Hydraulic Brakes STC

[N74DV]

So... I know a few have done hydraulic brake conversions under Form 337, but I'm wondering why no STC has come about yet. It seems it would be quite popular. There seem to be two camps on the brakes.

1) Love them and leave them be
2) Hate them with a passion (me)

What's involved in getting an STC? I'd be happy to put $5k-7k at the project if I knew I could recover that within 18-24 months in selling the STC. What's step 1? What would that STC be worth to you Tcrafters?

[N74DV]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

I should clarify the $5-7k budget is in addition to the parts and labor required to build prototype. The budget refers to professional/technical consultation & engineering, data gathering, tests, etc.

[astjp2]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

I could send you some pics of my setup...if you want. Tim

[cvavon]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

DJ

Robby Grove at grove wheel is working on a stc for the parts he sold me last year look in tec section my 337 is there with all my paper work and photos call Robby and see how it's coming along Chuck

[fearofpavement]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

We have Cessna 150 brakes in the BC12D and they don't really fit very well. We know their limitations but I don't think that set up could be used for an STC because it just has too many issues. This is basically 150 rudder/brake pedals on both sides (dual brakes) and uses the standard Cessna master cylinders and Cleveland style wheels, discs and calipers. They are very effective and I really like them but not sure I would install them in another T. One of the issues is that when you push full left rudder for instance the right pedal contacts the airframe tubing and it pushes the right brake pedal down. And vs vs.

Would you be referring to a hydraulic heel brake or a toe brake set up? Also, I think you may be underestimating the difficulty in acquiring an STC applicable to multiple aircraft. We did a one time STC for an O-200 install and even that was a significant hurdle.

[cvavon]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

I had a set of scott heal brake cylenders and used them but Robby plans to use a pull type master that fit undre the floor board anchor the dead end to the bracket that the first pulley mounts and use the existing peddles to apply them

[jim cooper]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

If your Taylorcraft is being flown under fairly "normal" conditions, (like NOT in Alaska or in Bush country) I would leave the shinn brakes on it. If they are in good condition and adjusted properly they seem to me to be adequate for this very light airplane. Mine will barely hold during a run up which is EXACTLY how I want them. If you have flown the T-Craft alot, I'm curious as to why you want them. (Also curious as to why anyone would want additional wing tanks. I rarely use the wing tanks I already have. 2 hours in a T-craft and I'm ready for a break!) JC

[astjp2]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

For some, their aircraft never see the grass or gravel, and they consider that normal.....personally shin brakes suck! I spent 1100.00 in rebuiling with all new parts, what I got when i was done.....marginal brakes on 8.50's. I sold them for 300.00, it was an 800.00 lesson. I went with Cleveland master cylinders per the Taylorcraft f-22 drawings and modifed PA-22 pedals and McCauley wheels and brakes with bolt on axle adapters. Once I flew with them, they do not have a tendancy to want to nose over, I will never go back to the shins. I can now stop in 350-400 feet if I am light, not super performance but adequate for single pucks. I can also hold the tail up while stopped, never came close with the shins....Try to keep the tail up and take off from a dead stop, that takes lots of brake control.......and its a challenge.

Oh, and 24 gallons gets me 400 miles and 4:45 of useful range, I wish I had longer because I do mostly cross country flying and fuel stops eat at least an hour per....wish I has 30 gallons, for the extra 1.5 hours and 100+ miles. Along the east coast, everything is close, not out west...Tim

[jim cooper]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

Raise the tail while stopped? I watched someone do this years go with a supercruiser. The areomatic prop hit the ground, shattered, and part of it went thru the side of a hangar narrow missing two people watching him. Not to mention the engine tear down. As for 4 continual hours in a T craft, thats way beyond my scope of having fun. Thats torture. JC

[astjp2]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

You could never do the trench then, its 400 miles between fuel stops! with only 2 emergency strips and no gas...

[swoeric]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

yep im in for the hydraulic brakes..my 8.50's need them if your afraid of nosing over learn how to use them..they are a tool just like the yoke and we learn how to use it...shinns on 29's would deadly. im also in on the large tanks if you dont want your wing tanks please mail them to me 2900 e hwy 10 grove oklahoma. often times i fil up all that i can and still carry cans. car gas is cheap and i dont have to find an airport with hours and fbo and radio i just find a field and refill...im thinking the next move for us tcrafters is an aoss or coil over shock with damping tucked under the seat

[cvavon]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

Eric the alaska bush wheel 26 in bush wheel does away with the tcraft bunge rebound it jest mushes in on the tires no big bounce and feels so good

[midniteflyer52]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

astjp2,

If you're really intersted in having 30 gals., I have an NOS six gallon behind the seat tank we could talk about. pm me if you're interested.

Regards,

Glen Brodeur
TF #42
Putnam, CT

[matsuthunder200]

Re: Hydraulic Brakes STC

The 29s are even smoother.
Another thought Bushwheel has a stc for puting on the big tires on t-crafts. Part of the stc is you haft to have hydrolic brakes so is the hydrolic brakes coverd in the stc. Something to look into I didnt have a stc i bought my bushwheels with no paperwork. But i got them and the hydrolic brakes approved with no problem And i even got nice toe brakes approved while i was at it.