1960 PA-24-250 Oil Cooler cover in cockpit non-functional.

[William Hughes]

My 1960 PA-24-250 has what appears to be an aftermarket control Bowden cable that leads to the front of the oil cooler. This cable terminates on nothing. There are four screws arranged around the oil cooler opening that might be for mounting a thing and look very old. There are click-tape labels on the instrument panel discussing how to use the non-existent oil cooler cover. The previous owners are deceased, and the log-books are silent on it altogether.

I have checked the maintenance manuals and there does not ever appear to have been such a control or mechanism for that aircraft, and I was planning on having the remains of it removed. Any other thoughts out there on this thing? Posting pictures of it is difficult as it is simply a cable that goes nowhere and does nothing, with a shiny handle similar to the park brake on the left side of the control column.

[Andrew Foster]

Perhaps he had a flap type arrangement to restrict airflow in winter months to get the oil hot enough . We have a 61 250 and that is definitely not stock.
Andrew