Taylorcraft/Martin wire

[Mark Bowden]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

Thanks guys, just check the material thickness where it is easy to do please with caliper or mic. Then if possible, please measure the full thickness of the rib flange from the outer or loft side of the rib to the inside feature that would include any formed feature for the wire.

Thanks, Mark

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

Does anyone have access to a rib? I would really like to get a thickness measurement of the rib material thickness. I need it to help confirm the bend feature that goes around the rib, fabric and fabric under the wire.

This bend in the Tcraft wire at this point is strange, it has compound curve portion.

Thanks, Mark

added: I can't measure one because I have riveted truss ribs.

I have some ribs.

Tell me what to measure.

Dave

[3Dreaming]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

It is hard to get a good measurement, because all the edges are rolled or flanged. That being said my calipers say .020. The fabric will just be a few thousandths thick. The reinforcing tape maybe .020-.030, but this is just a guess.

[Mark Bowden]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

Does anyone have access to a rib? I would really like to get a thickness measurement of the rib material thickness. I need it to help confirm the bend feature that goes around the rib, fabric and fabric under the wire.

This bend in the Tcraft wire at this point is strange, it has compound curve portion.

Thanks, Mark

added: I can't measure one because I have riveted truss ribs.

[Mark Bowden]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

Sorry to be away from this for a bit.

Mike, that was an extremely valuable drawing you posted. Thank you very much. It is important because it shows how the features are located, what's important and how tolerances on the part are to be held.

Notice that the contact surface area of the wire under the rib which holds everything on is only 0.016" long, +.004, -.005.

It has been a challenge to get a drawing made from measuring the wire that was sent to me by Chuck because the features are so fine. However the Aeronca drawing has really helped get to a point to start a reasonable discussion with a bender.

It also shows the original material was music wire. It gives an alternate callout for an out of date stainless code of which 302 was part of.

Notice the Martin wire shape. There no "under rib" engagement feature, only a tangent of an arc.

We think at this point the engagment flat on the Tcraft part is 0.014"

[cvavon]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

Was digging threw some paper work for my plane and ran across this letter from the factory about rib stitching.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

Only the stamped rib wings used the wire. ALL of the stick rib, pre-war wings always were rib stitched.

Hank

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

Tim, yes I agree, the bulletin was requiring stitching as compared to noting at all. As Tom point out that perhaps it was only for the aileron. That may be true. 1968 was along time ago. I am sure that there was bulletin requiring stitch versus having no attachment but I can't be sure if it was the whole wing or aileron only. I do recall the discussion about the fabric lifting up and needing an attachment method.

Dave

[astjp2]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

Dave, the 39 was a truss rib, the 48 would is stamped. It would have needed to be stitched. Tim

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

Hah!

I am thinking that my memory may be the humorous thing! LOL

Thanks Tom.

Dave

[3Dreaming]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

When I got my first t-craft in 1968 it was a 1939 BL-65 basket case and along with the paperwork that came with it was "service bulletin" or something like that from Taylorcraft or perhaps the CAA that required the ribs to be stitched because the had not been at the factory and the upper surface fabric had been ballooning up.

Sort of humorous IMHO.

Dave

I believe that the SB was for stiching the aileron ribs.

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

When I got my first t-craft in 1968 it was a 1939 BL-65 basket case and along with the paperwork that came with it was "service bulletin" or something like that from Taylorcraft or perhaps the CAA that required the ribs to be stitched because the had not been at the factory and the upper surface fabric had been ballooning up.

Sort of humorous IMHO.

Dave

[astjp2]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

I would rib stitch, its much easier on the ribs. see the 337 that was posted in the tech references section. Tim

[MBednarek]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

All,

I'm a new here, having recently bought a '46 BC-12D1 through a "hanger and all contents" combined sale at a price I could simply not resist even after taking into account the bird had been sitting for a number of years and would need recovering, new windshield and a possible engine overhaul (did include a new complete set of sealed wing struts).

Since I will be recovering, I'm very interested in this Martin/Taylorcraft wire thread as the aircraft's last recover utilized rib stitches. I stripped off the fabric from the first wing panel last weekend and found, despite the last recover being 30+ years, only a couple of failed rib stiches on the tip rib that appeared to be more due to hanger rash.

I have attached a copy of the Aeronca drawing 2-880 detailing the clips that were used as an alternative to PK/screws in the 7AC/11AC. I do not know if the dimensions are the same as for the Martin/Taylorcraft wire, but the drawing does highlight critical dimensions for the attachment barbs. Hope this may be of assistance.

Mike Bednarek
Centerville, Ohio

[Robert Lees]

Re: Taylorcraft/Martin wire

That's Martin wire, Lloyd, not Taylorcraft wire.
(and yes, it was that long ago that we flew)

It has a significantly different profile & pitch. The pictures a few posts above by Dave Rude show the proper stuff.

Rob