Fuel Selector siezed!

[kmyfm20s]

After landing this morning and shutting down I was swithing my tank from the right tank to the off position.  Just before where I would normally feel it hit the left tank the selector siezed, rock hard. I tried moving it back the right position and no luck, wouldn't move. I thank God it didn't happen in the air!! I can't believe how bad it is with very little increase in resistance or indication before it reached the point of siezing.  If I was in the air I would have had no option but to try to move it with the possiblity of breaking the handle or valve. Since I landed at a field with a mechanic I did not force it to the point of breaking and will have him look at it. I talked to my MSC mechanic at my home field (KMYF) and he says he has never had this happen on a Mooney(82J) just some early model Cessnas. He wants me to get the selector back to one tank and bring back to send it out for an overhaul. Luckily I am a only a 2.5hr drive home if this mechanic at KREI cant get it unsiezed.

 

Has anyone had this happen?

 

Karson

[KSMooniac]

Call LASAR before you do anything.  They can rebuild them, and might have some advice to get it un-seized before you do any further damage.

[jetdriven]

If yours is a '77 or early '78, one of the 4 screws that holds it to the floor might have backed out. That or something fell in the well and got jammed under the lever. There is not much clearance there, so, as a preflight precaution, I inspect that area carefully and cycle the valve. Once I found a #4 trim screw in there.

[kmyfm20s]

It's an 82J, I'm hoping I can run out to the fieldover lunch and take a look at the trim and screws. It just find it hard to believe it is the valve itself.

[jetdriven]

See if you can run something under the fuel selector lever to find if there is a screw jammed under it. If not, then force it. If it breaks, it needed replacing anyways.

 

Just kidding, don't do that.  But do report your findings, thats some serious stuff.

[ELT]

Have not had the jammed selector in a "J" but I landed a "C" in a field due to the selector jamming in OFF. Mooney fuel selectors have jammed.

Eddie

[The-sky-captain]

I agree with Byron. I had the same thing happen to me mid flight about 3/4 of the way between selections. It turned out to be a small pebble lodged in between the lever and the selector plate. Hopefully the fix will be as simple as this.

[kmyfm20s]

Went to the plane at lunch. No trim or screws stuck under the handle. The Local mechanic had managed to move the handle into it Left tank position. We did a full power runup and fuel preasure and fuel flows where normal, he said he hasn't seen one this frozen before.  I will update you all on what the MSC on my home field find out.

[tomn]

Jerry Manthey in his maintenance trianing seminars recommends placing a couple of drops of non-detergent oil on the shaft of the fuel selector each year at annual or shorter timeframe - not sure right now as I write this. This is supposed to keed the shaft lubricated as it wicks down.

[The-sky-captain]

Jerry Manthey in his maintenance trianing seminars recommends placing a couple of drops of non-detergent oil on the shaft of the fuel selector each year at annual or shorter timeframe - not sure right now as I write this. This is supposed to keed the shaft lubricated as it wicks down.

Would Tri-Flow work? I use it to keep the O rings in my gas caps lubed between annuals as well as various other areas on th e Mooney.

[bumper]

Either Tri-Flow or Super Lube spray will work fine . . . probably better than mineral oil, as they both have a thinner/carrier that evaporates after assisting the lubricant in penetrating.

 

bumper

[wrench]

On my 78j 2200.00 and four month turn around fixed it with a new valve. Call Lazar.