L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

[M Towsley]

My friend's L-2M, serial # 5258, is in dire need of bungees and a way to install them.

I found Ron Greene's old post regarding 11122 bungees and was wondering how that experiment turned out.

Who knows what size bungee struts are on it, I read where different cords are used depending upon different size struts or landing gear tube size. What size bungees for what size struts/tube size?

The bungee tool I bought for L-2 bungee changes years ago was made with metal pieces too weak and is not an option. Has anyone found a better way to change these things out?

Thanks!

[Edwin Otha]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

Marty,
I used a set-up that looked a little scary and worked perfect. It was solid enough and once you used it, wasn't scary at all.
We had a mount for the upper attach welded to the Hanger I beam. Above that at about 5 1/2 feet was a ratcheting cable winch, like you were trailering a boat. The cable went up to a pulley and back down to the level of the bungee carrier. On the free end of the cable was a delta shaped fitting of 1/4" round stock. On the bottom of the delta we rolled the edge to accept the bungee.
Powder up the bungee and install it on the carrier and put on the locking washer. Mount the carrier to the welded attach, unwind the ratchet and secure the bungee in the delta fitting. Crank on the ratchet handle and extend the bungee, working the carrier up and down to distribute the load of the bungee. On the big end attach I take off the flimsey plate that retains the bungee, as it might be damaged during installation. Install it after the bungees are in place. It take about an hour from taxi in to completion.
EO

[M Towsley]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

Thanks, I will pass this on.

Any thoughts on bungee part numbers?

[Edwin Otha]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

Marty I always used the 11104 bungee. It's 10 1/2 inches long. I didn't see Ron's post but the 11122 look to be too long. It's the right diameter but would be 12 1/4" long.
EO

[M Towsley]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

Ron's comments are several comments down on this thread: http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread...ighlight=11122

[Edwin Otha]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

I see now Marty. I've never had the problem they describe. On preflight if you shake the wing and the bungees move they might be shot. This little gear is pretty stiff, too loose and you'll beat out the 1/4" stop bolt in the slot. These were flight school airplanes and we didn't have any gear problems.
EO

[M Towsley]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

Hi Edwin,

The plane rocks terribly and the bungees are at least 7+ years old. Do you by chance have a picture(s) of the bungee installation set-up for my friends mechanic? Thank you!

[Pete Eslick]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

Hi Ed:
I have a question about bungees on my L-2B. Are they all the same size? It appears the inner bungee is a little smaller than the outside bungee. Maybe its only that its stretched more. Did I see somewhere a photo of your bungee installation tool? Would love to see one that doesn't look like a suicide weapon.

[Pete Eslick]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

Hi Ed:
I have recently finished restoring my L-2B. Its been a very long process, over a span of nearly 20 years. Very nice airplane. However, I need to replace my bungees, not because of wear, but because of age. They've been on the struts for about 17 or 18 of the years. The wings rock too much and its obvious they are at the end of their life cycle. Did I see a photo somewhere of a fixture you made for installing them? Of so, could I get a couple of views so I can fabricate one for myself?

[M Towsley]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

Yes, photos would be great. Thanks.

[n6346m]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

I made some brackets and welded them to my bi-fold hangar door and use the door as the stretching mechanism to put the bungees on my L-2B. It works pretty well and makes the job fast an relatively safe. Sorry I don't have any pictures and it probably wouldn't make any sense if I took some now without the bungee cord.

[Guest]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

I made some brackets and welded them to my bi-fold hangar door and use the door as the stretching mechanism to put the bungees on my L-2B. It works pretty well and makes the job fast an relatively safe. Sorry I don't have any pictures and it probably wouldn't make any sense if I took some now without the bungee cord.

Well that is outstanding Bob!

Improvisation at its best!

Dave

[M Towsley]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

Though it is a good idea, that is not the first time of a hangar door being used with welded brackets. The only problem is no one has taken any pictures during the operation.

[Guest]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

This is the first time I heard of it.

If its a bi-fold door then they are using it as a giant pair of pliers.

Anybody have an L2 gear they want to send in to have a tool made for it?

Or pictures and dimensions?

Dave R

[M Towsley]

Re: L-2 Bungees and Tool Revisited

I bought a tool that was allegedly made for changing L-2 bungees years ago. It utilized a large bottle jack and some fittings. It was dangerous to use as the welds were not strong enough. I don't have it anymore, a friend tried it and it is probably lost among his stuff. Totally different from what you are used to, Dave, though I am sure you are aware of that.