installing bungies

[taylorcraft580]

I have heard that the procedure for installing new bungy cords is fairly simple if you know what you are doing, however none of the A&P's in my shop have ever done it before. I have a 1940 BL-65, can anyone help me get started with some tips?

[mhorowit]

Re: installing bungies

I have heard that the procedure for installing new bungy cords is fairly simple if you know what you are doing, however none of the A&P's in my shop have ever done it before. I have a 1940 BL-65, can anyone help me get started with some tips?

Tip #1 : when you remove the bungee cord(s), the aircraft will suddenly look like a dog on a frozen lake . So, be sure to tie the wheels together or support the a/c somehow. - Mike

[jgerard]

Re: installing bungies

Have you got the bungie tool and a com-along yet?

Jason
N43643

[Carl Ellis]

Re: installing bungies

Remove and replace bungees one side at a time. Use a sharp knife to cut the bungees - go slowly while cutting. Keep your face and limbs away while doing so. You will get a snap at the end so don't be startled - going slowly and allowing the tension to relieve goes a long way toward reducing this.

The bungee stretching tool makes the job fairly easy.

[gnflyn]

Re: installing bungies

I just did it last week on my BC-12D. Used a floor jack and wood blocks to lift plane till wheels just touched. Cut both cords on one side (one at a time with razorblade). Use bungee stretch tool and pop the new ones on. Then do other side. Note: before you put the cords on make sure safety cable is in correct position. Took two of us about an hour start to finish....

It looks harder than it is..

[mhorowit]

Re: installing bungies

[QUOTE=gnflyn]Used a floor jack and wood blocks to lift plane till wheels just touched. QUOTE]
What was your lifting point? - Mike

[alwaysoar]

Re: installing bungies

You can borrow a tool from the taylorcraft club that makes the job a snap. I used an engine hoist to lighten the load on the wheels, but if you tie the wheels together you probably would not have to do that. I agree, be sure the safety cables are positioned right. I did the job solo, took less than an hour.

Ed @BTV VT
TF 527

[gnflyn]

Lifting Point

I used a floor jack and a 2x4 about 20" long with 2 smaller 6" blocks on either side to put the load on fuselage side tubes at the landing gear position. thats the strongest place on the fuselage frame. However, any method to take weight off landing gear is okay too....

[Robert Lees]

Re: Lifting Point

I hang it from the engine. A good time to pull all the cowls, baffles, heat muff off and get them a good check over too, and the firewall & engine mount too. We actually do this every annual.

You could also lift the gear 12" off the floor to do a fuel flow check at the same time. This might help in checking for restrictions within the fuel hoses, autofuel and all that.

Rob

[alwaysoar]

Re: installing bungies

One more idea I haven't tried: If the old bungees are not too far gone, you might be able to get away with cutting just one bungee on one side, replacing that with a new one, then cutting the other bungee on that same side, and replacing that one. One old bungee should be enough to hold the gear up, especially if you tie the wheels together. The prospect of changing bungees is a lot more intimidating than the actual changing.

[Len Petterson]

Re: installing bungies

Now the new bunges are to go on, but what is the proper position for the saftey wire? In board or out board of the bunge?
Len Petterson
CF KZU

[Robert Lees]

Re: installing bungies

In the middle, so 1st bungee goes on, then the safety cable, then the second.

[birdlegs]

Re: installing bungies/tools

It can be done using a wood handled lever,tie a loop of good 3/8 nylon rope into the bungee,cut a notch in the handle to recieve the loop, then lever the bungee into position and carefully roll it off onto the journal,untie the rope and pull it free. Next use a length of electical wire to pull the slack out the
cord as it will be loose on one side.And remember what Doctor Dees said about the other items. I'm sure this works cause I just did all six of mine last week using this technique.

[st-15]

Re: installing bungies

How many bungee's per side? One plane I saw used 3, most others have 2? What gives?

[alwaysoar]

Re: installing bungies

Two--sometimes three are used if you want it really stiff, but I have two new bungies and I feel every bump.