what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

[Jim Herpst]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

Wish we had this kind of drawing of the Taylorcraft wire. I will check it against ours as soon as I have a piece. It would be really nice if the same wire worked for both. It would make a bulk buy that much less expensive.

Hank

Hank In reply to your earlier quote on the wire "whom is interested in going in on a run" ? I am for starters

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

Thanks Jim. I will start a spread sheet and hopefully enough people will be interested to make it affordable by the time I hear back from them. I will ask what kind of breaks we can get for larger orders.

Hank

[3Dreaming]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

Dave Rude has some Taylorcraft wire for sale in the for sale/wanted section. He has had the wire listed before. He also says that it takes about 210 feet for a complete airplane.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

I would say it would be wise for someone who need wire NOW to talk to Dave. Based on how the bungee buy went, I would plan on the new manufacture wire taking some time and I would NOT expect to see it until this summer. So far we have a whopping two people on the list.....and one is me.

Hank

[PA1195]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

Mine's rib stitched but I wonder how the factory made the original wire? Did they have some sort of forming tool or machine, or did they buy from a vendor that had same?

What's this all about? http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...s/fabclips.php and http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...hp?recfer=5416 ?

Gary

[Robert Lees]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

Associated Spring:

One of my Oshkosh camp mates was a machinist with Associated Spring in Milwaukee for years (he's now retired). Whilst he was still working there, I had a batch of Taylorcraft trim springs made (now almost run out). He gave me an "unofficial" tour back in...probably 1998 or maybe a bit later.

Having seen their facility, back then, and at that location, I would suggest that making Taylorcraft rib wire would be a piece of cake. But the set-up (programming) cost is the issue, which Hank is already aware of. The material cost is miniscule...a few cents per yard, I'd suggest. Better to make 10,000 yards for pretty much the same cost as 1,000 yards.

The irony is that I really don't see a market for that amount. Careful removal of the original wire will ensure its suitability for re-use. Un-careful removal causes no damage to the wire, but buggers up the ribs.

(Incidentally, Associated Spring also makes the tiddy springs that activate airbags...they are tiny. About 100K of them (yes 100,000) fit into a small bag in the palm of your hand).

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

Mine's rib stitched but I wonder how the factory made the original wire? Did they have some sort of forming tool or machine, or did they buy from a vendor that had same?

What's this all about? http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...s/fabclips.php and http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...hp?recfer=5416 ?

Gary

The Martin wire just "looks like" our wire. The spacing is all wrong between the hooks. We "think" Taylorcraft had a machine to make the wires in house but I won't be able to get to see it till June. Until then we will be getting quotes from some wire and spring companies about programing to make a batch.

Hank

[Robert Lees]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

For the avoidance of doubt, here is the difference between Taylorcraft wire & Martin wire. Note the different barb shape.

[PA1195]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

The Martin wire just "looks like" our wire. The spacing is all wrong between the hooks. We "think" Taylorcraft had a machine to make the wires in house but I won't be able to get to see it till June. Until then we will be getting quotes from some wire and spring companies about programing to make a batch.

Hank

So the Kit ACS offers adapts the Martin clips with a different spacing to the Taylorcraft ribs? Is the second link (the Kit) a required template and new holes hAve to be punched in the ribs? I guess that's what I'm seeing out of ignorance.

Why not rib lace if the Taylorcraft clips are scarce?

Edit: How critical is the inter-clip span of wire? Does it have to be continuous or can the individual clips be separated? If screws or rivets are allowed in some installations it would seem the continuity isn't critical. Just asking for comments.

Gary

[M Towsley]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

Rob,

Taylorcraft trim springs???

[3Dreaming]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

Rob,

Taylorcraft trim springs???

The spring that provides cable tension.

[Robert Lees]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

3Dreaming is correct. Like this:



(for those models using an elevator trim tab)

[Mark Bowden]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

I have an 2D engineering drawing done by one of my guys a couple years ago from a physical sample of Taylorcraft wire. So I could check with some CNC wire forming vendors on getting a big batch made. Wire interest died out and I got a bit overly busy with work so put chasing it down on the back burner.

Today I sent request to one of the CNC equipment manufacturers about possibly getting a sample run done and/or contacts of their customer that might be interested in making a run.

The reason for a sample run is many, however an important feature to be determined is should the "new" Taylorcraft wire be made with a <90 deg bend like the Aeronca drawing or right at 90 degrees like the sample of Tcraft wire. A bit less than 90 would make it conform to loft better, but it isn't like the original. My drawing states 90 degs, +0, -3 degrees tolerance

I'll start on a vendor search again.
Mark

[flyer1]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

Put my name on the list for 220 feet of wire.

[N96337]

Re: what ever happened to the rib wires being made?

Why not rib lace if the Taylorcraft clips are scarce?
Gary

Because some maintain that you can't rib lace a stamped rib. Seems to have worked fine for many, but some still insist.
John