Taylorcraft forsale

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

All of the above noted, thanks Bill , No I will transfer first. I talked with them about the updates.
IF this damn weather permits the trip prior to Sun-N-Fun.

For a lot of answers see my newsletter on the STC...... it was the First one Taylorcraft Vol 1 #1....

http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread.php?t=3941

[VictorBravo]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

how big a job is it to make the bushing installation...

It is a fair amount of work overall, but the job is pretty simple if you have the right tools. Unfortunately the largest amount of time invested is the fact that you will have to remove some fabric to do the job, then patch the fabric back up.

I understand there are SEVERAL one-time field approvals for putting 85HP on a T-craft and NOT doing the bushings, but you will still be limited to 1200 pounds, and probably not even the lightweight starter.

Look at it this way, if you decide to keep the plane and do the full Harer STC, you will invest the time and effort to:

1) Pull the wings off (but you need to do this anyway to comply with the strut fitting inspection)

2) Cut some fabric (but you can be clever and cut a flap, peel back the flap, then baseball stitch it back together instead of a panel inlay)

3) Buy a new set of wing root spar fittings, or have yours rebuilt with thicker metal

4) Remove the outboard spar fittings and have the little plate welded on (and more fabric work)

5) If you follow the STC to the letter you MUST install two wing tanks, and then get involved in some very Rube Goldberg plumbing of the vent lines

6) Put the wing tank shutoff valves in a WRONG and less safe location

7) Change the fuel line from the gascolator to the carburetor (not a terrible idea anyway)


But then you will have a "Light Sport" legal airplane with a 1280 pound gross weight that compares VERY favorably with the $80,000+ new Cub clone LSA's.

However, if you can get a hold of one of the previous 337's to bolt on the engine without all that mumbo jumbo, then you can have an 85 HP T-craft with a 1200 pound gross, and eliminate steps 1 thru 6 above. Instead of the cost and anguish of steps 1 thru 6, you have to put in the cost and anguish of getting a DER to approve your new 337 (based on the previous 337's you gave him). Fortunately there is a powerplant DER lurking in these waters who would likely be the most reasonable to deal with.

Where the FAA WILL start causing you a LOT of problems (as Kevin has found out), is if you try to put in more than 85 HP or more than 1200 pounds gross without the spar bushings and steel plates.

Bill

[Dano"T"]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

I have the official engineering letter as well as 337 to allow the bigger engine without the gross weight increase....however...you still need to have 2 wing tanks and re-do the fuel lines.....the entire fuel modification portion of the Harer STC must be completed. Someone else may have a different approval source.....Also....I believe that you can put a lightweight starter in as long as you have a -12.....that has nothing to do with the harer stc does it?

[crispy critter]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

These are not the best pics but they give you an idea of what what the shear plate looks like. It has to be added to both front and rear strut fittings.The shear plates are of .090 thick 4130 steel. You must also check the wing attach fittings to ensure they are also .090 thick,most are but some are not.

[N96337]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

6) Put the wing tank shutoff valves in a WRONG and less safe location

Bill

I'm right in the middle of a field approval on 2 airplanes to move them back up to the wing root, where they really should be.
John

[Robert Lees]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

Here's the strut fitting plates before (showing spacers used to maintain alignment during welding)...



...and after...

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

As I have my plane in pieces it would be easy to make the mods to the wings. Is that something I can do with out going whole hog. I have no intention of changing engines or increasing gross weight. I just want the stronger wing assembly. Larry

[VictorBravo]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

As I have my plane in pieces it would be easy to make the mods to the wings. Is that something I can do with out going whole hog. I have no intention of changing engines or increasing gross weight. I just want the stronger wing assembly. Larry

Yes I believe it is a good idea and not a LOT of trouble to do the tough parts while it is apart.

The steel plates on the strut fittings are self-explanatory thanks to Rob's photos. What nobody mentions is that once these fittings are joined into one fitting, it takes some cutting and grinding on one of the wing ribs to be able to slide it back into position. Plan for that and you will have less aggravation than I did.

The other issue is to increase the thickness of the spar root fittings to .090 or .093 I believe. The STC says to take the fittings apart and replace 90% of the metal with the thicker stuff, but it is probably easier to just make new fittings out of the thicker metal. They are very straightforward fittings and most anyone can saw, file, and bend up the metal pieces. If you do all that work, and match drill the holes so the bolts will go through in the right place, any airplane welder can zap the welding in 20 minutes for a 6 pack of beer.

While you have the spar root fittings off, put in the larger bushings per the STC. This will be REAL easy if you do it before you assemble the wing. Lots harder with an assembled wing.

If you do those three things while it is easy now, you will have the extra strength to allow safe flight with up to 1500 pounds gross weight, or a much larger safety margin at 1200 pounds.

Another possible thing for you to think about is putting in the wing tanks while you have the plane apart.

Even if you never upgrade from 65 to 85 horsepower, you will be adding value to your airplane in case someone wants to upgrade later.

Bill

[VictorBravo]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

I'm right in the middle of a field approval on 2 airplanes to move them back up to the wing root, where they really should be.
John

Amen! I'm almost sure that moving them down under the panel was some FAA or CAA inspector who insisted on it for the wrong reason, and Gilberti just threw up his hands so as to not have problems.

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

Yes I believe it is a good idea and not a LOT of trouble to do the tough parts while it is apart.

The steel plates on the strut fittings are self-explanatory thanks to Rob's photos. What nobody mentions is that once these fittings are joined into one fitting, it takes some cutting and grinding on one of the wing ribs to be able to slide it back into position. Plan for that and you will have less aggravation than I did.

The other issue is to increase the thickness of the spar root fittings to .090 or .093 I believe. The STC says to take the fittings apart and replace 90% of the metal with the thicker stuff, but it is probably easier to just make new fittings out of the thicker metal. They are very straightforward fittings and most anyone can saw, file, and bend up the metal pieces. If you do all that work, and match drill the holes so the bolts will go through in the right place, any airplane welder can zap the welding in 20 minutes for a 6 pack of beer.

While you have the spar root fittings off, put in the larger bushings per the STC. This will be REAL easy if you do it before you assemble the wing. Lots harder with an assembled wing.

If you do those three things while it is easy now, you will have the extra strength to allow safe flight with up to 1500 pounds gross weight, or a much larger safety margin at 1200 pounds.

Another possible thing for you to think about is putting in the wing tanks while you have the plane apart.

Even if you never upgrade from 65 to 85 horsepower, you will be adding value to your airplane in case someone wants to upgrade later.

Bill

Thanks Bill, Yes I have the left wing tank now, thought about the other one but as I am going to be very particular about weight I had not made the decision to add the other tank. As I need to make new spars (think Tom and Jerry cartoons and mouse doors) the spar mods would be no problem during the rebuild.
Larry

[Robert Lees]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

[off-topic]

Tom and Jerry cartoons

I have the whole lot, collected by my Father, then my Uncle and then by me, over many decades, on a large number of VHS cassettes from the telly. The older ones to classical music are the best.

[/off-topic]

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

[further off-topic]

I was in Vietnam on a business trip a few weeks ago and was surprised to see old Tom and Jerry cartoons on local TV in Hanoi. But with no dialogue to translate, they don't need subtitles, so they're apparently still on TV around the world.

[further off-topic]

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Taylorcraft forsale

Actually the moving the fuel valves allowed the transfer from the wing tanks to the main about everytime IF you charge the system as explained many times. The change to -2 fittings is good idea, IF I acquire the Harer STC; I will do those parts under PMA as part of the package.