Sabremech Posted February 3, 2013 Report Posted February 3, 2013 New manufacture Mooney landing gear preload inspection tools P/N's 8442 and 8444. $235 plus shipping for a set. E-mail david@vintageairworks.com or call 262-914-9589
duke Posted February 4, 2013 Report Posted February 4, 2013 G0t mine a few days ago---very pleased at the quality
rbridges Posted February 4, 2013 Report Posted February 4, 2013 The previous owner to my plane had them, so I bought them from him. I know they're for preload, but how are they used?
1964-M20E Posted February 4, 2013 Report Posted February 4, 2013 Rob You will need a dial indicating torque wrench with a memory needle I find is the best. They run $150 to $200 look in the service manual to get the torque range you need. A torsion bar torque wrench will work but you have to look at several things at one time to get r done. The click style wrenchs I have not figured out how to make them work for this.
Sabremech Posted February 5, 2013 Author Report Posted February 5, 2013 Here's a copy of the pages out of the maintenance manual describing the use of these tools.
Sabremech Posted February 7, 2013 Author Report Posted February 7, 2013 I just want to thank those customers who purchased these tools. I'd appreciate any feedback if you'd like to share it here. It's my goal to produce and sell quality tools at reasonable prices. Thanks again, David Staffeldt Vintage Airworks
Steve Campbell Posted May 31, 2020 Report Posted May 31, 2020 On 2/3/2013 at 3:30 PM, Sabremech said: New manufacture Mooney landing gear preload inspection tools P/N's 8442 and 8444. $235 plus shipping for a set. E-mail david@vintageairworks.com or call 262-914-9589 are these tools still available ?
Sabremech Posted May 31, 2020 Author Report Posted May 31, 2020 3 hours ago, Steve Campbell said: are these tools still available ? Hi Steve, I stopped making these tools last year. Thank you, David
hammdo Posted May 31, 2020 Report Posted May 31, 2020 Boy, glad I got mine... Lasar may have them. Might try there... -Don
kortopates Posted June 1, 2020 Report Posted June 1, 2020 they've always been available on Ebay.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
FloridaMan Posted June 5, 2020 Report Posted June 5, 2020 @Sabremech are there dimensioned mechanical drawings for these anywhere? I could possibly do a production run of these.
Sabremech Posted June 5, 2020 Author Report Posted June 5, 2020 8 hours ago, FloridaMan said: @Sabremech are there dimensioned mechanical drawings for these anywhere? I could possibly do a production run of these. I can see if I can get you a copy of my drawings. Not sure they will be 3D as I believe the parts were water or laser jet cut then welded. I’ll get back with you next week if ok?
Manual gear preload check Posted April 24, 2021 Report Posted April 24, 2021 I have a set of original Mooney manual gear preload tools if anyone is interested. $200 for both nose and main tools.
carusoam Posted April 24, 2021 Report Posted April 24, 2021 Welcome aboard Tim the Tool Man! Stand by... there is usually a good amount of interest in tools like these... It helps if you can post pics... Best regards, -a-
RJHank Posted August 13 Report Posted August 13 I had an original set of 8444 and 8442 tools that I had given to my I/A to check the downlock tension on my M20C during an annual check. When I got my plane back he gave me a different set of tools that had some of the paint wore off of them. To make a long story short, I went to do the check myself but the 8444 tool seemed to long for my gear. Do you have dimensions I could use to verify the authenticity of my tool? Inside length of where tool presses against landing gear to where the push up point is located? Basically the overall length of the tool. Thanks for any help. If you can, please send to rjhank@sbcglobal.net. Thanks.
Sabremech Posted August 16 Author Report Posted August 16 On 8/13/2025 at 3:18 PM, RJHank said: I had an original set of 8444 and 8442 tools that I had given to my I/A to check the downlock tension on my M20C during an annual check. When I got my plane back he gave me a different set of tools that had some of the paint wore off of them. To make a long story short, I went to do the check myself but the 8444 tool seemed to long for my gear. Do you have dimensions I could use to verify the authenticity of my tool? Inside length of where tool presses against landing gear to where the push up point is located? Basically the overall length of the tool. Thanks for any help. If you can, please send to rjhank@sbcglobal.net. Thanks. I can get that for you. David
KeithN92KD Posted September 19 Report Posted September 19 NEW BUILD of 8444/8442 tool We have available new skeletonized Aluminum gear preload tools. No rust, chipped paint and light. The torgue for preload on the vintage Mooney is called out as 280/130 max inlbs. That screamed overbuild at the original steel tool. See if you agree. $145.00 for the pair, free shipping in the States. Just trying to reduce the cost of keeping our old Mooney flying. Email keithn92kd@gmail.com 2
Igor_U Posted Monday at 02:28 AM Report Posted Monday at 02:28 AM Keith, Who made these? Why is the MLG tool different then original? I see the square hole for the wrench is rotated 45deg which, in my view changes the applied torque and the measured value is not correct anymore. Regards.
