Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

[Joel Severinghaus]

As I'm taking all the inauthentic vinyl and upholstery out of my cabin, I'm wondering whether and how to cover the gap between the rudder pedals and the firewall.

My initial restoration had a vinyl-wrapped piece of aluminum screwed in place there (left photo). There are tabs with screw holes on the two tubes ahead of the rudder pedals (red arrow in right photo) which seem to imply that some sort of floor board was attached there. But most of the Taylorcrafts I've seen have nothing between the rudder pedals and firewall -- just the exposed tubing.

I'm tempted to mount a cut-to-fit piece of black embossed panel board cardboard there, now that I've painted my metal floorboards black.

Anyone know what the factory did back in 1946?

[Carl E. Carson]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

Joel: My '40 had just what you are proposing for the area between the rudder pedals and the firewall. I still have the original at home (I'm in Arizona until the first part of April), I made my new one out of plywood and painted it black.

Carl

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

DeLuxes were the only one I know of with a floor board in that area. There are welded on tabs to attach the board to. Otherwise I don't think there was anything up there.

[Ray36048]

One more Question

I have 41 delux project. There is a small chain welded to the front cross tube.

What is it for? I can't see it in the photos above, it would be in front of the pilot rudder pedals.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

Are you talking about the flat links you attach the springs to that keep tension on the rudder cables?
Hank

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

"DeLuxes were the only one I know of with a floor board in that area..." Aha. That would explain why I've seen so few with floorboards there. None of you other BC12-D owners had that floorboard?

Here's another photo from a different angle, showing one of the welded tabs for a floorboard. So those floorboard tabs are just vestigial in the post-war models?

Ray, I also have a welded tab on the crosstube holds the ends of the rudder return springs -- perhaps your bit of chain is replacing that?

(The yellow stuff in the photo is fiberglass insulation from the Airtex firewall pad I just ripped out. It was wedged tight between all the tubing and firewall -- had to cut it into little pieces and pull them out with pliers, and had to partially remove the fuel tank to yank the firewall pad out from behind it. The instrument panel was already removed for repairs, so I couldn't resist attacking the inauthentic firewall pad...)

[Ray36048]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

Yes, rudder return spring it is. Small piece of chain about 4 inches long centered in a small ring on the tube. Small rings on the back of the pilot rudder pedals.

Thanks

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

Ray, if you need the springs, you might be able to buy them from the factory:

http://www.taylorcraft.com/zencart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=644

The website ordering is inop, so phone Antonio Villalobos there, 956-832-0445.

Forrest has also said he has NOS rudder springs for sale.

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

(The yellow stuff in the photo is fiberglass insulation from the Airtex firewall pad I just ripped out. It was wedged tight between all the tubing and firewall -- had to cut it into little pieces and pull them out with pliers, and had to partially remove the fuel tank to yank the firewall pad out from behind it. The instrument panel was already removed for repairs, so I couldn't resist attacking the inauthentic firewall pad...)[/QUOTE]

Joel you are a kick! Having seen your plane I know just how good it looks, however we at the Scioto Mills Red Barn make sure we enjoy our evening of work too. Larry

PS: It is enjoyable to make fun of you on you standing on your head but, like you, I spent several long minutes on my head just getting my mag switch out of my panel and I still have a long way to go!

[Robert Lees]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

Joel, you might like to consider putting some anti-slip tape on your heel brakes (you can get it in white if you wish to preserve the colour).

[mulwyk]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

I had to go look yesterday...no tabs on mine.

[3Dreaming]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

If I remember right I had a piece of a heavy rubberized type of material for my 41. It just set in place. No tabs to hold it down. It was supposed to be original for my model airplane. I don't remember where I got it for sure, but it was pre cut for the airplane. It might of come from the factory as I bought some parts from them. tom

[Joel Severinghaus]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

Joel, you might like to consider putting some anti-slip tape on your heel brakes (you can get it in white if you wish to preserve the colour).

Another excellent suggestion, Rob. I have some transparent anti-skid tape I got for my foot pegs (boarding steps? stirrups? what are those called?), and the brake pedals would benefit from some too.

[VictorBravo]

Re: Floorboard between rudder pedals and firewall?

At the risk of getting my ass whooped, putting the non-skid tape on the brake and rudder pedals may also help preserve the colour on the outside of the plane too