have failed. Either way it has to come off.

To think I pulled the Slick mags off after hearing numerous reports of them randomly failing, and the fact Parker was shut down in Tennessee for a Slick failure.

On the plus side, we were still getting 145 knots on 8 GPH on one magneto.

N601RX Grand Master

N601RX

Posted
Posted

Zephers may be your best bet at getting something tomorrow morning. They are not very for away. Charley is on beechtalk, he might answer a pm tonight.

fantom Grand Master

fantom

Posted
Posted

Sorry to hear about your mag issue.

I don't know of a good source at KLEE. There is a good avionics shop there.

Another option is Phil Jimenez, who many of us have had good service from. He knows Mooneys, is reasonable, honest, and isn't too far away, at Avon Park. Get to him early say 6:30 am. Work # is 863-453-5046.

Good luck!

Steve65E-NC Proficient

Steve65E-NC

Posted
Posted

Try Kevin Walker 407-361-2058 who runs a maintenance facility at nearby Ormand Beach. He is a former Mooney dealer. I know he has a good mag shop (Maxwell Magneto 1-800-255-5805) on the line. Tell Kevin that Steve in Hickory recommended him.

flyboy0681 Grand Master

flyboy0681

Posted
Posted

Sorry to hear about your mag issue.

I don't know of a good source at KLEE. There is a good avionics shop there.

Another option is Phil Jimenez, who many of us have had good service from. He knows Mooneys, is reasonable, honest, and isn't too far away, at Avon Park. Get to him early say 6:30 am. Work # is 863-453-5046.

Good luck!

Good thing about Phil is that he comes to you.

jetdriven Grand Master

jetdriven

Posted
Posted

Wasn't this a factory new engine, straight out of the box from Lycoming, less than 5 months ago?

Yes, a 90 hour factory engine. I removed the Slick mags 8 hours ago and put in a set of Bendix magnetos. The repaired mag is going back on now, the points went bad, we think.

Parker_Woodruff Grand Master

Parker_Woodruff

Posted
Posted

Yes, a 90 hour factory engine. I removed the Slick mags 8 hours ago and put in a set of Bendix magnetos. The repaired mag is going back on now, the points went bad, we think.

Let us know how it goes. My phone # is on my facebook if you need help while you're out here. Any chance you can make it through LAL on the way back with gas at $5.04 Self serve or ZPH is $4.65? Would love to meet up.

thinwing Grand Master

thinwing

Posted
Posted

hey look at it this way..the mag could have failed at staniel cay or even worse while enroute leading to an extreme case of automatic rough..hope the rest of trip pans out

fantom Grand Master

fantom

Posted
Posted

Who did you guys wind up using to help sign off? ;)

Are you stopping off down here to visit Mama before heading to the Bahamas? If so, ring me up!

jetdriven Grand Master

jetdriven

Posted
Posted

Alright, we did make it out of Leesburg at 12:40 PM. An Iraq war veteran helicopter mechanic (and a saint ) named Derek (who works for sam) got the right mag off in no time and opened it up tio find the points stuck closed. No kidding. The mag wasn't firing one bit. We had the plane in the hangar at 8:30 AM and rolled it out at 12:15, fixed. 1500 feet at 83% power (LOP) for an hour to Boca, then 20 mins on the ground at Boca and 1:40 to North Eleuthra. 30 more minutes down the island chain to Staniel Cay, beautiful, landed right after sunset. Becca was a little spooked as she rolled out past the crashed 402 in the ditch about midfield down the runway. Mags dont fail me now. It ran fine. We are fixing to go have a Kalik here at Staniel Cay and enjoy the evening. Thanks for all the help and advice. Any time you are in Houston, look us up!

N601RX Grand Master

N601RX

Posted
Posted

I work in the same city (Montgomery) that Hartzell has their repair station and manufacturing faculity in. They are continually advertising for engineers. The qualifications begains with something like 1. Be able to come in and within 6 months identify the 5 most serious product defects and warrenty issues.

I have no interest.

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
 Share
Go to topic listing
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.