edo 1400 installation

[PA1195]

Re: edo 1400 installation

Yes Jeff it's a tow hook. I said glider hook in #12 but banner is probably better. Used to tie to the shore of rivers or lake in the wind then cut loose from the cockpit and taxi away safely. I have done the same with a long rope tied to the tail, then around a nearby tree, then back to the cockpit/strut with a slip knot. Reach out and release the rope. Rope stays with the plane. Or alternatively run one turn of a smooth rope through a shackle attached to the tail spring mount or rear lift handle and on to the cockpit. Let the plane end of the rope go and leave the rope tied to the shore.

For river mud bar work with no trees I'd carry some metal rod to pound into the bank as a deadman anchor. Same deal with a rope around it. Nothing beats camping on a mud bar.

Gary

[N43617]

Re: edo 1400 installation

center to center on the strut attach points would be sweet going to duplicate dicks install just curious how close they are also those float blocks are different than the edo tcraft blocks that i have

[N43617]

Re: edo 1400 installation

gary do you have the same float block as the pictured plane

[PA1195]

Re: edo 1400 installation

Info from the local Taylorcraft on 1400 EDO's: Front strut 26" upper bolt center to lower bolt center; diagonal strut 47 1/8" same span; rear strut 25 1/2" same span. As I said the previous owner put it on floats based on ??? but is an A&P/IA that got his float rating in that plane. They are restored and not original EDO in my opinion.

There's three 1/8" thick square spacers with a bolt hole in the middle under the front and rear struts at the float...the center spacer or wire pull attaches to the cross wires but the combo (one above and one under the wire pull) raises the strut 3/8" off the top of the float front and rear. The lower diagonal bolts direct to the float. See the pics above. They may be factory or a means of fine tuning the rigging. Dick would know more.

Float blocks different: Upper or lower, front or back? I had a PA-11 on 1320's and 1400's and they are different. Not sure about Taylorcraft. My floats are 1320's and I can take a pic of the upper blocks tomorrow. On the 1320's the lower strut fitting is a ball and socket affair...on the 1400's it's a bolt to deck fitting affair as shown.

The front gear bolts on a Taylorcraft are an AN5 - 5/16". Cubs use AN6 - 3/8" on some but I don't recall from my PA-11. So see what diameter bolt fits the front blocks you have now - AN5 or 6? If a 6 then you'll need new front blocks. See Eddie Peck for an exchange or ? At the rear the two strut ears simply bolt to a small block that's fastened crosswise between the rear fuselage fitting ears. See the pic above.

Eddie Peck has examples and pics of float blocks. Send him a mail with a pic of yours and any numbers stamped on them and he'll know what you need if they don't fit your fuselage fittings in the front.

If you need more pics just say what you need.

Gary

[PA1195]

Re: edo 1400 installation

Back in 08/14 Eddie Peck sent me the following info on strut length for EDO 1400's on a PA-11/PA-18. Not sure if that's just the strut material or end to end bolt holes. His e-mail doesn't say and I'ver forgotten the context of the question:

PA 11 & PA18 on 1400's
Ft 31 3/8, Diag 47 1/8, Aft 30 3/4

If so you may be able to shorten the front and rear PA-11 struts to fit a Taylorcraft per my post #19 lengths. The diagonal strut may the same length for both. Ask Eddie or see Dick's setup.

Edit: Below are pics of front upper fuselage fittings for EDO 1400's on a J-3 (P/N 92-S-105 L/R) left pic, and PA-11 (P/N 92-s-220 L/R) right pic lower left. They are different and Eddie Peck knows more. Is what you have similar to either one?

Gary

[N43617]

Re: edo 1400 installation

these upper blocks have edo part numbers that match the 1320 installation on a taylorcraft i thought the bolt for attachment looked bigger i dont own these blocks a neighbor wants 1000$$ for them with struts to 1650 floats dont wanna pay 1000 for just the blocks ill measure them if a guy could make them fit and sell my pa11 rigging that would make more cents😊

[N43617]

Re: edo 1400 installation

didnt get the pic on last post here it is

[PA1195]

Re: edo 1400 installation

I'll take pics of my 1320 Taylorcraft blocks today and post later afternoon. Your pic looks like my front blocks, but ??? Those for the local 1400's on the Taylorcraft are of course shown earlier.

