fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

[N74DV]

I've had it with the factory brakes. They've never been right and we've spent countless hours and thrown hundreds of dollars at them.

I like the clip wing system where the master cyl. are in the landing gear V's. What would it take for me to legally install these wheels and brakes on our T?

I'm not asking for technical specifics on fitting them, I am asking about FAA paperwork and legality.

here are the ones I am referencing. They seemed to work well on the Pietenpol I built and figure there's no reason they wouldn't go great on a T.

http://www.groveaircraft.com/65-1.html

[VictorBravo]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

Robbie Grove makes high quality stuff, he is an excellent designer, and his stuff WORKS. I have placed the safety and survival of my carcass on a wing and tail he built, and I'm still here to pester all of you, ain't I?

I don't know if he is interested in certifying or field-approving any of his parts. Maybe he does already on other airplanes. But you will have a good chance of getting a field approval using his brakes and wheels, better than other "experimental" systems.

IMHO You will want "lay down" type brake master cylinders under the floor and attached to the same heel brakes. DO NOT try to screw with toe brakes, you will have more problems than is worth it due to the swinging A arm or H arm under the panel.

[N74DV]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

I was thinking about putting the master cylinders in the landing gear V as shown here in Acroeric's airplane:

http://vb.taylorcraft.org/showthread.php?t=5706&highlight=hydraulic+brakes

Would keep all the brake pedals, pulleys and cables relatively stock on the inside of the plane

[dmcneil]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

Hi DJ,

The Grove brakes have been field approved on at least one Luscombe. Here's a link to a copy of a recent field approval (6.1Mb pdf):

http://www.popav.com/337/30.pdf

A call to Grove would probably give you more examples. Grove makes nice stuff. I'd be willing to bet that they have already been installed on a Taylorcraft somewhere.

Dan

[N74DV]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

Thanks for the link to that 337 Dan. That will come in handy. I read it over and it didn't mention how they worked around the tapered axle. I assume they used bearings that worked with the Grove wheels.

[N74DV]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

Just got off the phone with Robbie at Grove. He's willing to custom fabricate a caliper mounting plate and possibly machine a bushing to adapt the tapered axle to the Grove wheels.

He also informed me that Grove has "pull" action master cylinders which would be perfect for mounting in the landing gear V hooked up to the cable from the pedal.

Now, I need to either find drawings of the factory axle assembly or go to the airport and tear mine apart and dimension it.

[Ron Greene]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

DJ,

I am assuming the L-2 axle is the same as the BC-12D. Here you go.

[DannyDot]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

Has anyone gotten a field approval for good brakes on a Tcraft yet? I am also sick and tired of the factory brake setup.

Danny Deger

[astjp2]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

I have a 337 from a BC12D for hydraulic brakes that was sent to me from another aircraft. On my aircraft I just used pacer pedals and custom adapters to fit over the existing tapered axle. Tim

[akndrifter]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

Is it possible to do it your way with out going to toe brakes?

[astjp2]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

The axle adapter will work with any system you want, it just bolts on over the original. It is heavy though. Tim

[Acroeric]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

Guys- I have applied for an STC for hydraulic brakes on the Tcraft. . . ..everyone knows how difficult it is to get one through so there is no timeframe as of yet. I could only hope that 6 months is possible. I agree- the original brakes leave alot to be desired.

I changed my mind after trying to rig the cables to run the master cylinders in teh gear legs to run 2 sets of brake pedals. It ended up being too much stuff and I discovered a much simpler way. I am working on a kit and the idea is to have no welding required. I'm out of town til Sunday but will post pictures as soon as I get back.

My design is dirt simple- sure hope it goes through easilly.
Eric

[DanBrown]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

Eric,

Would your design and paperwork also apply to pre-war B models? Ran through a mud patch yesterday cuz my #$*@! Shinns wouldn't let me turn downwind away from a moderate cross wind.

[akndrifter]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

The axle adapter will work with any system you want, it just bolts on over the original. It is heavy though. Tim

How heavy is heavy?

[Fred W]

Re: fitting Grove brakes to our BC12D

Any progress on the STC for hydraulic brakes?
Fred

Guys- I have applied for an STC for hydraulic brakes on the Tcraft. . . ..everyone knows how difficult it is to get one through so there is no timeframe as of yet. I could only hope that 6 months is possible. I agree- the original brakes leave alot to be desired.

I changed my mind after trying to rig the cables to run the master cylinders in teh gear legs to run 2 sets of brake pedals. It ended up being too much stuff and I discovered a much simpler way. I am working on a kit and the idea is to have no welding required. I'm out of town til Sunday but will post pictures as soon as I get back.

My design is dirt simple- sure hope it goes through easilly.
Eric