Shinn Brake Spring Tool

[mulwyk]

After spending a long long day Saturday wrestling with my *#@! Shinn brake springs, on Sunday I gave up cursing and made a simple tool to stretch them and keep them under control. It's made of two short pieces of steel tube, a 1/2" OD tube and a 3/8" that fits inside the 1/2inch. A bolt screwed into one end pushes the two tubes apart.

The 1/2 inch tube has a "fork" that fits over the loop end of the spring and the 3/8 tube has a "spur" that engages the hook end of the spring. See the photo or details here.

I also found that the brake shoes that I got from Skybound needed to have a little tweeking with a die grinder before they would fit correctly. I had to dress the ends of the shoes and the riveted-on-things that rest on the cam part of the wishbones. It looked like the Skybound folks had made the shoes a little longer than would fit inside the drum with the new linings. No big deal, and my "new" brakes look and work just dandy now.

Bob Gustafson

[mhorowit]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

Bob - you have save untold hours across the community!!!! Wonder how many other have sweated/cursed while gripping the spring with vicegrips and trying to maneuver the spring into place with a screwdriver!

Without sounding ungrateful, could you also provide a pencil sketch as the pics don't show detail.

Thanks, Mike

[ken hecht]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

Bob
what is the turn around time,to skybound, to get the brake shoes repaired? I have a set to send out, or is some one out there that has a set lying around and wants to depart with? If you have one, send me a private e-mail,Thanks.
Ken
N27658

[mulwyk]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

Ken:

My brake shoes were back in about 2 weeks, but I've heard of some orders taking a lot longer. They're great folks there at Skybound, a little old fashioned maybe, but a real delight to deal with. Give 'em a call and ask about lead time. It's like making a call to 1957.

Bob Gustafson

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

Funny you should mention... I called Skybound today at the number given on our web site, she answered right away. I explained that some members said the number was not correct, they did have phone problems in the area a wee bit back. ( it worked good today).
We discussed PMA stuff and lining sources. I am out of about everything except NOS stuff I keep for projects here at Barber Aircraft. She is sending information , I will send them drawings that may help with FAA-PMA stuff. Known as "approved data" . Will start a thread when I get more information..

[jgerard]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

So if I send them my worn out shoes they can rebuild them?

http://gallery.taylorcraft.org/main.php?g2_view=core.ShowItem&g2_itemId=3061

How much?

Jason
N43643

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

Well, ask them ... That looks like a throw away... let us know what they say!

[Dick Huish]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

They probably use the fittings. I bet the shoes themselves are .060 CRS. Dick

[gilligansae]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

When I replaced my linings a couple of years back I had inquired about the shoe rebuild.... Don't remember the cost, but they told me that they do re-use the tabs / hardware and put a new band of steel on it and send it back.

Jeff
N43294

[mulwyk]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

Mike:

Here's that drawing of the spring tool. Took me awhile to figure out how to scan it and then resize it so it would fit on here as an attachment. Good luck with your springs!

Bob Gustafson

[mulwyk]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

Jason:

My brake shoes looked alot like yours (maybe worse). When I got them back from Skybound they were like new. Nice work. I don't remember the cost, but I DO remember thinking it was very reasonable.

Bob Gustafson

[mhorowit]

Re: Shinn Brake Spring Tool

Bob - I think your tool and drawing/explaination are a good candidate for the bulletin. Would you consider bringing it to Bill Bixler's attention? - Mike