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Anyone have a good hinge top bar they are willing to sell?
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Re: cowling hinge
Michael,
I haven't been able to source new ones, but I have been able to repair a couple. They aren't perfect, but they work. Email me and I will try and get some photos of the ones I have. I need to keep at least 3 sets for my projects but should be able to make another.
Hank -
Re: cowling hinge
This is a subject that reappears every so often.
One would think with modern extrusion technology that it would be reasonable to make some dies and get the extrusions made. The economies might require some thinking about, but some altruistic or business-like person might be able to sort this.
On a similar (but a different aircraft...and hence slightly off-topic), has anyone tried getting certain unavailable wing angles for a T6/ Harvard/ AT6 / Lance ?Comment
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Re: cowling hinge
Whenever you need to buy a hinge, go to this website. I have always been able to exactly match up a hinge by merely looking at the pictures of the different types of hinges, and some basic measurements.
This should be an easy match up.John 3728TComment
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Re: cowling hinge
Unfortunately the hinges are not extrusions. They are bent on a special machine called a rolling something or other. I found a company with one in Kansas City years ago but didn't have a sample of the hinge to show them at the time. Now I don't know where they are any more. Hinges Inc doesn't show the proper hinge. I need to take a picture of how they wind around each other tomorrow.
HankComment
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Re: cowling hinge
Once upon a time there was a previous thread on this site that referred to a website of a British sport car company that manufactured the exact piece used on our hinges. As I recall, they also made the end pieces. I no longer have the link to the site, but a search might turn up the thread with the web address. It has been several years ago.
FOUND IT Looks like Hank had posted it. Here is the link; http://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/Last edited by Pearson; 05-25-2012, 17:56.Richard Pearson
N43381
Fort Worth, TexasComment
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Re: cowling hinge
Turned out to be slightly different (size was different) but looked like it was workable. I am going to bring back some samples today and will post later.
HankComment
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Re: cowling hinge
Believe it or not I think I may have found the hinge top rail. The brass one that Hank found is not exactly the correct size. I am hopeful the one I found is . The best part is we don't have to ship it from England and the price is very reasonable. Just like the anti chafe cowl seal I knew that somewhere there was someone who still made this stuff. Taylorcraft did not make it in house. I will know for sure on Tuesday. The only draw back is it is made out of stainless, not aluminum, but lighter and better than chrome plated brass .
LazComment
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Re: cowling hinge
I'm sure the original was aluminium (1946).
And if it helps, I'm sure these days CG would have made it extruded.
The three components central in this photo:
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Re: cowling hinge
I brought home several hinges tonight in different states of repair. The photo above shows the profile really well. Someone has a good camera! I will take a few shots later with a ruler next to the pieces for scale.
HankComment
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Re: cowling hinge
The pieces are very curled (as we know), and thin in cross-section (perhaps 1/32 thickness at a guess), but I'm sure not difficult to get extrusion dies to make them, rather then folding.
We just need someone in the extrusion/ die making business in the USA to run off a few hundred feet of each to keep us all going for the next 200 years.Comment
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Re: cowling hinge
The hinge was one thing at the old Taylorcraft factory that was in very short supply. We only had one set for the Taylor Sport LSA we built.
I don't know for sure, but the hinge appeared to be sourced outside the factory. We were never able to find tooling to make it.
I agree, there must be places that do make it, even today. I recent looked at a 1940's Buick hood and it was definitely the same configuration, but could have been different dimensions.
I heard that Studebaker made parts that were on the Taylorcrafts, does any one know if old Studebakers used a similar hinge ? If so, I bet there are reproductions mfrs out there today with the tooling in place.Comment
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Re: cowling hinge
here is a possible source the hinge co. is rootlieb hoods they make sheet metel for old cars and a 1932 ford hood uses a hinge that is similar and they do make the center strip to hold the hood together and have the end pieces also
http://www.rootlieb.com/1940 BLT/BC65 N26658 SER#2000Comment
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Re: cowling hinge
Got all of the pictures, now I can't find the %)!#(*&%$#(* down load cable to save the photos to the drive! The parts are all made from rolled .050 aluminum. I don't have any test equipment from my old Metrology days so I don't know the alloy, but it is fairly hard, although a lot of the hardness would come from the rolling process work hardening the metal. I brought home and photographed several damaged hinges and will get more dimension as you guys need them. The center part of the hinge is .050 thick material and is .78" wide and .300" thick as formed. The side pieces are also .050" thick and the flange for the door metal is ~5/8" wide with 1/8" rivets (17 per side). The "rolled" part is 3/8" wide and 5/16? thick. I also brought home all of the end fitting parts including he ones I made for the "Beauty nose" for the front of the hinge. THAT was a pain to bend up and weld together!
I have one REALLY nice hinge we could use for a manufacture sample if we find a manufacturer with the rolling break to make them, but we will need to hurry. That hinge was supposed to go into the 41 new top cowl. If we find a manufacturer I will wait and fly with my old (UGLY!) top cowl till we have a supply of hinges.
Got to go look for the stupid cable now. I need to find a standard place to always keep the stupid thing!
HankComment
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Re: cowling hinge
I have one on the way. Its stainless. I will let everyone know if its correct asap. 48" is 25 bucks plus shipping. I suppose if you are real fussy you may be able to find out who rolls this stuff and see if they will do 'aluminum. Stainless is fine for me.
LazComment
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