Cabin Width

[Fooey]

What is the cabin width of the 41 or 46 t-craft? Cannot find it anywhere.

Thanks,
Tim

[cvavon]

Re: Cabin Width

My 1940 has a 1946 fuselage and tube doors is 39 in wide

[Ron Coleman]

Re: Cabin Width

Not big enough to get a Stinson in without bending something....

[cvavon]

Re: Cabin Width

Well Ron the stinson is a way to finance the super T project Hank and I have been working on and yes it wont fit in the Tcraft.

[Ron Coleman]

Re: Cabin Width

I put a few long distance trips in a Stinson back in the 60's I will never forget the smooth pull and steady drum beat of that Franklin engine. The plane was a mellow ride. I have been tempted to pick one up. I know where several are flaking away and I think they can be had cheap. However, I couldn't afford the cost of restoring a carcass (they are a large airplane) or fitting up a Franklin engine for it, and I will not live long enough to finish the project. So I will have to finish up the projects that I have on hand, and hope that I will not have to outlaw to fly my 172. The 172 by the way flies a lot like the Stinson except the 172 feels a little coarser because of all of the tin.
Since I've given up the Stinson project I should part with my wheel covers.
Work fast so that we can see it in the air before fall. When you are as old as Forrest and I there are no hours to spare.
Have at it!

RonC

[Marv]

Re: Cabin Width

IF ANY OF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN A AIRCRAFT WITH A FRANKLIN ENGINE, that has not been run for months. The first thing you may want to check is to look at the push rod tubes to see if someone tried to turn rotate the prop to see if the engine is seized. The valves seize in the heads a lot of times and if you rotate the prop it will bend the push rods and the push rod tubes. It is a little work but the best thing to do to check the valves is to remove the Valve covers and tap on the valves to see if they are stuck. I have used marvel mystery oil on the valve stems and tapped with a hammer till they each worked free. Saves a lot of money.

[cvavon]

Re: Cabin Width

Marv thanks for the advice on the franklin they are new to me and any advice is well taken.

[M Towsley]

Re: Cabin Width

Nice smooth engine, probably the smoothest I have ever flown behind. Parts acquisition can be difficult, though. Cranks have a tendency to crack, if I remember correctly.

[cvavon]

Re: Cabin Width

Franklin is starting up a new company in the US also they have bought up most of the new old stock and are selling it at good prices. they also are bringing out a direct replacement for the 0200 continental that makes 125 HP and bolts on the 0200 mount. 125HP on a taylorcraft ?

[Ron Coleman]

Re: Cabin Width

If your find has a Franklin engine, check the case. If you have the small (light) case have it checked for cracks. Any Stinson ""old timer" will know what to do. I think that it would be nice for you if your bird has a rag wing. I have owned a number of metalized and original rag wing type of airplanes like the Cessna 140. The rag wings always seem to love the air while the metalized wings feel mechanical. I would never metalize an Ercoupe, Cessna 120 or 140, or Stinson.

[Marv]

Re: Cabin Width

The Franklin 165 B-3 is the heavy case. I would not even look at an 150 hp.

[cvavon]

Re: Cabin Width

Ron the plane is a 108-1 it is a rag wing and is going to stay that way it is a small rudder also with a baggage door.Marv the engine is a 150 it has 354hr on the overhaul and 74 on a top end overhaul will run it for a while would like to find a 220 HP franklin to replace it.

[M Towsley]

Re: Cabin Width

That's it, the case cracks, not the crank. Thanks Ron.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Cabin Width

Franklin is starting up a new company in the US also they have bought up most of the new old stock and are selling it at good prices. they also are bringing out a direct replacement for the 0200 continental that makes 125 HP and bolts on the 0200 mount. 125HP on a taylorcraft ?

I heard this same story 10-15 years ago. Then the new engines were being built in Poland.

[cvavon]

Re: Cabin Width

In the last mounth or so they bought a 55000 sq ft place in the Carolinas and are starting to ramp up production they also bought the polish company and there tooling.