Wing removal

[USMC]

Hi, This is my first post. This is my first airplane. I bought a 1946 BC12-D. Are there any instructions available for removing the wings? Tips, tricks, suggestions etc? I'm replacing the wing tanks. Thank you for your time and knowledge and I look forward to reading your responses.

[Ragwing nut]

you don't need to remove the wings to replace the tanks. Might make it easier, but not required.

[USMC]

Thank you Ragwing Nut. The A&P an IA lied about so many things on this bird that I want to get a good look at the wing root and attaching hardware, hence the reason for pulling the wings.

[Woody]

Get a ladder and some padding. Place under tip. Remove Wing root fairing. Disconnect two aileron cables in overhead. Disconnect fuel lines. Depending on which wing you may need to disconnect pitot/static lines and wing lights. Remove struts. Have three people for removal. Put one at tip and one at leading edge, one at trailing edge at wing root. Remove two spar bolts and You are done. You can do it with two, but easier and safer with three.

[Hank Jarrett]

I don't think I have ever had an A&P/IA "Lie" to me but there are a WHOLE LOT of them who have no idea what they are talking about on our old planes. There is one IA at the airport I fly from I won't allow in my hangar. He is a "Know-it-All" who is constantly spouting BS because he didn't learn on older planes. Better just to tell him he can't come in and if he thinks I am doing something wrong he should call MY IA, who I trust completely. My IA just shakes his head. I night go to the "K-I-A" guy if I was restoring a Boeing 737 but he knows NOTHING about tube and rag.

On the topic you started with I have a plane with the wings off in my hangar right now and one I had them off of that is flight worthy.. Where are you? If close there is nothing better than looking at a plane all apart to see the little places where you will have problems. All that is exposed on my 45 and you are welcome to come over and see it. Also have uncovered wings with wing tanks on saw horses. I can take photos if you are too far away.

Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Well, just looked you up and unless you plan a vacation to South East Virginia soon we are pretty far apart. Let me know what your SN and NC number are and I will enter you into my database. We can exchange emails and phone numbers plus the database may show a plane close to you.

Hank

[Peterroy]

Brian,

Dr. Tim is a VERY knowledgeable rag and tube guy. I would consider him an expert on all things Taylorcraft. He's located in Ogden, Utah. Not that close to you but you might want to file his name away for future use. He has helped me over the years and I live 400 miles away from him.

Peter

[Robert Lees]

Brian,

Dr. Tim is a VERY knowledgeable rag and tube guy. I would consider him an expert on all things Taylorcraft. He's located in Ogden, Utah. Not that close to you but you might want to file his name away for future use. He has helped me over the years and I live 400 miles away from him.

Peter

I live over 4000 miles away from him (and you!), and I concur with your sentiment <G>.
Rob

[astjp2]

astjp2@hotmail can contact me, I do tech over the phone also and am willing to travel with some coordination. If you email me, I will send you my number. Tim

[USMC]

Thank you for all the responses! I was at the hanger all day or I would have responded earlier. For those that ask the S/N is 6773 and the number is N(C)43114. I have an IA that I am working with. He has not worked on any Taylorcrafts. Each air-frame seems to have their own particularities and I wanted to check and see if there were any for this bird before we found out the hard way. If it is of interest I can post pictures as the work progresses. Thank you again for the timely responses!

[Peterroy]

Yes. POST PICTURES!!!!

[Hank Jarrett]

YES! Second that. My plane is 43196 so fairly close to yours. Yell if you need photos of anything (that p;lane is all uncovered right now) and any photos at any stage are always valuable!

Hank

Now if Idaho wasn't so darned so far away from Virginia!

[Robert Lees]

I took off a wing to replace a wing tank and I recorded the process here:

https://www.taylorcraft.org.uk/how_to_replace_a_wing_tank.htm

Hope that helps.

Rob

[USMC]

On the Taylorcraft Foundation home page, listed in the 337's, there is a series of diagrams shown under; "Replacing wing tank fabric covering with aluminum". This is what I was looking to do. Is there any reason not to do it this way? I noticed that Robert Lees recovered his with fabric. And thank you again for the replies!!

[3Dreaming]

It is probably less work to go back with fabric, but metal does give easier access down the road if needed. There will probably be some fabric work either way.