New Tcraft owner

[jawinn]

Well, I guess I gotta jump in the forum somewhere. I have recently purchased a '41 BC12-65 "project". So far, I have removed the fabric from the left wing and discovered some "interesting" repairs. My butt rib is toast, so I guess I'll ask the question right up front. Where is the best place to get a replacement? I looked at Univair $379.03...ouch! I have the built up ribs, but I'm guessing I'll have to replace any of those with the stamped variety. I can't wait to see what nasty stuff resides in the right wing!

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: New Tcraft owner

Don't trash ANY parts. That root rib could be repairable. I have seen a lot of restorers throw away or smash parts they thought were beyond hope early on only to find out too late they were easy to fix with the right technique. I got into metal bumping fixing "lost cause" ribs.
Hank

[fearofpavement]

Re: New Tcraft owner

As mentioned numerous times make sure to document everything with your digital camera as you take it apart. Regarding the project, you may want to open everything up and assess it before starting repairs in any particular area. That way if you find something "horrible" you won't have thrown in good money after bad. Although that's sort of normal for airplanes isn't it?

[jawinn]

Re: New Tcraft owner

I had planned on repairing anything that could be repaired, but looking at the sad shape of the butt rib and the last rib before the tip bow, I was leaning toward replacing them and using parts of them to repair a couple of lightly damaged ribs. I have the digital camera snapping! I put them on Yahoo photos should you want to have a look. I believe this link should work.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/awinn2/album?.dir=3dedre2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/awinn2/my_photos

[VictorBravo]

Re: New Tcraft owner

HOGWASH!! That rib can be fixed.

I'll bet that several of us have pre-war ribs that were repaired from more damage than that photo shows. Mine has some fairly low-tech repairs from previous owners.

As usual, other folks here have more experience with this than I do, but I am pretty sure you can make your own repair patches using the method I believe is shown in AC 43-13, or you can splice in some of the Piper rib stock.

Considering the common lineage of the two airplanes, I wouldn't be surprised oif the Piper repair stock is exactly the same. Even if it is only close to Taylorcraft stock, you can work it and squeeze it so it fits.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: New Tcraft owner

Your ribs are nowhere near as bad as many I have seen repaired. By all means look for replacements (nos is better than repaired) but lots of the tribe members can use your broken ribs if you don't. Please DON'T trash them!
Hank

[Forrest Barber]

Re: New Tcraft owner

Rumor has it that the butt ribs on the pre-wars need beefed up anyhow. Unless you are a purist, use a stamped butt rib, or insert plywood reinforcement or use a new production built up rib from like Carlson Aircraft with the approriate 337 as a "repair". And YES a lot can be done with a good repair, Wag-aero sells a kit for this repair....

[jawinn]

Re: New Tcraft owner

I think I like the idea of using the stamped butt rib. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you can't rib stitch the stamped variety, but the butt rib is covered up anyway. I should have enough material from the butt rib to repair the other rib. Thanks. Oh, in reference to Hank's post...I don't trash or throw anything away! Maybe that's why I can hardly walk in the hagar. I'm afraid to open the doors. Something may fall out! Oh yeah, one other thing I was going to run by the group. I was contemplating the feasability of having a machine shop make a set of rollers for a bead roller that would form the "w" shape of the diagonals in the built up rib. This would give me a virtually unlimited amount of stock to repair or build ribs. I like the owner produced parts part of the FAR. Thoughts?

[Forrest Barber]

Re: New Tcraft owner

If you need only a small quantiy of the "T" & "W" material , buy the Piper Rib repair kit from Wag-Aero.....Butt rib needs no wire or stitching.

[Tom Baker]

Re: New Tcraft owner

I had planned on repairing anything that could be repaired, but looking at the sad shape of the butt rib and the last rib before the tip bow, I was leaning toward replacing them and using parts of them to repair a couple of lightly damaged ribs. I have the digital camera snapping! I put them on Yahoo photos should you want to have a look. I believe this link should work.
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/awinn2...inn2/my_photos

if you will call me monday i will give you the name of a gentelman that can make that rib like new. tom baker 217 342 3540