I've lost track of the Thread so to clarify is this what you have?: EDO 1400 floats with PA-11 upper and lower fittings, struts, and cross wires? Then you said you have Taylorcraft blocks, or are they your neighbor's?

The local 1400's fit the Taylorcraft and you now have the overall strut dimensions fastener to fastener plus some pics.

I'd still contact Eddie Peck and explain what you have and see what he has. He may ask for a trade or have what you need.

Gary

[PA1195]

Re: edo 1400 installation

Pics of EDO 1320 Taylorcraft upper front and rear float fittings first two. Next four are of EDO 1400 front and rear fuselage then front and rear deck.

Gary

[N43617]

Re: edo 1400 installation

all i own are pa11 rigged 1400 floats that pic is of the neighbors 1320 block i am goin to have them duplicated buy local machinist talked to ed peck this morning briefly got strut dimensions i am comparing your local 1400 measurements to dicks and eds and will proceed thanks for the info gary ill post progress as i proceed

[PA1195]

Re: edo 1400 installation

Excellent. Now you understand the PIA process and are one of the few that ever get motivated to do the job in my experience. Without Eddie Peck's help there is almost no support for these old small EDO floats. Local machining is a good idea.

The 1320 block is plenty strong and will work. I'll look at mine tomorrow and make sure the main AN5 bolt hole is parallel to the block alignment (likely is). On some blocks they drill it on a slight diagonal to fit the offset gear fittings.

If you don't have float compartment pump outs now is a good time to install them. One source but Anchorage may have a supplier: http://www.lakeandair.com/category-s/26.htm Atlee makes some pulley parts and water rudder retract guide tune for the cockpit. Also check the rudder bracket bushings and pivot pins/bolts for wear and corrosion.

The TCDS sheet from Taylorcraft A-696 Item 205 lists weight and installed CG for weight and balance update. Weigh your removed landing gear and tail wheel to get a better idea of the changeout. If you have a C-85 you don't need a tail fin.

Gary

[N43617]

Re: edo 1400 installation

i am curious about the bolt hole the one i have is offset

[PA1195]

Re: edo 1400 installation

The EDO 1320 front block's main hole? The block should have a 60-S-088 part number stamped. Like I said I wasn't sure above about mine but will look tomorrow. Not a big deal but some I've seen are. Corrects for either slight fuselage fitting or front and diagonal strut offset at the block.

I looked above and see mine are stamped "LH" = left hand. So if they're offset then the LH and RH front blocks are different.

Bear in mind the EDO 1320's use different struts and may be sized different than the 1400's. The 1400's may not require an offset alignment hole. Eddie Peck should be able to tell more from his parts.

Edit: Most of the time just loosening the strut bolts upper and lower allows the block to be bolted to the fuselage. With them tight and a slight offset it can become hard to drive the AN5 bolt through both the block and fuselage gear fitting ears. One fix is to first insert a large Phillips screwdriver from the rear to line things up for all front fittings and then the bolts from the front. Or an AN5 bolt can be ground at the threads to a point and used like the screwdriver. Or, better yet, make up a "bullet" from a short piece (1-2") of gear bolt tapered at one end and insert it in front of the gear bolt threaded end. Tapping the main bolt through will push the bullet ahead which will align the parts. Magic stuff.

Gary

[N43617]

Re: edo 1400 installation

the block i have in hand is offset please do post how yours is

[PA1195]

Re: edo 1400 installation

the block i have in hand is offset please do post how yours is

I will look and take some pics. They have the same EDO 60-S-088 P/N's stamped so they should be machined alike. Maybe take a pic of yours from the top with the bolt inserted or a long screwdriver to note the offset. It would be left to right along the block not vertical per the pics above in #22 and 24. Left and right blocks have opposite offset if present. Will edit here later.

Edit: Took a pic and it appears the bolt is indeed slightly offset through the L/R blocks. The offset appears to be no more than the thickness of a AN960 washer (~0.040-0.060") end to end. The inboard offset is to the rear of the block - tail of the plane. Now I'm no Dr. of Aircraft but that wouldn't trouble me if it were drilled straight and the block were first fastened to the gear fittings with strut end attachments loose then later tightened. Whatever works. I've seen greater offset on Piper fittings so it might be just the angles of the struts leaving the floats requires some "latitude" at the block.

The pic is of the right side block.

Gary