Difference between 1939 and post war struts?

[Ron from Montréal]

Hi all, I need new struts for my 1939 Taylorcraft. Where can I buy? Thanks Ron from Montréal

[3Dreaming]

I would buy new from Wag-Aero. The size and cross section of the tubing they use is the closest to the original size as you will find in a new strut.

[waltermrich]

Like to add that I bought a project set of wings a few years back that came with Alaska airframe struts , one had a bend in it from an accident the other three were ok. But boy were the front struts wider than the original Taylorcraft struts, If you want to avoid having it not look original buy the Wag Aero, still have the Alaska airframe struts, the back struts were similar to the original though.

[Ron from Montréal]

Thank you gentlemen ! Are struts the same for pre war Taylorcrafts? I would hate to buy and not fit on mine. I include lenghts of my old struts. Thanks

[3Dreaming]

As far as I know the struts were the same from the A model all the way to the F-22. That being said the materials and tubing sizes changed along the way, with the earlier sruts being a smaller cross section and made from mild steel.

[Ron from Montréal]

Thank you!

[3Dreaming]

just a little interesting note. The A in front of the part number in the A-815 and A-816 struts indicate that the part started out for the model A Taylorcraft airplane.

[Ralph925]

I have a new sealed set on mine but I still have the original set in great shape, if anyone wants them.
they are not sealed so you would need the onerous inspections.

[astjp2]

I have a set of airframes struts new in the tube I will make you a deal on. PM me, Tim

[Hank Jarrett]

The reason there are so many different strut sizes is economics. Strut streamline tubing is made by pulling round tube through a set of roller dies to squeeze teh tube to a streamline cross section. As you can imagine that can cause some wear and damage to the rollers and they are NOT CHEAP (unlike most manufacturers). When the rollers get worn or damaged the least expensive fix is to machine a bit off the rollers, but this make the cross section of the strut bigger. It also requires a larger tube to start with. Now think about the factory in the 30s. Money is tight. The rollers are worn. Turn them down a bit and go to the next size up tube. CAA is happy since the new strut is stronger than the old one so it just gets a pencil whip approval. Later 4130 steel tube is available to replace the older material. Again, CAA says stronger is better so a simple approval. Overt eh years the struts keep getting bigger and bigger. If you have access to the really old original struts from the 30s the current REAR STRUTS are larger than the original FRONT STRUTS!!! The attached photos are of actual struts being rolled. It is fascinating to watch.

Hank

[astjp2]

and to add to what Hank said, then it has a 100% NDI checking for cracks which increases the cost even more.

[Ron from Montréal]

I have a set of airframes struts new in the tube I will make you a deal on. PM me, Tim

Hi Tim, do you still want to sell your struts?

[astjp2]

I have a set of prewar struts I can send to wag aero and get recertified to terminate the repetitive inspection, I will call them today and ask what their turn around time. The prewar used smaller tubing overall in cross-section. I am going to keep the univair struts for the new project I just bought.

[Ron from Montréal]

I have a set of prewar struts I can send to wag aero and get recertified to terminate the repetitive inspection, I will call them today and ask what their turn around time. The prewar used smaller tubing overall in cross-section. I am going to keep the univair struts for the new project I just bought.

Ok, thanks anyway.