News from the Factory III

[VictorBravo]

Re: News from the Factory III

Alleged strut failures?

I don't think we need to "nip this in the bud", I think we need to take a baseball bat and bash it to death before it sprouts into a bud.

Seriously... a petition to the FAA engineering branch and legal branch signed by some number of experienced Taylorcraft mechanics that says there is no known service difficulty with the T-craft struts, no abnormal incidence of failures inflight or on inspection, and that it has come to be known that some individuals have been discussing a strut AD as a revenue generating scheme rather than a safety issue. The FAA is all about the avoidance of liability these days, so it should not be difficult to point out that participating in this potentially fraudulent scheme would put the FAA in harm's way.

And a letter to whom it may concern that if there was an AD issued on Monday there would be an alternate method of compliance filed on Tuesday that did not result in any cash for whom it may concern.

[cpirrmann]

Re: News from the Factory III

It may be time to start yet another one and let this one wither.

[Forrest Barber]

Re: News from the Factory III

Read the posts, the Brownsville Herald keeps up on all. THEY ( the City) appear to be giving Mr. Ingram one more chance. It was agreed by council to accept a partial payment and all is well!

The FAA was in two weeks ago looking at all the evidence on the alledged strut failures. maybe we should keep this thread on target.

[hangarb7]

Re: News from the Factory III

So, anybody heard what's going on at the factory? No news clippings for a while and my soap-opera interest is getting nosey. Have they effectively removed Harry from the building yet or are they waiting until after the Holiday Season?

Jack D
N44057

[Hank Jarrett]

Cars Taylorcraft guys love

Yea, yea, yea. Porsche is nice too. Totally different breed than an English car. Tool clearance for all the fasteners. Incredable engineering. Performance out the wazoo. There's an 87 944 next to the GT-6 in the garage. Runs perfect and looks just like new, but isn't the same as a light, nimble, low power SPORTS car. The 944 is an Autobahn cruiser that will run all day at 120 mph and the 911 will go like scat (while it beats your butt to a pulp). All around, it's the Miata I drive EVERY day.
Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: News from the Factory III

Before I got my first Taylorcraft I rebuilt English cars (Triumphs). I have had 2 GT-6s and a Spitfire Mk IV of my own. I still have a GT-6 Mk III in the garage that looks like a million bucks. Bright blood red with all new glass and chrome. It hasn't run in over ten years. I DRIVE a 1994 Miata. It's the best car British Leyland never built. Twelve years hard driving and the only thing that ever broke was the ash tray cover....and that was MY fault. What a rip off on parts too, almost $3.00! Sorry guys, I love the MGB and the way it looks and drives, Triumphs, Lotus and Jags too, but the Miata is a REAL sports car that doesn't require constant maintenance and is a blast to throw around. Put in gas, change the oil once in a while and throw a new top on every decade or so. WHAT A GREAT CAR!
Hank

You DO need to change the timing belt every once in a while, but if you forget it's no big deal. The engine is positive clearance and when the belt lets go it just stops. Both times I just drove it till it broke and paid a whopping $30 for the tow. When you grew up on Triumphs you paid that much a WEEK for tows! I finally BOUGHT a tow rig for my first GT-6!

[48fordnut]

Re: News from the Factory III

nice truck. enjoy it. :joy:

[redefininglife]

Re: News from the Factory III

Just so you guys and gals don't think ALL my late husband's projects end in disaster........

My "Wycked" (license plate) ride...1956 Ford F100 with 502 Chevy engine:

[hangarb7]

Re: News from the Factory III

I have always wanted an MG. I found several to purchase. Got ready to make an offer on a '74 (this was about 2001), but had to clear it with my wife, of course.

She said, "You can buy anything you want, as long as you don't have to work on it."

WHAT?! An old MG that hasn't run much in ten years with a roof that either has to be replaced right away or just left down all the time... I said, "But Dear, sports cars are made to be worked on. They are finicky and unpredictible, and need lots of TLC."

