martin clips (again)

[Greasemonkey]

I read some old threads about Martin Clips. They were saying the machine that was producing them was malfunctioning, but it had been repaired since that time. Well I ordered a complete set from Aircraft Spruce and I am disappointed to find the same problem. That of being the distance between the clips is 3 1/8" instead of 3". Is there another source or do I need to sit down and rebend 265ft of wire?

[Buell Powell]

Re: martin clips (again)

I ran into the same problem. After trying severa things I found that by installing the first clip then make a small bend in the direction of the last one you have installed at the place where it bends you can take up the slack and they will fit and lie down flat. After using needle nose plyers I decided to make a tool but cutting a slit in a 3/16 rod that I had and a knob at the end. After a little practice it ony takes a second to make them line up and fit nicely. If you don't have any extra to use for practice I have a small piece left over and would be gald to send it to you.
Buell

[Greasemonkey]

Re: martin clips (again)

So you are not bending the actual clip part, you are making a "Z" type bend inbetween the clips? If so, does the clip portion have enough crimp in it to hold effectively?

[Buell Powell]

Re: martin clips (again)

You can make the bend by pulling it in line with the wire where the clip is so you dont have a bend on top of the rib. I tryed putting a Z first because it was suggested by someone. I could not make the wire lie flat after doing that, and the Z would look really bad. The way I did it the clip seemed to hold in the hole really well if you put enough bend to make it snug between the holes , the wire didn't have an ugly bend where you could see it under the fabric, and the wire will lie against the rib. Hope this helps

[Robert Lees]

Re: martin clips (again)

Here's a photo of the difference between the original Taylorcraft wire & "Martin" wire.

Why on earth no-one has told the manufacturer of the Martin wire that it's duff is anyone's guess.

Note not only the wire length, but the shape of the clip.

I re-used a lot of my original wire during my rebuild...try to do the same if you can. The Martin wire is cr@p.

[Buell Powell]

Re: martin clips (again)

Boy, someone got caried away with bending that martin clip. See the bend in the in the front of the clip itself. The clips supplyed by Aircraft Spruce just dont have enough bend there. It's really not hard to make that bend like the original with a sloted tool. If you try to bend it in the Z between the clips in just wont work. Try installing the first clip then align the next one over it's hole. Then use a piece of 1/4 or 3/16 rod with a slot to hold the wire and twist it counter clockwise until it lines up with the hole and push it on in while stil holding it with the tool. It took me a little prcatice to get a system going but then it was really pretty easy and I had a nice line between holes(no ugly Z) and the clips hold really well. Just be sure to make the wire snug-but not to tight between the holes and the wire will lie flat and strait. I talked to fellow that makes the clips-seems the machine he has is very old, and the part that makes the bend doesnt stay adjusted. Other than that the martin clips seem to be very well made to me from really nice stalinless material.

[O.Taylor]

Re: martin clips (again)

Buell, did you use the spruce PN 09-19800?, I was in the East store this AM, and some guys were talking about Tcrafts and pointed out in the catalog where it says original equipment for tcraft and Martin clips are a different PN 09-19400?, just wondering, O.T.

[VictorBravo]

Re: martin clips (again)

Guys I wrote this once before on the subject... there is a common $9.95 tool available at most hobby shops called "Z-bend pliers" and it will probably do a FANTASTIC job of making a small, neat 1/8" Z-bend in the wire.

I am guessing you can insert the clips into the holes, leaving the wire bowed because of the extra 1/8" length... and then come in with the Z-bend pliers and tke up that extra length until the wire is taut.

I have not tried this personally yet but I really think it should work... will someone try it and verify if there is any problem with it ???

[Buell Powell]

Re: martin clips (again)

The catalog I have list the martin clips as P/N 09-19400> it list P/N 09-19800 as an installation kit with a note stating No clips included. Order separately. It's a little confusing the way it is listed (at least to me) but I think P/N 09-19400 are the only ones avaliable. I think Bill may have a good Idea about how to make a Z bend better but I still think the bend at the clip is the problem and that is where it needs to be corrected. Even if you take the slack out somewhere else that bend is what holds the clip in place. I think it is possible to even make the clip better that the original in one respect. When we picked up the F19 the fabric had already been taken off and we didn't find the original clips. I have never seen original clips but from the photo they have a square bend that secures the clip. I noticed that some of the holes were damaged-Evidently from pulling the clips out on the F19 ribs. If you make your tool so it can make the bend more pronounced but not as square the clip will still hold better but wont be so locked in that when removed it damages the rib and you will have taken up the slack. Wonder if it would be possible to use the Cessna clips? I still prefer rib stitching(may change my tune after stitching the Fairchild wings). but you cant do that on the stamped ribs because of the sharp edges. Has anyone checked to see if the T/craft factory is making the clips?

[O.Taylor]

Re: martin clips (again)

Looks like the wires are listed on the tcraft site, just one, 150 feet for one wing, $107.50. O.T.