Nose Gear Truss - M20J

[dcastor]

Took my (new to me) airplane in for an annual and the mechanic found a dent on my nose gear truss.  Apparently a common problem on Mooneys, but on removing it appears the nose gear truss is the improved LASAR version with stops, and it appears someone towed the airplane with a tug and broke the stop tab off and dented it.  So, not a repair I had planned on.

 

Just thought I'd share.

[Bennett]

All too common with Mooneys.  There are many articles and comments that have been previously discussed on this forum, and a bit of searching should turn them up. Bottom line: Never let a non Mooney savvy FBO tow your airplane.  

[Marauder]

Took my (new to me) airplane in for an annual and the mechanic found a dent on my nose gear truss. Apparently a common problem on Mooneys, but on removing it appears the nose gear truss is the improved LASAR version with stops, and it appears someone towed the airplane with a tug and broke the stop tab off and dented it. So, not a repair I had planned on. Just thought I'd share.

Bummer! I have the Lasar improved design as well. Thought that was supposed to be end of this problem. Thanks for sharing. What are they getting for them now?

[KSMooniac]

Even their greatly improved truss is no match for a determined line rat with a tug.  

 

Call LASAR and you might be able to swap with them for a modest cost... If not, I have a serviceable one from my salvage J for sale.

[LFOD]

Hey, I was in the hangar today and was talking to Dean about your aircraft. I am getting a Mooney next week and keeping it on the field.  That will make SEVEN Mooneys on KFLV.  We need to have a fly-in that doesnt require us to fly anywhere. 

 

Sorry to hear about your nose gear, you'll be up and running for the good weather soon. 

[dcastor]

For my '77 M20J cost from LASAR was $1K.  I expect to get some credit when I ship the broken one back but that amount probably depends on how much work it takes to get it back to airworthy.

 

Scott: I would have been interested, but didn't see your post until I'd already ordered a replacement from LASAR.  Thanks anyway!

 

LFOD: a fly-in with no flying sounds good to me   My Mooney will depart KFLV around Memorial Day weekend, so it will only be a few weeks that we'll have 7 on the field.

 

Dave

[Piloto]

To avoid denting the tubes I wrapped around them short pieces of thick rubber hoses. The hose is slit along the length and then wrapped around the tube. To hold it in place I used ty-wraps. I had this done 20 years ago and never had a problem with it. The hose material serves as a cushion preventing metal to metal contact thus denting. As per the picture, the stop welded at the structure never had a chance against a tow bar leverage. Even when hand towing, just make the lever ratio math.

 

José

[dcastor]

Just want to emphasize, I didn't mean to imply that my mechanic at KFLV caused the damage. It's clear the damage has been there for a while before I brought the plane to Kansas. Partly annoyed at mechanic that did pre-buy for not catching...this too was not the guys at KFLV.

[DonMuncy]

As for putting a hose around the truss where they come into contact, your plane must be different from mine. The space between them is VERY small. On mine, almost any thickness of hose would cut my turning angle in half.

[DonMuncy]

Maybe I spoke too quickly. Yes,the space is small, but perhaps as the nosegear turns, it compresses the hose, so the pressure required to keep turning it gets progressively greater. Maybe this is a good thing. If the required pressure gets too great, whoever is trying to overcome that pressure will desist. 

I started designing a system for detecting when the tow limit is exceeded. I originally tried using a very thin switch (about 3/16 inch)mounted between the contacting members. What I found was that it triggered almost the instant any turn was started. I ended up using a different method which triggers at the instant contact is made between those members.

[Piloto]

Maybe I spoke too quickly. Yes,the space is small, but perhaps as the nosegear turns, it compresses the hose, so the pressure required to keep turning it gets progressively greater. Maybe this is a good thing. If the required pressure gets too great, whoever is trying to overcome that pressure will desist. 

I started designing a system for detecting when the tow limit is exceeded. I originally tried using a very thin switch (about 3/16 inch)mounted between the contacting members. What I found was that it triggered almost the instant any turn was started. I ended up using a different method which triggers at the instant contact is made between those members.

You are very correct. You only need to put the hose on the back pair of tubing, not on both pairs. Never found a problem with turning radius either with the pedals or the tow bar.

 

José

[carusoam]

Dcastor,

That is a good point to go back to your PPI guy with. That is the purpose of paying for his expertise. Mooney knowledgable people know this one well.

Not saying to be abrupt with the individual, but he did cost you for a few bucks that you paid him to take care of....

See what he says?

Best regards,

-a-

[PTK]

Just want to emphasize, I didn't mean to imply that my mechanic at KFLV caused the damage. It's clear the damage has been there for a while before I brought the plane to Kansas. Partly annoyed at mechanic that did pre-buy for not catching...this too was not the guys at KFLV.

Who performed your pre purchase INSPECTION and was he awake or asleep?

[Cris]

Just tie wrap a couple of those little ketchup pkgs to the truss like Norm Smith the Mooney miser used to do. He knew exactly who had overturned the nose truss.

[201LK]

This was missed on my ppi as well. Mine is replaced with Lasar mod, but where do the hoses go? Are there photos with the hoses?

[FloridaMan]

Can you post another picture of the damage? I see the broken stop, but I can't see the dent. I have slight indentations on mine, but I think they're not out of spec.. Landmark at KRDU lost my business and I assured them that we will not be bringing the Gulfstream G550 there either. Apparently they missed the day of FBO training where they teach the line guys how important the guy who shows up in the piston single is, so I had to remind them.