Shielded harness installation...

[paulnuss]

There is a wonderful previous posting on installing the Fresno Airparts "Ercoupe Cups" to avoid cowl bumps with a shielded harness installation. Great photos of the whole process. Looked like a good idea, so I got 4 of them for the top plugs. Then, I went looking for the appropriate-size die to rethread to 5/8"-24, and came up empty. No hardware store or tool supplier has, or even lists, that size threading die here in this area. Does anyone know a source for such a threading die?

I have operated this airplane ('46 BC12D-1) for 28 years without (really) needing a radio. Now the last four years I am based at a small muni airport, frequented by the modern-era airplane drivers, who can't see a bright red Taylorcraft in the sky or on the ground. (I purposely did not use the term "pilots"). And I have a couple favorite fly-to places that have Control Towers, and we're not all that far from major metro areas. A radio for communications would be very useful at times.The occasion of faltering old-age coils in my Eisemann mags prompted their replacement with new Slicks and shielded harness. And, I really don't want to make cowl bumps for plug and harness clearance.

Anyone wonder why the shielded plugs have to be so darned long in the first place???

[mhorowit]

Re: Shielded harness installation...

[QUOTE=
Anyone wonder why the shielded plugs have to be so darned long in the first place???[/QUOTE]

Paul - We all agree you can use the standard size shielded plug for the lower plugs, right? There is a shorter shielded plug - I was able to use them for the two upper plugs which are closest to the pilot; unfortunately even with the smaller plugs, the shielded wiring harness didn't allow the lid to close over the front cylinders.
However, I understand not all upper cowls have the same clearance; you might be lucky and have sufficient clearance to use the smaller shielded plugs in front.

You can use those cups; go to a machine shop with the harness and they will turn down the cup threads and cut new ones (I've been told) - Mike

[dewhitaker]

Re: Shielded harness installation...

Hi Paul, here is the info to get the 5/8 - 24 die that I used for the cups threads. MSC Industrial Supply Co. phone 800-645-7270 On the web at mscdirect.com Part no. 03936242

On our installation Dad and I decided to do all four top plugs, the rear may have worked as Mike said, however we did not like how tight the wire had to bend. It looked like it might scuff a hole in the cowl.

If you have any questions feel free to PM me and I will try to help any way I can.

[paulnuss]

Re: Shielded harness installation...

Thanks for the lead on the threading die! I'll try them Monday. I agree that the standard-length plugs on the bottom four are just fine, nothing interferes there. On the top plugs, I could maybe get away with just the front two and the "Ercoupe Cups", but as was said, I wouldn't be comfortable with the sharp bends, and the possible abrasion, so I'm going to use all four on top.