Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

At least we got a direct explanation from the factory, too bad it had to flow through a customer, on the Foundation web site. thank you very much for the posting.... I have gotten very little information on the "filler rod" situation. did not know aboaut the paint. Will call the MIDO tomorrow.

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

Personally I think they should sell out to Univair, Airframes, or Wag Aero, that is, someone who knows what they are doing.
DC

Univair has already been there, done that, doubt they want it back. If you have not read it here, Taylorcraft did sell out but it has not been broadcasted anywhere for whatever reasons. Although Harry is still involved.

Mike

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

At least we got a direct explanation from the factory, too bad it had to flow through a customer, on the Foundation web site. thank you very much for the posting.... I have gotten very little information on the "filler rod" situation. did not know aboaut the paint. Will call the MIDO tomorrow.

I can believe the paint issue, but I call BS on the filler rod.

Mike

[flyguy]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

Wouldn't it be great if they would just make good parts for a while and then make a nice aerobatic clip-wing with say an O-200. Taylorcrafts have their forte, optimize it, don't try to turn it into something it isn't.

[Jim Lauden]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

I can believe the paint issue, but I call BS on the filler rod.

Mike

hi guys. i'm skyhigh 64, and new to chiming in on this forum, but have been observing for quite some time, been a toolmaker in the auto industry for many years and got to say when you build a part for a car, truck, or airplane you have to have a process engineer involved to see to it, that the correct manufacturing is taking place according to the engineering specs. the proper filler rod would be noted on the specs to accomplish the job. no mystery! same for the paint. many qualified, duly certified welders do not have to be told what rod to use if they know the metal to be welded, but a check of the specifcations on the print, would be done to make sure proper part production is taking place. the engineer has to earn his pay, you know. i have been flying a 46bc12-d since 76, love it. having never been to the taylorcraft factory, i don't know if they have any engineers? maybe someone could fill me in?

[jstall]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

At least we got a direct explanation from the factory, too bad it had to flow through a customer, on the Foundation web site. thank you very much for the posting.... I have gotten very little information on the "filler rod" situation. did not know aboaut the paint. Will call the MIDO tomorrow.

I wonder if the new struts from Harry, will have with them a
8130-3 ?? they sure need to have.

JS

[Winston L.]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

hi guys. i'm skyhigh 64, and new to chiming in on this forum, but have been observing for quite some time, been a toolmaker in the auto industry for many years and got to say when you build a part for a car, truck, or airplane you have to have a process engineer involved to see to it, that the correct manufacturing is taking place according to the engineering specs. the proper filler rod would be noted on the specs to accomplish the job. no mystery! same for the paint. many qualified, duly certified welders do not have to be told what rod to use if they know the metal to be welded, but a check of the specifcations on the print, would be done to make sure proper part production is taking place. the engineer has to earn his pay, you know. i have been flying a 46bc12-d since 76, love it. having never been to the taylorcraft factory, i don't know if they have any engineers? maybe someone could fill me in?

The tooling, specifications, drawings, and processes were all done in the 40's and have been improved upon up until the 80's so unless their not using that data there shouldn't be a problem.


Winston

[UNIVAIR]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

We here at Univair are curious to know what size cross section Airframes is using on their struts. Has anybody got a measurement on the major and minor axis? We get the occasional question and we don't know. It would be nice to give an answer.

And FYI:

One way to make a strut "curve" is to spend too long bead blasting one side. Bead blasting causes friction, friction causes heat, heat causes metal to expand. Result is bannana strut. - Been there done that.

Mike Sellers
Marketing and Sales Manager
Univair Aircraft

[Carl E. Carson]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

If I did the measurements correctly, this is what I got on the new Airframes struts I received.

Rear Strut-major 2.383; minor .997

Front Strut-major 3.825; minor 1.420

Carl Carson
Cedar Rapids, Ia.

[jdoran]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

Mike Sellers,

Another way to bend them is to have a minimum wage forklift operator move the skid from the wharehouse into the truck.

[UNIVAIR]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

If I did the measurements correctly, this is what I got on the new Airframes struts I received.

Rear Strut-major 2.383; minor .997

Front Strut-major 3.825; minor 1.420

Carl Carson
Cedar Rapids, Ia.

Thank you Carl!

Mike Sellers

[UNIVAIR]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

Mike Sellers,

Another way to bend them is to have a minimum wage forklift operator move the skid from the wharehouse into the truck.

Oh, I know of all sorts of ways to bend them, but I said how to CURVE them.

And while we are on the subject, I also know how to dent them in a 7" cardboard tube without leaving a mark on them so that the customer is convinced that you sent him a strut that was dented, painted, packaged and shipped to him.

If some Bozo shipping person drops a 70 lb. package on end from say... off the back of a truck or loading dock, the shock load will transfer up the strut and leave a thumb size dent. Often this dent will be about 8" from the end that received the impact.

So, the moral of this story is: If any of you out there have not ordered struts, regardless of who you order them from, inspect them as soon as you receive them. Freight companies won't entertain any claims for damage when you bring the matter to them after the things have been sitting in your hangar for six months because you saw no need to open up the package. REMEMBER, ONCE YOU SIGN FOR THEM, THEY ARE YOURS. So if your 16 year kid is the one who is at home when the freight truck shows up and if the package looks like its been run over by a tank, tell him not to accept them.

Mike Sellers
Univair Aircraft

[jstall]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

Thanks for the advice Mike

JS
N95083

[Robert Lees]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

Good advice, and thanks for your valuable input to these threads, Mike.

In the UK, the shipper has a responsibility too, in that goods must be "of merchantable quality" upon receipt. (I'm sure in the USA you have a similar rule).

What it means (in context of strut delivery) is that: if the shipper sent the goods with inadequate packaging, they may be liable for shipping losses. I don't know if in the USA that "consequential loss" (i.e loss suffered as a result of the shipper poorly packaging the goods) is also covered.

But I guess it still requires suitable inspection upon delivery to verify that the goods received have not received damage in transit.

Hope this makes sense.

Rob

[whake]

Re: Anyone received their new factory struts yet?

I am really disappointed about delivery "promises" and communications from the factory.. We have a sailboat mfg. business in Stuart FL. Orders go out the door promptly and top quality. That is the only way you make money. The factory has an oppourtunity to make a buck and create happy customers. They are dropping the ball. I know my struts are good and with the 48 month inspection I may cancel my order. We have three T-Crafts here and we found an individual who can do the inspections. About $400 each. I really would like to replace the struts, it is just my way of treating my plane.