Couple of problems

[MikeB]

(1)Anyone have a sure fire method of removing 100LL fuel stains from the nice new polyurathane paint on my L16? Apparently either the the line boy splashed some when filling my wing tank or some seeped out of the fuel cap vents when flying. Anything I've tried won't touch it.

(2) While I haven't verified it yet, I think the airframe on my L16 may be magnatized as my compess seems to be stuck near the "S" indicator. Possible might be a metal part in the dash but I'm starting to doubt it (haven't pulled the compass yet). I couldn't remember ever welding anything on the airframe with a TIG welder as we welded in all the lower longerons, etc. by gas (the old way). Then I remembered that the fire wall brace tubes were probably TIG welded as I had someone else do it previous to working on the longerons so I suspect they didn't keep the ground close to the weld spot.
I've read previous posting on the 'search function' on this site but if someone else has more ideas I'd be glad to listen.

Other than the above everything else seems to be working fine. I have about 6 hours on the bird now.

Thanks,

Mike

[MikeB]

After thinking about it a bit, I wonder if using the airframe for a ground along with a starting system might have been a factor, if in fact the frame is magnatized. On the other hand, where else would you ground it (?) and my old Cherokee used the airframe for ground with no problems that I was aware of.
mike

[MikeB]

OK! After trying a different compass, etc. I've come to the conclusion that my airframe is magnitized. Doesn't make any difference where I go it always reads toward the south. Not a big deal with my GPS but I need a reliable compass (just in case). As I posted previously it probably happened when the fuselage brace tubes were TIG welded in (by someone else, I might add) or it may have been like that for a long time. Everything else was gas welded. How does one go about 'degassing' (spelling??) this thing? I suspect it's necessary to remove the compass and the tach but how about the mags and the starter which also have permenant magnets.? This is new territory for me so any insight is appreciated. I did look at some of the previous posts on the 'search function' and there were a couple of posts.

By the way: this thing is a 'rocket' with the 0200 engine .
Thanks,
Mike

[Paul Agaliotis]

Mike,
The Mooney's had a similar problem. If you have a service center near by they might be able to steer you in the right direction.
Paul

[WWhunter]

Mike,

I have read that a person can use 100LL on a rag to remove the blue stains from 100LL. Yep, that is what I read. I had similar stains and it worked. For Mogas I have used the aircraft specific Simple Green. Spray it on and it almost instantly disolves the rust colored stains that mogas leaves.

As for the compass.....well maybe it is trying to tell you something. By chance was this compass from a salvaged southern plane? Winter is coming and it wants to go south.
Seriously though I am having a problem with the compass in the RANS S-7 I just bought. The plane hadn't been flown for 11+ years and even though the plane was hangared all this time I think the compass took a "set" since it doesn't swing correctly. I removed it and tried it away from the plane. It does the same as yours....wants to point in a southerly direction. I can turn it 360 degrees and it will not point anywheres near north. Always wants to point towards the south.

Good Luck

[MikeB]

Keith,
With my compass it always reads toward the south when I have it installed in the dash. If I remove it and take it outside the hangar it pretty much reads correct. Also, this compass came out of my Champ (where it worked ok) so I'm pretty sure the problem is in L16 airframe. In fact, when I hold the compass back by the rear seat it's 'better'. Of course the compass location is near where the brace tubes were welded in which casts more suspect on the airframe. I've tried rearranging things on the dash, guage wise, with no luck. Paul, no local Mooney dealer around either so guess I'm stuck with handling it myself. I've heard of a couple of other cases like this and, in fact I believe we had a truck frame once that had to be 'demagnatized' once but don't remember how it was done.

Mike

[WWhunter]

I seem to recall it is called 'degausing" or something similar to that. I remember someone rents the machine.
Ah ha!!! I found it!!
http://www.sacskyranch.com/degauss.htm
Good Luck Mike