And she said, "You can buy anything you want, as long as you don't have to work on it. You have a home remodel to finish, an airplane to finish and plenty of other things to do. You don't need a car to fix."

So, I said, "Well, if I have to buy something that I don't have to work on, I might as well buy a Miata at double the price." And she said, "As long as you don't have to work on it." Well, that made it pretty clear.

I bought a '96 Classic Red Miata and have not had to put any work into it at all. Well worth the price.

Now, I just work on the Taylorcraft. Of course, the hangar needs a new roof...

Jack D
N44057

[high time cub]

Re: News from the Factory III

Yup Vincent,
A life time of patience.... http://www.seqair.com/Hangar/Wilkinson/Wilkinson.html scroll down and click on "The Gold-Plated Porsche"...... recommended reading.

[dedrekon]

Re: News from the Factory III

Miata, Lotus, MGB!?!?!?
No wonder you guys (and gals) have so much patience keeping these old birds flying! Everyone knows the only real car is a Porsche. I finally sold this one (after 25 years) to make room for a TCraft project in the garage. While it's true it wouldn't keep up with a Shelby in a straight line, it would dust one through the curves (I do love those old Shelbys).
My damn trim cable came off the front pulley, stuck in the full up position today. Not enough drama to be exciting....but it looks like I'll be dinking with it for awhile. I did run a search on this forum and found LOTS of help in solving the problem. You guys are the best!

v

[Jim Herpst]

Re: News from the Factory III

REALITY hmm
As long as one does not want to buy a NEW Taylorcraft.

Plenty of the 66 year old stuff out there though.... THATS REALITY . Ah well who needs a factory anyway? Parts anyone for the SIXTY SIX (plus)year old fleet??? hmmm again what a novel thought. Yes reality sure tis.

[cpirrmann]

Re: News from the Factory III

. REALITY, what a concept. If you WANT a Taylorcraft, then BUY a TAYLORCRAFT. Brie

You know, when you're right, you're right.

[Jim Herpst]

Re: News from the Factory III

MY OPINION OF THE LMA STUFF......."IF it looks any thing like the scaled down Cub they sell then dont be holding your breath or worrying about when or what they "come out with". The 3/4 LMA cub that a fellow here locally built (By the way LMA is located here in SC(least they were last I checked). Any way this particular Cub was ALL WOOD ...including the fuselage... the gear and wheels looked like they were off a Lawnmower.....This stuff makes great lawn ornaments or hanger queens...again all in MY OPINION.(by the way I have never seen the plane this LMA guy hauls around to the Airshows actually fly EVER)(A CUB type of thing I believe)....your mileage may differ..I am not one to hold back my opinion on this topic as I do not want this group in paticular to be dissappointed YET AGAIN as we all hope for a NEW BC12D Light Sport kit"

Lord how I wish someone would kit the BC12D or perhaps even offer a clipped wing version...now with the NEW 0-200 available that would be something!!!!!

No flames here intended to LMA as I do not know what the new full sized Taylorcraft they are talking about will actually be . I can only offer my opinion as to what actually I have seen.

[taylorcraftbc65]

Re: News from the Factory III

High Time Cub,
The first year the Miata came out, a salesman told me that the factory spent several hundered thousand duplicating the exhaust "rap" the MGB had when it came "on the pipe". At the time, I thought it would have much cheaper to just install an MGB exhaust system. The Lotus is a great car, but after I put the unequal length front A-arms, lowered springs front and rear, the 2 plus wheels and race tires, and an Abbington "fast road" engine in the car, I had all the streetable performance that anyone could want, at MUCH less cost.
When I was stationed in Germany, I had a 1965 Shelby GTC 350. I would "cruise" the autobahn looking for Porsche owners dumb enough to try and run me.

Mike,
When they went to the rubber bumpers and RAISED the car two inches, they TRASHED the design. I like the 66 because it was the first year with the extra main bearing, and the last year with the high compression head. Also, it was the first year with the syncro first gear. Brie