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I found this on an older blog, (sorry-don't know who to thank on this). I know some folks have asked in the past about a source for fairleads. This is what I found on that blog, (no photos are currently available on the blog):
Cable fairleads guide the control cables. There are 10 of them in the T-Craft fuselage. The original fairlead is a simple plastic tube with two retainer rings. It is simple and light but is made of phenolic and is no longer available.
The Piper fairlead is readily available, is made of nylon, and is split so it can be installed with the cables already in place. The problem with a Piper fairlead is that it is longer than the T-Craft fairlead and slightly smaller in diameter. See the drawing in Photo 1 for a comparison.
An acceptable substitute fairlead is available from Aircraft Spruce. It is called a "short fairlead segment" and is not shown in their catalog, so go to their website and search for the part number 40071-00. Each segment is half of a fairlead so you'll have to order 2 segments for each fairlead (20 segments make 10 fairleads). (Photo 2)
The length of the short fairlead segment is exactly right for a Taylorcraft but the diameter is about 1/16" too small. If you wrap 2 or 3 turns of ordinary masking tape around the fairlead during installation the diameter will be just right. The masking tape also makes installation much easier as it holds the parts in position while you put on the retainer ring.
A 3/4 inch snap ring can be used as a retainer or simply use the Aircraft Spruce retainer rings by slipping them right over the masking tape. (Photo 3)
Cost? $.83 each for two segments and $.27 for a retainer, or $1.93 per fairlead. Total of just $19.30 to do the entire airplane!
Update, I noticed this was from Robert Gustafson, one of our own. Hope I didn't repeat what he has already posted before.
Cable fairleads guide the control cables. There are 10 of them in the T-Craft fuselage. The original fairlead is a simple plastic tube with two retainer rings. It is simple and light but is made of phenolic and is no longer available.
The Piper fairlead is readily available, is made of nylon, and is split so it can be installed with the cables already in place. The problem with a Piper fairlead is that it is longer than the T-Craft fairlead and slightly smaller in diameter. See the drawing in Photo 1 for a comparison.
An acceptable substitute fairlead is available from Aircraft Spruce. It is called a "short fairlead segment" and is not shown in their catalog, so go to their website and search for the part number 40071-00. Each segment is half of a fairlead so you'll have to order 2 segments for each fairlead (20 segments make 10 fairleads). (Photo 2)
The length of the short fairlead segment is exactly right for a Taylorcraft but the diameter is about 1/16" too small. If you wrap 2 or 3 turns of ordinary masking tape around the fairlead during installation the diameter will be just right. The masking tape also makes installation much easier as it holds the parts in position while you put on the retainer ring.
A 3/4 inch snap ring can be used as a retainer or simply use the Aircraft Spruce retainer rings by slipping them right over the masking tape. (Photo 3)
Cost? $.83 each for two segments and $.27 for a retainer, or $1.93 per fairlead. Total of just $19.30 to do the entire airplane!
Update, I noticed this was from Robert Gustafson, one of our own. Hope I didn't repeat what he has already posted before.
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