Learjet guy now a T-Craft guy

[naten7]

Hi,
I bought a 1977 F19 with floats and wheels last year. I have a good IA who knows the plane and is going to help with the annual this month. I am going to start on it on 4-24-2008. I am going to get the annual done, put on new struts, and refit and reseal the floats (edo 1400s). Do any of you have any tcraft specific tips for me. I need new bumpers for the floats. Edo says they don't make them. I need a new spreader bar for the floats. The old one has corrosion. The Continental 0200 engine oil resevior is leaking where it meets the engine. What specific tools would be helpful? What are the gotchas on a tcraft annual? I need some gouge.

Thanks,
Nate Norberg

[flyguy]

Re: Learjet guy now a T-Craft guy

Nate--probably no replies because no one knows exactly where to start. I can pick it up with the oil tank. I found the nuts on my -85 were loose and I think it was because the gasked was compressed some. I just tightened them up. Otherwise you may have to replace the gasket.
I would think that inspectors have their own favorites. If you are lucky you will have one that will look for the killers and expect you to take care of the not-so-important every-day stuff.
Don't know anything about seaplanes so can't help there. Congrats on the F19 it is a prettly fine airplane in my opinion.
Tools: I'll give you a funny combo that comes to mind. Torque wrench, but not the clicker type--they loose calibration, regardless of what anyone says otherwise. Other item. A dental tool. The one they use to clean teeth. Use it to clean the lead oxide chunks out of the bottom spark plugs. Safety wire. Guess I could make a suggested list, but I'm going to get some sleep now. LOL
Good luck on the inspection.
Darryl

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Learjet guy now a T-Craft guy

Take a scribe and and poke around the tubes in the tail (the Taylorcraft Terrible Triangle). It is a bad place prone to corrosion. Lots of advice for the tail wheel area but you are on floats so not much applies. The stab support wires DO apply! Look them and the fittings over for corrosion carefully. Pitted wires, especially on the bottom ones could be a real problem for a float plane. Do the FAA strut and longeron inspections, and then do more checking yourself. There are lots of posts on the site about better techniques than the FAA ones. You HAVE GOT TO DO THE FAA INSPECTIONS, to stay safe you WANT to do the others. Go further than required. Buy yourself one of those screw drivers with the exchangeable tips. Get one that the extra tips go into the handle with a screw on end. The ones that plug into holes fall out and become FOD. Get a nice set of Safety Wire pliers and a small wrench set with a plug wrench and the sockets you need for your plane (not many needed). Get two inexpensive knuckle-buster adjustable wrenches. I hate them but use them all the time. Don't forget to carry a roll of electrical tape and a roll of duct tape (sticks like a gorilla to anything but an air duct).
I like the deflection type torque wrench and dental tool. I have both in my "kit". You also might want to look for one of those crank or shake type LED flashlights. The old kind are just storage tubes for dead batteries.
We will think of more stuff as others post. I need to look at my kit and see what has collected over the years. Got to clean the heavy stuff out every once in a while.
Hank

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Learjet guy now a T-Craft guy

As for a flashlight, bite the bullet and buy one of the small pencil type with an LED. You can find them at the National Aviation Parts Assoc. store. (NAPA) The batteries will last for years. My son was an auto mech. for awhile and wanted one for Christmas. I bought it for him, he used everyday for two years before finally having to buy new batters. I bought one after that, that was 3 years ago, still on the first set of batteries. A little pricey but I have saved enough on batteries to pay for it several times over. Larry

[jstall]

Re: Learjet guy now a T-Craft guy

Hi Larry:

Congrats, Ya I"m an old Lear Driver also, retired from corporate flying after about 20 years of it, drive a T-Cart N95083, and a Cessna 190 N3099B
now,

Only thing I would say is when you buy your struts, Wag-Aero, or Univair
NOT, AND I REPEAT NOT, the Factory

JS

[Jim Doody]

Re: Learjet guy now a T-Craft guy

http://www.dougronan.com/index.htm or http://peckaero.com/ for the spreader bar. I know of a business in Alaska that makes replacement bumpers but have unfortunately lost the www link. A posting on the supercub site will probably generate a lead. The price was about $375 each as I recall. I plan on making my own. I will use a plastic cutting board for the backer, closed cell foam and a fabric cover. Resist the temptation to use SS hardware. A Google search will provide many sources/types of closed cell foam and vinyl/rubber UV proof fabrics. A little waterproof glue, some staples, $40 bucks or so and a Saturday afternoon. Good to go. Jim

[Jim Doody]

Re: Learjet guy now a T-Craft guy

Found it. This place will sell you float bumpers. http://www.cacalaska.com/index.html

[Dick Smith]

Re: Learjet guy now a T-Craft guy

naten7,
Jim is correct on the source of float bumpers. I just got back from the Alaska State Aviation Trade Show and Conference, being held today and tomorrow in Anchorage, Ak. I talked with the folks at the CAC booth and examined a bumper that fits the EDO 1320. The price was $200 for one bumper. Appeared to be well made. They had another bumper laying there that might have been for a 1400 float, but I only looked at the one for the 1320. They also have the streamlined fairings that we use to modify our upper cowling when running shielded sparkplugs. (The ones about 11 inches long). About $30 each.
Looked for AKbrew and Dan Mahalak..."AK" had already left the building...big crowd...never found Dan M. Did talk to the guy from Baumann floats, who will pass Alaska greetings on to our own Dano. Wish the whole Taylorcraft Tribe could have been there. Dick

[AKbrew]

Re: Learjet guy now a T-Craft guy

Dick,

Sorry I missed you at the Trade Show. Thanks for the lead on the shielded spark plug fairings...I need a new set. Tell me where to find you 'down South' and I'll wander that direction one weekend. Are you going to the Kenai Air Fair?

I look forward to meeting you.

Jim B.