Newbie Question

[Rick Connolly]

I stumbled on a bare bones 1938 ~1940 Taylorcraft. It appears to be in excellent shape and has been upgraded to 65 HP Continental from the original flathead 40HP Continental. The running flathead comes with the aircraft. The originial prop is gone though. It has been stored inside for the last 15~16 years. I looked at the plane expecting the worst and was surprised at how clean and dry it was.

What are the things to look closely at on Taylorcraft that is this old ?? The wing spars are "supposed' to be in excellent shape, but I couldn't get a good look at them.

I'm a non current pilot and am jazzed enough about this plane to spend the time and money to get current.

[mulwyk]

Re: Newbie Question

Rick:

Sounds like a great find! Are you looking for a project or something to fly?

If you're planning to fly it you'll want to get a very through inspection before you put any money down. I don't think anyone will attempt to list all the items to check on this forum, but there may be a link somewhere(?). Being in storage that long there could be some nasty surprises lurking under that cover and in the engine. You're going to be real disappointed if you buy a plane to fly and you end up with a multi-year project!


If you're buying a project (and it's priced like a project) you're going to be recovering it and cleaning, stripping, and repainting everything and doing at least a top overhaul on the engine so you can do a little more "general" inspection.

Are the wing spars ok? Pull the inspection plates on the bottom of the wing by the root and strut attach and look for cracks in the wooden spars. Spars are not very expensive, but a wing rebuild takes alot of time!

Turn the engine over and feel the compression. After 16 years there's probably one or more valves rusted open and you won't feel any compression on that cylinder. Again, not terribly expensive to fix...but an indication there might be more rust inside.

And check for rust back by the tail. Some folks use an ice pick. You can also pick up and drop the tail a few times while you listen for that rust rattle. Tap with a little hammer...and then even if everything looks good, plan on doing some work back there anyway.

Bob Gustafson

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Newbie Question

e-mail me direct with ser# or N number, [email protected]
lots of things to consider. You will have a lot of help from our Taylorcraft Tribe.

[flyguy]

Re: Newbie Question

My plane was a desert one. If this one was stored inside in AZ you may have yourself a find. Mine was from AZ and the desert in S. CA and stored outside. Except for faded red trim I was amazed that there was no rust and generally how well it was preserved. It was FULL of talcum powder like sand though.
Darryl

[Rick Connolly]

Re: Newbie Question

Thanks for all the info and replies. The engine spins over by hand just fine. It was a "new" engine when installed and has slightly more than 20 hours on it now. I was told the owner put the 20 hours on it to get the FAA write off for the up graded engine. You could eat off the engine. He was an A&P mechainic and said he would clean everything. Then fire up the engine with a new in the box prop as part of the deal. I saw the prop sitting next to the plane as well.

The wings are off the plane, but it was too dark and hard to get at to look the wings over. The only "light" rust I could see was the rust on the two exhaust pipes. It has been in dry storage. The plane appears like what Flyguy indicated about his Taylorcraft except no dust. The covering appears to be very tight and I believe passed a punch test a while back.

I wasn't looking for a plane and don't need another project. It was one of those deals where I got talking to someone and he mentioned I have a plane. Quit flying and has it stashed in a very large garage for the last 15~16 years. Do you want to come look at it sometime.......

I realize it will need to be gone through from sitting. The tires will need to be replaced and as people indicated a few unexpected things as well. I don't think it'll be a big project to get her back in the air. I just hope mice or rats didn't make a home in it somehwere.

I was just wondering if there were known weak links in early Taylorcrafts to take a hard look at for working a deal on it.

[mulwyk]

Re: Newbie Question

Sounds better and better. AND prices of T-craft projects have been trending up for several years now...so he may not know what it's worth. Good luck.

Bob Gustafson

[Howard Wilson]

Re: Newbie Question

Check out the rib stitching. In my '39 a mouse had meandered his way out from the butt to the tip chewing through the stitches here and there. Not a fun repair.

[Rick Connolly]

Re: Newbie Question

Thanks for the info. Kind of a running list.

1) Check for rust and damage in the fuselage tail section area.

2) Look over the wing spars very carefully

3) Check wing rib stiching.

4) Check log books

5) Inspected carefully the over all covering of the plane.

[crispy critter]

Re: Newbie Question

Check the wing attach points on both the fuslage and wing fittings,also check the fuslage attach fitting for the wing struts. Make sure the holes are not egg shaped or oversized. Pay close attention to the rudder peddle mounts,these will be U shaped clamps that wrap around the rudder peddle bars.....the lower ones that weld to the fuslage are the ones that tend to break. Be sure to look at the wing spars closely around the butt fitting out to the jury strut mount. these are just some of the more common things you can find on t-crafts that most people seem to forget.

[Rick Connolly]

Re: Newbie Question

Thanks for the additional info. The list grows......

1) Check for rust and damage in the fuselage tail section area.

2) Look over the wing spars very carefully

3) Check wing rib stiching.

4) Check log books

5) Inspected carefully the over all covering of the plane.

6) Check rudder clamp U brackets on rudder peddel bars especailly the lowers.

7) Check wing attachment holes for egg shapped or out of round.

8) Check wing spars closely around the butt fitting out to the jury strut.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Newbie Question

okay don't e-mail me. have you checked all posted on the web site like:
http://www.taylorcraft.org/prebuy-checklist01.html and other stuff too!

[Rick Connolly]

Re: Newbie Question

Thanks for the info. Looks like what folks have mentioned on this thread and the check list I have something to work from.

Will send you an email....

[Rick Connolly]

Re: Newbie Question

Forrest I sent you the requested email. I hope you got it ok.

[Rick Connolly]

Re: Newbie Question

Attached is a picture of the plane shortly after the plane was upgraded to a 65 HP. The owner repainted it white and stuck it away in the garage since 1979...

Still trying to work some kind of deal on it.

I think I'm off Forrest's Christmas card list with no reply to the twice requested email.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: Newbie Question

Rick,
I moved to Salt Flats, Texas three years ago from Tonopah, Az. Where did you FIND such a jewel?? Brie