Banjo wheel center cover

[Hank Jarrett]

You guys know me well enough to know I tend to loose stuff in the pile on my Taylorcraft so this is another one.
Someone on the group had a lead on getting new center covers for the pre war banjo wheels and needed one for the manufacturer to copy.
OK, so I found the old wheel I have (I need a second one if anyone has one laying around!) and got a box to mail it off, but I CAN'T FIND THE MESSAGES from the person who needed it!
Whoever you were, speak up and get me your address and I will ship the cover off.
Thanks
Hank

[Mark Baxter]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

Hi Hank, it was me. Thanks again for the loan. I will also post to the forum as I want to see how much interest there might be in making them. Thanks again Hank.
Mark Baxter
1730 NW 29th St.
Corvallis, Or 97330

[Mark Baxter]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

Oops, so I meant to post a PM to Hank. At any rate, there is a business called Nostalgic Reflections that can make new medallions for the deluxe yokes but it will be prohibitively expensive just to make one set. If any one else is interested, please let me know. What I would really like is to buy a set if anyone has some they would be willing to part with. Not holding my breath here as they seem to be made out of unobtainium. Thanks,
Mark
NC34034

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

Yes they do not exist in this dimension! How ever I do need one. I have one in excellent condition, I had two, but one seems to have grown legs. Larry

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

Mark,
I will try and ship it this afternoon or tomorrow morning. If anyone lives near a "Tractor Supply" I was told that they were originally made from tractor engine block freeze plugs. The plugs were dome topped and 2.43" (2 27/64") OD and the lip is ~1/4" with just under 1/4" of "dome". The metal appears to be Brass with a Nickel plate put on after the "Taylorcraft" logo is stamped in. The metal is about .020" thick.
If anyone can find a freeze plug like this let me know. Starting with that could REALLY drop the price down. Then Mark and I can compare his stamping of the logo to my getting them engraved for price and appearance after plating.
Next step is I only have ONE wheel! If I can't find another to restore I am going to have to start working on making a whole replica wheel.
Hank

Some one STOP ME, PLEASE!!! That wheel is going to be a NIGHTMARE to make from scratch!

[flyguy]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

Those things LOOK exactly like the freeze plugs that I put in my small block Chevy for my Camaro. I think I have a second set laying around somewhere. Let me check and see if any dimensions check out. It's kinda late here, but you have piqued my curiosity. Yeah, just checked. They do look alike, but mine are marked 1-5/8. Think those are the larger ones on the small block.
Darryl

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

Yea, I found LOTS of the smaller ones but the (nominally) 2 3/8" ones were no where to be found. I'm afraid I couldn't get to the post office before it closed Saturday so the original one will be mailed as soon as I can get to the post office tomorrow (hopefully).
I also found out the Aeronca Chief used the same banjo wheels we did with a different "freeze plug" center. If anyone knows where another wheel is I would sure appreciate hearing about it. Looks like restoring one is going to be REALLY EXPENSIVE! Lots of small parts to rework and plate in multiple layers.
Hank

[Ray36048]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

Here is a list I found of the various sizes. Close, but not the same.....

http://www.ersco-mi.com/expansion.html#size

[Ray36048]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

Here is another one.......

http://www.dormanproducts.com/p-32605-565-128.aspx

[Ragwing nut]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

they are too thin for freeze plugs, and made of brass which would be the wrong material.

[Larry Lyons]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

I will have to do some investigation. Marine freeze plugs are brass. Larry
PS: However I thnk you are right and our caps are thinner.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

The original one I have is ~.020" thick and is brass with what looks like Nickel plating on it. It was NOT a car freeze plug from what the old time car buffs have said, they were used on farm tractor engines. Remember that Prestone was invented and used in WW-II and before that freezing blocks was a common problem. They used BIG freeze plugs to prevent the block from breaking. From what I was told, farmers would drain the water and oil in the winter and bring them inside with them. In the morning they would pour the warm oil and water in the engine before starting. I have pictures somewhere of German mechanics with pails of coolant and oil next to their stoves trying to keep them warm so the Luftwaffe pilots could get their engines started in the mornings.
Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

Bumping this thread to get the discussion going again. I loaned my hub center out to see if it could be reproduced and now have a second wheel. The 41 will be getting back the newly overhauled carb this week and I have a Capacitor tester in the mail to me to get the Eisemanns PROPERLY tested out. If the weather gives me a break this weekend I may actually hear engine noises!

Back to the Banjo wheels, I have the blaster set up and as soon as I get them cleaned back to bare metal I will be showing them to the plating shop for some prices. Winter is a good time to do this kind of work. Poor weather for flying anyway.

Hank

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

Mark B. Did you ever hear back on making the center pieces for the Banjo wheels? If not, I would like to get mine back and will try to make them myself. I am wondering if I substitute Copper for the Brass if I could spin or stamp them myself. I have a lathe I think I could spin a copper cap on and once plated you couldn't tell the difference.

Hank

[barnstmr]

Re: Banjo wheel center cover

I started refurbishing my '41 Banjo Wheels last night.... Altho they are not original to my '46, they are just so cool I gotta keep em. Here is one polished and one not polished... Picture does not do justice, but the brass is really nice and polishes out well. Just takes a little elbow grease. Photo was touched by instagram.