kortopates Posted Monday at 02:44 AM Report Posted Monday at 02:44 AM 8 minutes ago, Igor_U said: Keith, Who made these? Why is the MLG tool different then original? I see the square hole for the wrench is rotated 45deg which, in my view changes the applied torque and the measured value is not correct anymore. Regards. These are all knock off's. I don't believe you can but factory made gear tools anymore, only used original ones. Even the one that LASAR sells are knock off's. The angle pictured here does match the factory original but a different angle doesn't affect the torque but it may allow a longer arm wrench to be used without interfering with an inner gear door. Mine just barely clears the inner door but coming straight out makes it easier to pull the desired load IMO - so I prefer this orientation. 1
KeithN92KD Posted Monday at 10:34 AM Report Posted Monday at 10:34 AM See my story of the Johnson Bar failure in Safety discussion. I concluded too much preload may have contributed to the failure but couldn't get my hands on the tools. I worked with a local fabricator from a template I had, to make a set. It was quickly apparent the original steel tools with welded up stiffeners was wildly over-built for the load applied. I simplified the tools, changed to aluminum and even skeletonized to greatly reduce the weight and welding, therefore cost. The previous comment is correct, clocking the torque wrench square will not effect the torque applied. It didn't occur to me a non-ratcheting wrench might be used. I also think the 1/2" ratchet should be changed to 3/8" more appropriate to the load and torque wrench size. I wouldn't have to use an adapter.
Sabremech Posted Tuesday at 12:05 PM Author Report Posted Tuesday at 12:05 PM On 9/22/2025 at 5:34 AM, KeithN92KD said: See my story of the Johnson Bar failure in Safety discussion. I concluded too much preload may have contributed to the failure but couldn't get my hands on the tools. I worked with a local fabricator from a template I had, to make a set. It was quickly apparent the original steel tools with welded up stiffeners was wildly over-built for the load applied. I simplified the tools, changed to aluminum and even skeletonized to greatly reduce the weight and welding, therefore cost. The previous comment is correct, clocking the torque wrench square will not effect the torque applied. It didn't occur to me a non-ratcheting wrench might be used. I also think the 1/2" ratchet should be changed to 3/8" more appropriate to the load and torque wrench size. I wouldn't have to use an adapter. I think it would have been a better idea to start your own thread than put this on mine. Just so happens I still make and sell the duplicate of the original Mooney tool. Thanks, David
KeithN92KD Posted Wednesday at 05:35 PM Report Posted Wednesday at 05:35 PM On 5/31/2020 at 3:01 PM, Sabremech said: Hi Steve, I stopped making these tools last year. Thank you, David I apologize, had read this post, Lazarus was out of stock and thought new was dead ends so posted a different cheaper version in case someone was like me, had the need but couldn't find.
Sabremech Posted Wednesday at 06:04 PM Author Report Posted Wednesday at 06:04 PM 28 minutes ago, KeithN92KD said: I apologize, had read this post, Lazarus was out of stock and thought new was dead ends so posted a different cheaper version in case someone was like me, had the need but couldn't find. Hello KiethN92KD, Appreciate the reply. Internet or forum searches don’t always find what we want, including me making the tools again because LASAR can’t get their act together. I’m sorry you couldn’t find my tools. Your nose tool looks fine but that main tool is lacking in the contact surfaces needed to hold the tool in place and get accurate torque readings. Having used these tools for 15 years now, the weight of the steel for the main tool makes it easier to hold and get accurate torque readings. Just my honest thoughts for improving your tooling. Thanks, David
KeithN92KD Posted Thursday at 10:43 AM Report Posted Thursday at 10:43 AM Thanks, these tools are lighter, cheaper and easy to mail. Users do have to understand torque. As long as the torque wrench is measuring in the plane of the link movement it is applied torque. In fact, this could be one tool but I thought that might be a step too far... I thought there must be another use for the overbuild design of the original tools, but my IA of 45yrs experience said nope, didn't know of it. Maybe you know?
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